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Booking cancellation fee

Why cancellation fees apply and common host situations explained

Understanding Travelnest cancellation fees

If you’ve been charged a cancellation fee and are unsure why, this article explains when the fee applies and the most common situations where hosts cancel bookings.

Cancellation fees

A flat cancellation fee of £160 per cancelled booking applies (excluding VAT and charged in your account’s currency).

Why is there a cancellation fee?

We use a flat cancellation fee to keep the process clearer and more predictable for hosts.

Previously, we charged an admin fee and passed on platform-specific charges, which often varied and caused confusion.

The £160 (plus VAT) fee helps cover costs such as:

• Channel booking cancellation fees
• Non-refundable channel commission
• Channel guest relocation charges
• Card processing charges
• Admin time and support

Booking channels place a strong focus on protecting the guest experience. For this reason, they strongly discourage hosts from cancelling confirmed bookings wherever possible.

Even when a guest agrees to cancel or can be relocated, booking channels may still apply charges. These can include non-refundable commission, cancellation penalties, or guest relocation costs.

Many platforms also measure host cancellation rates as part of their ranking systems. For example, Airbnb requires hosts to maintain extremely low cancellation rates to qualify for programmes such as Guest Favourite.

Because Travelnest distributes listings across multiple booking channels, we are subject to these platform rules. The cancellation fee helps cover the direct costs that are applied to us when a booking is cancelled.

These charges would apply whether a property is listed through Travelnest or directly with the booking channels.

Common situations explained

I can’t accommodate the guest

If you’re unable to accommodate a guest for any reason, you must request the cancellation directly through your Travelnest account. Travelnest cannot cancel a booking on your behalf.

This applies regardless of the reason, including:

  • The property is no longer available

  • The calendar was not blocked

  • A double booking occurred

  • Maintenance or personal circumstances

  • The property has been sold or is no longer being rented

If the property was unavailable, the calendar should have been blocked in advance. 

Because these costs are charged to Travelnest when a booking is cancelled, the host cancellation fee will still apply, regardless of the reason for cancellation.


Cancellations outside of your control

Even if a cancellation is due to unforeseen circumstances, Travelnest still incurs direct costs from booking channels. Unfortunately, we’re unable to waive the fee in these situations. If there were no direct costs, the fee would not apply.


I made an error or have a double booking

To reduce the risk of double bookings, we recommend managing your availability carefully across all platforms.

If you’re still listed on other platforms:

  • It is your responsibility to keep calendars synced across all platforms.

  • Per your Travelnest agreement, Travelnest bookings take priority over direct bookings.

  • You can contact the other platform to request cancellation or a waiver of their fees.

Even when the overlap was unintentional, Travelnest still faces direct costs, so the cancellation fee will apply.


The guest cancelled — why was I charged?

If a guest cancels but indicates that the host requested the cancellation, the booking platform treats this as a host-initiated cancellation.

When this happens:

  • Travelnest is charged by the platform.

  • The host cancellation fee is therefore still applicable.

  • Unfortunately, this is outside our control. Booking channels base their charges on the reason, not just the action, and this is part of the agreement for listing on their platforms.


I cancelled my agreement — why am I being charged?

If you’ve chosen to leave Travelnest, please note that existing bookings still need to be honoured. Cancelling your agreement doesn’t remove this responsibility.

If you are unable to fulfil confirmed bookings, the cancellation fee will still apply. This is outlined in your hosting agreement.


I sold my property, I can't honour these bookings? 

We’re sorry to hear you’ve sold your property. In this situation, Travelnest still incurs cancellation costs for any active bookings, so the fee will apply.

If you knew you might sell or stop renting, we recommend blocking your calendar in advance. Once bookings are confirmed, cancelling them always results in direct costs to Travelnest.

How can I avoid this fee?

While it’s not possible to completely avoid the fee once a cancellation is processed, there are steps that may help reduce the need for cancellation:

Try Alternative Solutions

  • Contact the guest to see if they can reschedule

  • Offer alternative dates or properties if available

Consider Short-Term Rental Insurance

Consider short-term rental insurance. This type of cover may help protect you against cancellation costs, property damage, or loss of income.

FAQ


The guest agreed to cancel. Why am I still being charged?
Booking channels are designed to protect the guest experience and strongly discourage hosts from cancelling confirmed bookings.

Because of this, they may still apply charges even if the guest agrees to cancel or is happy to move their stay. These charges are applied to Travelnest by the booking channels, so the cancellation fee will still apply.

Do Travelnest make money from cancellation fees?
No. The cancellation fee is designed to help cover the costs we incur when a booking is cancelled.

Booking channels often charge cancellation and relocation costs when a host cannot honour a booking. For example, relocation charges can average around £200 on Booking.com and £400 on Expedia.

The flat £160 fee helps offset these types of costs and keep the process predictable for hosts. We often still make a loss on cancellations, this goes towards covering it. 

 If I cancel a booking straight away, will that help?

If I offer the guest an alternative, can I avoid the fee?
Thank you for trying this first. We always recommend offering alternative dates or properties where possible. However, do note that if the guest rejects the options you offer, sadly, the booking platforms will still charge their costs, and we’ll be forced to apply our cancellation fee.

What if I can’t afford to pay the fee?
We understand that cancellations can be unexpected. Please reach out to our Host Support team here, and they will do their best to discuss options that may help.