Cancelling a Reservation as a Host

Cancelling a Reservation as a Host

When a host cancels a booking, the guest always receives a full refund of their security deposit, regardless of the cancellation policy or when the cancellation happens.

How to Cancel

1. Go to your Host Dashboard > Reservations
2. Find the booking you want to cancel
3. Click the Cancel button
4. Review the cancellation details and any penalties
5. Click “Cancel Booking” to confirm

Host Cancellation Penalties

Hosts may face a financial penalty depending on how close to check-in the cancellation happens:

• More than 30 days before check-in: No penalty
• Within 30 days of check-in: A penalty based on a percentage of the first month’s rent, charged to the host’s account. The closer to check-in, the higher the penalty.

The cancellation modal shows the exact penalty amount before you confirm.

What Happens to the Guest

• The guest is automatically notified
• The guest receives a 100% refund of their security deposit
• The blocked dates become available for new bookings
• The refund is processed through Stripe (5–10 business days)

Valid Cancellation Reasons

MiniStays may waive cancellation penalties if the host cancels for valid reasons beyond their control, such as:

• Major damage to the listing or emergency repairs (gas leak, burst pipe, etc.)
• Serious personal illness that prevents hosting
• Proof that the guest intends to violate house rules
• An extenuating circumstance (declared emergency, government travel restriction)

If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies, contact us before you cancel.

Important Notes

• Cancellations are permanent and cannot be reversed
• The guest would need to submit a new booking request to rebook
• If a guest wants to cancel, they should cancel from their own dashboard — if you cancel from your side, you may face a penalty and the guest receives a full refund regardless of the cancellation policy