Reply to VRBO won't refund Sanibel stay for next week

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is from the article OP linked above in first post.

"However, should a host not cancel first, the situation becomes more complex, particularly with Airbnb, given its cancellation policy specifically excludes the annual storm season in Florida. Airbnb says that it offers refunds for “events beyond one’s control”, including some extreme weather events and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, but despite this, the company deems tropical hurricanes and storms in the state between June and November to be “foreseeable” and its cancellation policy  does not result in refunds under those circumstances.

Meanwhile, a Vrbo spokeswoman told The New York Times that “natural disasters, such as hurricanes or wildfires, do not override the cancellation policy set by the host and agreed to by the guest when they book”.[/quote]

BUT this isn't a cancellation due to a hurricane.  It is a cancellation because the condo is not habitable/destroyed/island is not available to non-owners.  Definitely dispute with the credit card, airbnb are going to lose.[/quote]

DP.  You don’t know that the unit is uninhabitable, and you don’t know that it won’t be available to non-visitors next week.  But all that aside, all of those issue absolutely do arise out of a hurricane and so very likely does fall within the scope of this policy. [/quote]

So you’re saying if the house wasn’t inhabitable for other reasons, then the renter would be entitled to a refund?  That makes no sense.[/quote]
Sure it makes sense if hurricanes are specifically excluded, which it sounds like they are. [/quote]
What's the time limit on this?  Some VRBO and AirBnb reservations don't allow for cancelations after 24-36  hours.  If a house was washed away in this hurricane and someone booked for next June, does the owner still keep the money if there is literally no house available?  What if the house was damaged but the owner just can't be bothered to make needed repairs for 6 months because they get to keep all the rental fees anyways?  That can't be right.  The owner has an obligation to live up to their end of an agreement and provide a rental unit.  It's not a blank check to cite a hurricane that happened in the past and keep the money.[/quote]

You can complain to vrbo and airbnb if you get there and the house is not there or there are safety issues and they will force the owner to refund. If anyone could complain before coming then you'd see a lot of problems. The key is to either buy hurricane insurance or show up to the place and then complain. Pretty standard and makes sense.[/quote]

Hurricane insurance for a June 2023 rental would protect you against a rental that’s not usable due to damage from an October 2022 hurricane?  Somehow I doubt that.[/quote]

DP.  Frankly, it would be stupid to book a unit in Sanibel for June 2023 right now.  Even the owners with the best of intentions are dealing with a whole lot of shit at the moment, and likely have no idea when they may be able to start renting again to update their listings.  Maybe give them a little time to figure out what’s going on before you look to make trouble for them. [/quote]

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