Airbnb Host Cancelled My Stay, NRL Grand Final Weekend!

patmccrotch on 01/10/2025 - 14:19
Last edited 01/10/2025 - 15:04 by 1 other user

I guess I’m looking for some advice here and also taking the opportunity to vent a little.

Some months ago, my family bought tickets to the NRL Grand Final this weekend, and we also booked (and paid for) a couple of nights’ AirBnB accommodation at Wentworth Point, close to the stadium. The host has just contacted my wife to cancel the booking, citing a “broken shower screen” as a safety concern.

We’re travelling from interstate and now find ourselves without accommodation just a few days out. Any options are likely to be a long way out, or prohibitively expensive.

What are my options here? Is there anything Airbnb can do to help us rebook or compensate for the inconvenience?

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Comments

  • PissLUR on 01/10/2025 - 14:29
    +11

    yes you should contact airbnb. they will find you a replacement accommodation.

  • Shadowsfury on 01/10/2025 - 14:32
    +42

    Bet you they're reselling it for more

  • HardQuiz on 01/10/2025 - 14:37
    +11

    The host asked you to cancel?

    Why didn’t they cancel the reservation from their end?

    • jv on 01/10/2025 - 14:46
      +7

      Why didn’t they cancel the reservation from their end?

      So you don't get your full refund.

      • apsilon on 01/10/2025 - 14:59
        +26

        Absolutely do not cancel OP, make them cancel.

  • jv on 01/10/2025 - 14:44
    +9

    contacted my wife to cancel the booking, citing a “broken shower screen” as a safety concern.

    Tell them you are from Canberra and therefore do not take showers.

  • xuqi on 01/10/2025 - 14:59
    +23

    If the host wants to back out for whatever reason, they they should initiate the cancellation.

  • dtc on 01/10/2025 - 15:09
    +14

    If your host asks you to cancel: If your host lets you know that they can’t accommodate your stay anymore, don’t cancel for them. Instead, send them a message asking them to cancel. That way, you’ll be eligible to receive a full refund. https://www.airbnb.com.au/help/article/170

    and leave a bad review on their listing

  • try2bhelpful on 01/10/2025 - 15:10
    +8

    The isn’t a lot you can do apart from contact Air BnB and complain about the host cancelling at the last minute. Certainly do not cancel yourself. You need to start looking for an alternative.

  • 7ekn00 on 01/10/2025 - 15:22
    +5

    Check the same place airbnb listing, betting they realized they can get a heap more for that weekend :P

    Make sure they cancel it, not you, you will then at least get full rather than partial refund!

  • ValueInvesting on 01/10/2025 - 17:25
    +11

    The host has just contacted my wife to cancel the booking, citing a “broken shower screen” as a safety concern.

    Do not cancel the booking yourself!

    Let the host cancel it if they're saying there's a safety issue.

    You can then contact Airbnb afterwards to help you rebook similar accommodation

    • ryefig on 01/10/2025 - 17:36
      +5

      Do not cancel the booking yourself!

      Can not stress this enough. It's like when Uber drivers ask you to cancel a ride, nope - do it yourself.

  • AustriaBargain on 01/10/2025 - 18:42
    +7

    Air BnB owners have to be bigger scumbags than investment property owners.

    • jv on 01/10/2025 - 19:46
      -3

      Only a few of them…

      It's no different than saying "Air BnB customers have to be bigger scumbags than investment property renters."

  • patmccrotch on 01/10/2025 - 18:45
    +7

    Thanks to all respondents. Yes the host cancelled the booking. My wife contacted AirBnB who were (almost) useless.

    • jv on 01/10/2025 - 19:47

      Can you give them a bad review after they cancel?

  • mrkorrupt on 01/10/2025 - 18:58
    +1

    keep pushing airbnb, dont accept no for an answer, I once went to penang and the property had broken washing machine and broken air con and a few other issues, I reported it and they refused to acknowledge and I kept pushing till they gave me a full refund

    • jv on 01/10/2025 - 19:48
      +1

      keep pushing airbnb

      You get a full refund when the owner cancels.

  • dami on 01/10/2025 - 20:54
    +3

    I had a host cancel on me right at 3pm, the check-in time. Airbnb gave me a $200 credit and that was that. Airbnb sucks.

  • Muppet Detector on 01/10/2025 - 23:31
    -6

    What are my options here? Is there anything Airbnb can do to help us rebook or compensate for the inconvenience?

    Probably not. What does your PDS with Air BnB say? What does your Insurance say?

    Aren't they just a site that offers a platform for those with b&bs available to meet those who want to rent them ?

    If so, unless PDS says otherwise, no offer to help you predict an alternative (did they provide offer towards the first place)?

    Compensate for what? That the company you choose to do something at your request, didn't do it a manner that you preferred?

  • jjjaar on 02/10/2025 - 00:28
    +1

    What are my options here? Is there anything Airbnb can do to help us rebook or compensate for the inconvenience?

    For this instance, not sure. See if there’s anything about consumer rights for these kinds of things? I genuinely don’t know.

    In future, stop using airbnb.

  • Meho2026 on 02/10/2025 - 08:13

    This is the risk with Airbnb. Don’t rely on Airbnb helping you out of this.
    Try looking further out along the train lines like Parramatta, Liverpool, Bankstown, Penrith. Even further up the Blue Mountains train line
    Act quickly

  • jrvb42 on 02/10/2025 - 09:07

    I've had similar happen twice on booking.com and usually apartment flooding or similar. Easy way for host to screw you and get more money. Not much can be done in reality. Airbnb or booking.con simply don't care and won't do anything to help in my experience.

    • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2025 - 10:27

      Yeah it does seem to be a “too bad, so sad” attitude.

  • Drake on 02/10/2025 - 12:29

    Consider an airbnb in Lidcombe, Concord West, Parramatta, even Redfern or Central. All of these stations should have direct trains to olympic park. Better than the traffic shitfight in and out of olympic park.

  • shulks on 02/10/2025 - 13:34
    +2

    This Easter my friends and I booked an 8 bedroom place for the weekend for a holiday and catch up. The host cancelled two weeks before the date. We were able to get a replacement booking on airbnb that cost more than the original place for no extra charge. But we had to push for it. I think first they gave us a 100 dollar voucher and we said not good enough. We found the replacement ourselves on airbnb and told them we want this place. Might have been lucky to find a place though.. good luck.

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