Hostshare runs on trust between members. Every booking on Hostshare is instant, and the community depends on hosts honoring bookings. Cancellations affect a fellow member's travel plans, so they're taken seriously. If you do need to cancel a confirmed booking, you'll choose one of two options — and in either case, the affected guest is credited $50.
Your two options when you cancel
Option 1 — Pay the $100 cancellation fee
A $100 fee applies. $50 of it is credited to the affected guest, and $50 is retained by the platform. Your account remains active and in good standing.
Option 2 — Self-ban from the platform
Instead of the fee, you may permanently remove your account. You won't be able to rejoin in the future, and you'll forfeit all your credits and travel nights. The guest is still credited $50.
Either way, the guest is taken care of. The affected guest receives a $50 credit toward a future stay, regardless of which option you choose.
When these consequences don't apply
We understand that some things are genuinely outside your control. The cancellation fee and self-ban options may be waived if your cancellation results from a verified extenuating circumstance or a double-booking/calendar-sync issue outside your control.
What qualifies as an extenuating circumstance
To qualify, your situation must fall into one of the following categories, and you must provide supporting proof:
Government actions and restrictions
Mandatory evacuations due to natural disasters — earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or severe storms.
Serious illness or injury — unexpected hospitalization or a severe medical condition affecting you or your cleaning team.
Proof is required. You'll need to submit supporting documentation for your claim (such as medical records, a government notice, or an evacuation order). Our support team reviews every request, and waivers are granted only when valid proof is provided.
What does not qualify
Everyday oversights are not extenuating circumstances. The following will not waive the cancellation fee or self-ban:
✗ Forgetting to block your calendar
✗ Forgetting that you joined Hostshare
✗ Changing your mind about a booking, or deciding you'd rather rent the dates elsewhere
✗ Other avoidable oversights within your control
If you believe your cancellation qualifies, reach out to our support team with the details and your supporting proof, and we'll review it.
Repeat cancellations
Even when you pay the $100 fee each time, a pattern of repeated cancellations may result in removal from the platform. Hostshare is built on reliability — guests need to trust that a confirmed booking will be honored — so we monitor cancellation activity to keep the community dependable for everyone.
How to avoid cancellations
The best way to avoid ever needing to cancel is to keep your calendar accurate:
Use your 200 blockout days to protect any dates you don't want to share.
Keep your calendar sync connected and up to date so dates booked elsewhere are automatically blocked.
Review your availability regularly, especially during your busy season.
Looking to cancel a stay you booked as a traveler? Guest cancellations follow a different, time-based policy. See our Guest Cancellation Policy for details on refunds and returned nights.