How and when a tenant can cancel a booking depends on the cancellation policy you choose for a listing.
There are 2 cancellation policies:
Strict cancellation
Flexible cancellation
Strict Cancellation
With the strict cancellation policy, a tenant can cancel a booking either:
Within 24 hours of the booking confirmation — we’ll refund the full first month’s rent.
Cancellation after 24 hours of booking: first month’s rent minus your applied commission plan.
Within 48 hours of moving in (move-in date as per the booking on HousingAnywhere) — they may be entitled to a full refund if the property doesn't match the listing description. For example, they booked a room with a double bed but arrived and found a single bed.
Flexible Cancellation
This policy lets tenants cancel and receive a refund for the first month’s rent. Depending on when they cancel, your payout will:
Within the first 24 hours from the booking confirmation — full refund of the first month’s rent, no payout.
More than 30 days before the move-in date — full refund of the first month’s rent, no payout.
Between 7 and 30 days before the move-in date: 50% refund of the first month’s rent - minus your applied commission plan.
Less than 7 days of the move-in date: 100% of the first month’s rent paid out unless you decide to refund it to the tenant, minus your applied commission plan.
An example
If a booking is canceled between 30 days and 7 days before the move-in date, your payout will be 50% of the first month’s rent minus the percentage of your applied commission plan (for this example, we’ll use a 25% commission).
E.g.,
Monthly rent = €1000
Previous payout = €1000
New payout = 50% of first month’s rent minus 25% commission
New payout = (€1000 divided by 2) minus (25% of €500)