Guest Cancellation Requests: Request to Cancel a Reservation
Guests can request to cancel a reservation. The host reviews the request and decides whether to approve or decline it.
Last updated April 28, 2026
What is a Guest Cancellation Request?
If your plans change and you need to cancel your reservation, you can now send a cancellation request directly to the host from your reservation page. The host will review your request and can choose to approve or decline it. The reservation stays active until the host approves the cancellation.
This feature gives both guests and hosts more control over the cancellation process while keeping communication clear and transparent.
How It Works
For Guests
1. Go to your reservation page
2. Under the Actions section, click Request Cancellation
3. A popup will appear showing your reservation details (dates, guests, total)
4. Write a reason for your cancellation request
5. Click Send Cancellation Request
6. Your request is sent to the host, and you'll receive a confirmation email
7. You can see the status of your request in the reservation messages
What happens next:
- The host will review your request and can approve or decline it
- You'll receive an email notification when the host responds
- If approved, the reservation is cancelled
- If declined, the reservation remains active and you can message the host to discuss further
For Hosts
1. When a guest requests to cancel, you'll receive an email notification with a link to review the request
2. Click the link or go to the reservation messages to see the cancellation request
3. Click Review Cancellation Request to see the full details
4. You can choose to:
- Approve — The reservation will be cancelled immediately
- Decline — The reservation stays active
5. You can add a message to the guest when approving or declining
Important: Refund Policy
Houfy does not automatically process refunds when a cancellation is approved. As the host, you are responsible for handling any applicable refunds according to your cancellation policy
When you approve a cancellation, remember to process any refund owed to the guest
- You can issue refunds from the reservation page under the payment section
- Both the email notification and the cancellation request page remind you about refund responsibility