Hello, fellow hosts. We have been superhosts from the start. We love providing a beautiful and sparkling clean space for guests. We have consistently been at the very top of our city’s listings, although in our adjacent larger city’s (Minneapolis), we are buried. Like everyone, we have lost considerable income we have relied on (though not entirely) because of cancellations, but also because we blocked all open dates, now, into mid-April, when we have guests due to arrive.
Our problem first and foremost, however, is this: We are 66 and 72. My husband has a chronic lung infection, cancer 4 years ago, and had pneumonia post-surgery last November. I have asthma. We also have a grand baby due in 3 weeks, via a necessary cesarean, and I am going to be taking care of the baby’s six-year-old sister, who has been hospitalized with asthma three times already. Her father uses an inhaler daily. We all have been self-isolating for two weeks now, working from home. We know we cannot accept new guests until we can see that this pandemic has been seriously tamed, and we are also not sure how to approach April’s remaining guests, whom we now know it is not safe for us to host. Our listing is a suite in our home, and although there is a back door leading to the suite, it passes through a tiny hall we have to use, and we are the sole cleaners. Our washer and dryer are in the suite. One April guest is planning on visiting Mall of America (it’s been closed for a week, now) and the other states she is coming for medical treatment. And then there are the May guests. Our city was issued a two week stay at home order, effective at midnight last night, which is expected to be extended. All bars and restaurants have been open for carryout only for the last week. Museums and even hiking trails are closed and elective surgeries have been cancelled. You thoughts, please on these subjects: 1.) Should we contact the guests and invite them to cancel based on the situation here? What if they refuse? We have a moderate cancellation policy, but right now they would lose all the extra fees. 2.) Should we wait and see whether Airbnb extends the extenuating circumstances policy? (I fully appreciate that this has severely impacted hosts, us included.) I feel that the guests will need an early notice if we are not in a place to host, which we are not, but Airbnb has to date made no mention of not penalizing hosts who need to self-isolate for the duration. 3.) Should we call and ask Airbnb directly what the consequences will be if we cancel the guests ourselves and block through May? At this time, I imagine they have hired extra help and we’ve previously run into inexperienced agents who have given us bad advice that impacted our listing.
I apologize for the long post. Thanks for your thoughts.