Can you decline someone on Airbnb?

You can also decline an inquiry, which prevents the guest from sending a request. Make sure to review our Nondiscrimination Policy before you decline. Turning down a lot of requests can impact your reservation rates and where your listing shows up in search. Did this article help?



Yes, you can decline or cancel a guest on Airbnb as a host, but there are specific rules to follow in 2026 to avoid penalties. If a guest sends an inquiry or a booking request, you can simply click "Decline" if you are uncomfortable with the guest’s profile, their reviews, or if their plans don't fit your house rules. However, if you have Instant Book enabled, you can only cancel without a penalty if you have a "valid reason," such as a guest clearly stating they plan to break a rule (like bringing a pet to a no-pet home) or if they have several negative reviews that concern you. As of 2026, Airbnb has increased its monitoring of cancellations to prevent discrimination; if a host cancels too many reservations without a valid safety or rule-breaking concern, they may face financial fees, a blocked calendar for those dates, or even loss of "Superhost" status. It is always best to message the guest first to see if you can resolve any concerns before officially hitting the decline button.

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Be polite “Whatever your reason for declining an inquiry is, first write a response to your guest. This will also help maintain your response and acceptance rate comparing to declining an inquiry directly. First, say Thank You for the inquiry and let your guest know that the place is not available for those dates.

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Here are ten key phrases you can use to politely decline requests from guests and clients:
  1. “I apologize for any inconvenience, but unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate that request.”
  2. “I understand your need, but I'm afraid that is not possible at the moment.”


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Guests Who Don't Read Your Listing This is the type of guest that will ask you where things are located before even looking. They may also neglect to read the house rules and violate them during their stay. They may be very picky and critical and more likely to leave you a bad review.

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Declining an inquiry signals to the guest that their needs aren't a good fit for your space and encourages them to request another listing.

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The cities mentioned — which also included San Antonio, Nashville, Denver, New Orleans, Seattle and Orlando — all saw revenues drop at least 34.8% from May 2022 to May 2023, according to Gerli's calculations. The city with the biggest decline was Sevierville, Tennessee, which suffered a drop of 47.6%.

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What should you do if a host asks you to cancel a reservation? If your host lets you know that they can't accommodate your stay anymore, don't cancel for them, Airbnb's website advises. Instead, send [the host] a message asking them to cancel. That way, you'll be eligible to receive a full refund.

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Tips to avoid Airbnb scams
  1. Check your host's profile and look for anything odd, like requests to use payment systems outside Airbnb.
  2. Confirm you're renting a legal listing by using a reverse image search.
  3. Always remain on the Airbnb app or website when communicating with your host.


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According to market analysts, many U.S.-based Airbnbs are sitting empty because wealthier people and investors listed short-term rentals on the site, in an attempt to capitalize on the pandemic-fueled travel influx.

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If the guests are causing a disturbance, talk to them directly and explain that their behavior is unacceptable. Be polite but firm, and make sure to document any problems so you can report them to Airbnb. 3. If the guests refuse to leave, contact Airbnb immediately and ask for help.

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Airbnb scams by guests that every host should be aware of: Guests who ask for discounts. Threaten to leave a bad review if not refunded. Mention someone else will pay for their stay. Want to take the conversation to a private app.

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While Airbnb is a safe option for accommodation when traveling, there are plenty of things you can do to further protect yourself as you explore. Never give your personal contact information to a host or pay outside of the platform. Always pay and communicate through the Airbnb website or app.

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Carefully review the home information, photos, and the host's profile for any red flags. If you're renting from a company with multiple listings, check their social media profile for complaints or bad reviews. As a general rule, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

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Flexible Policy
If the guest cancels a reservation less than 24 hours before check-in, they will still need to pay for the first night's stay, plus the Airbnb service fee. If the guest decides to cancel his/her stay after arriving, he/she is eligible for a full refund for any remaining nights of the reservation.

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