Vrbo to Charge Hosts 100% Penalty for Failed Guest Check-Ins

Vrbo has introduced a new policy imposing 100 percent financial penalties on US hosts who deny guests access to a reserved property. For example, if a guest books a $2000 stay and cannot access the accommodation, the host faces a $2000 penalty.

Starting October 1, 2025, the new rule will apply to most situations where guests fail to check in due to host malice, miscommunication, or unforeseen obstacles like a malfunctioning smart lock.

This policy treats almost any check-in failure as equivalent to a host-initiated cancellation.

In addition to the penalty, hosts must refund the full amount to the guests, which means they face a double financial loss.

Hosts that repeatedly violate the policy may be temporarily suspended or removed from the platform.

To avoid such penalties, hosts are advised to ensure that smart locks are functional, maintain consistent communication with guests, provide clear instructions, and have backup access measures such as local co-hosts or property managers.

Just a week ago, Airbnb also announced a not-so-host-friendly policy: The platform will switch hosts to a single-fee structure, replacing the current split-fee model, where the service charge is divided between the host and the guest.

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash