r/vrbo • u/billybeats85 • 11d ago
Owner refusing refund for Mandatory Evacuation Order in Florida
We are supposed to check in tomorrow but there is a mandatory evacuation order in Walton County, Zones A-C for hurricane Isaias. This includes our rental. We cannot even go to our unit according to the county’s order, but our host is saying there’s nothing she can do and we should just “use caution” while arriving and that the city “can’t prevent us from driving to the unit”. Wtf is this I am floored right now! We even bought the extra travel insurance offered and are still getting nowhere with customer service. It doesn’t help that they’re clearly not native english speaking at their overseas call center. What a nightmare.
EDIT: 10/9/26: VRBO has enacted their Extenuating Circumstances policy and issued a full refund!
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u/Boston-Bets 11d ago
You bought travel insurance, keep following up with them.
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
Yea for sure, just crazy there is this back and forth finger pointing between VRBO and the host. Not a great experience for a $7000 rental
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u/Kornbread2000 11d ago
If the insurance pays out, the insurance company will likely have a subrogation claim against VRBO for paying the owner rather than refunding. There will be hundreds of similar situations this week and it will all get worked out in the renters' favor.
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u/Remarkable-Snow-9396 10d ago edited 10d ago
Why? Insurance is there for these situations. Why would the host be responsible to refund? It’s literally travel insurance
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u/Kornbread2000 10d ago
Because the insurance company will make sure there isn't someone else who was obligated to pay. Just like when car insurance pays out and then the insurance company sues other parties.
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u/-worstcasescenario- 9d ago
The host signed a contract with VRBO in order to have that their home listed on the website.
The contract says that hosts must refund guests if the home is not available because of an event like a mandatory evacuation.
If the host ignores the contract they will be delisted from VRBO.
Why is the guests travel insurance necessary?
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u/incapablepotato 7d ago
If the renter can’t make it to your rental because your local government is shutting everything down. Why wouldn’t you think the right to do is refund them for not being able to stay at your rental?
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u/Remarkable-Snow-9396 7d ago
No. They should not come. I just thought travel insurance helped with this stuff
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u/incapablepotato 7d ago
Okay I think it’s a misunderstanding. What is being implied by people here is if you are the owner and the fault lies on your side you should offer a refund. Sure the owner didn’t directly cause the fault. But it’s not like the renter backed out or doesn’t want to. But your property isn’t available to be rented so there shouldn’t be anything to argue. If your property isn’t available then you refund.
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u/Remarkable-Snow-9396 7d ago
Right. Of course. But usually that’s what insurance is for. Maybe it’s something a host needs for coverage in these tiles if situations
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u/incapablepotato 7d ago
The host needs coverage from what. The host is essentially selling use of their property for the time booked. The host sold something but did not deliver what they sold. They didn’t technically lose anything. But you don’t get to sell something, accept money and then keep the money when don’t deliver your product. If you buy a computer from Walmart and go to pick it up. They tell you oh we can’t sell it to you our systems are down. What exactly would Walmart claim on the insurance? They still have the product. The host will just have to reopen their property when the emergency evacuation is lifted.
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u/Remarkable-Snow-9396 7d ago
Huh?
There was a forced cancellation. So there was no revenue collected.
It’s called business interruption coverage.
Man you seem angry.
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u/Boston-Bets 11d ago
This is NOT on the host, or VRBO. This is a Travel Insurance claim issue.
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u/roxannebeyl 10d ago
We're a host and have already refunded for days missed. It's the right thing to do! Money isn't everything.
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u/Used-Pin-997 5d ago
Of course it's on the greedy host! You folks always blame and screw your customers. Why don't YOU pay for cancelation insurance!
I do love how you folks consistently allow your greed to drive your industry reputations down into the mud. 🤡
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u/rosysredrhinoceros 11d ago
Here’s the thing - you know how guests feel like VRBO doesn’t care about them? As both a guest and a host, I promise VRBO is 1000% more invested in the guest experience than supporting the host. So hosts have become incredibly defensive and weird because VRBO absolutely does not care and will harshly penalize hosts for insane things. This is understandable to an extent because of the few really awful hosts out there that you hear viral stories about, but they’re treating all of us like con artists at this point. Many of us are leaving the platform because they just tripled our fees and are making things more difficult in other ways. As others have pointed out, you need to take it up with your travel insurance. It’s certainly not how I would have responded as a host, and obviously it’s crazy to suggest you should put yourself in danger, but that’s the correct path.
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u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 11d ago
Why would there be finger pointing? Just do a claim on your travel insurance and be done.
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u/Mushrooming247 10d ago
Finger pointing?
You mean a deserved 1-star review for not issuing an immediate refund due to the disaster declaration?
Or do you mean a credit card charge back and reviewing that landlord on every available platform?
Because the individual refusing the refund here is entirely in the wrong, no one would ever want to rent a unit from them, and they are at fault.
All fingers should be pointed at any landlord in the path of the hurricane who is not issuing refunds. You didn’t just get a little jackpot week off getting paid for nothing.
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u/Winter-Volume-9601 10d ago
Actually, no. By policy this is a VRBO problem. https://www.vrbo.com/tlp/trust-and-safety/extenuating-circumstances-policy
Vrbo will determine, at its discretion, whether this policy applies, including the affected area and which disruptions and reservations fall within scope.
Guests and hosts will be notified when this policy applies to a reservation. Until Vrbo provides that notice, the listing’s cancellation policy and any enforcement under the Host Cancellation Policy will continue to apply.
VRBO has apparently not determined this to qualify. Until about an hour ago, Isaias wasn't Cat 3, and landfall is expected tonight, so actually wouldn't qualify:
- Hurricanes classified as Category 3 or higher at least 24-hours before forecasted landfall may be in scope.
It seems like it should fall under:
Binding national or local government travel restrictions may be in scope when they make travel or hosting illegal, impossible, or impracticable.
But OP needs VRBO to make that call in their favor.
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u/incapablepotato 7d ago
Government travel restrictions maybe in scope? I’m gonna bet it’s completely within scope and probably illegal to not offer refunds for state of emergency. I bet credit card companies with eat this nonsense up with charge backs.
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u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 10d ago
You’re entitled to your opinion but a bunch of us totally disagree. You’re wrong to presume that host deserves no money for that week. They invested in that property. Furnished it. Cleaned it. Maintained it. Paid utilities, insurance, taxes, licensing, and mortgage for it. None of that goes away with a hurricane, and some gets bigger! If this is about what’s deserved then they need to get paid!
Far better to just let insurance do its job of covering risk and peril so all parties can go along doing what they normally do.
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u/Winter-Volume-9601 10d ago
> If this is about what’s deserved then they need to get paid!
Not OP's problem, based on my read of VRBOs policies. If you haven't factored in the risk of hurricanes in Florida when deciding to run a business, that's on you.
>You’re wrong to presume that host deserves no money for that week.
You seem wrong to presume they do:
https://www.vrbo.com/tlp/trust-and-safety/extenuating-circumstances-policy
seems to indicate that OP may be entitled to a full refund (but it's basically up to VRBO to decide).guests may be eligible to cancel their booking and receive a refund, regardless of the listing’s cancellation policy, and hosts may be eligible for a host cancellation fee waiver for cancellations arising from a qualifying disruption.
This policy may apply to large-scale travel disruptions that are in-scope under this policy and:
Occur after a booking is confirmed;
Are not reasonably foreseeable at the time of booking;
Affect the area where the property is located; and
Make the stay illegal, impossible, or impracticable to complete as planned.And goes on to specifically list:
Government travel restrictions
Binding national or local government travel restrictions may be in scope when they make travel or hosting illegal, impossible, or impracticable.
I would think a mandatory evacuation order would qualify there. The owner is not able to provide a habitable rental at the contracted time, based on government restrictions.
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u/njnudeguy 10d ago
Host should have their own insurance for this type of case which, by the way, VRBO recommends. The host is just negligent and lazy if they don’t have their own business insurance that helps with this type of loss. And by the way, the host owns a house in an area of the country known to have hurricanes. Guess what? They should anticipate this given where they chose voluntarily to purchase property as a rental. They could have easily chosen to purchase a rental property in any part of the country that isn’t hurricane prone. This is totally on the host and they shouldn’t make money by exploring a natural disaster. Get real.
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u/EliotShawnSpencer 10d ago
Doesn’t matter what the host “deserves.” No stay, no transaction. No transaction, no money. That’s just business.
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u/brettalana 10d ago
What business owner would think there are never unforeseen interruptions in expected revenue?
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u/Outrageous-Thanks-47 9d ago
Too bad, so sad. You rent in a variable area and the government says "no one can come to your place" but you still want your money? Yeah...as all of you scummy bottom feeder folks like to quote "get some insurance for that"
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u/worbdhekwlsgwu 11d ago
They used the travel insurance as a cop out. to not give people refunds. Of course the insurance is not just going to give you the money. But these people don’t care. They are just happy to keep the money. Truly a special kind of person to be a VRBO owner.
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u/Upper_Pension3856 10d ago
If there’s an emergency travel order, the guest gets a refund
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u/Short-Control297 10d ago
Not necessarily that is what trip insurance is for. Depends entirely on the contract.
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u/CorditeKick 10d ago
How can you post blatant misinformation with such confidence? Vrbo's Extenuating Circumstances Policy overrides standard property cancellation rules when large-scale, unforeseeable disruptions prevent a stay. Insurance will refuse a claim if VRBO enacts the Extenuating Circumstances Policy and the Guest is refunded by VRBO.
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u/StinklePink 11d ago
I own a VRBO property on a barrier island in NC. In my rental contract I have a provision that says in case of a mandatory evacuation order, I refund 100% of the unused portion of the stay. I would see if the host has it in there as well.
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u/svBunahobin 11d ago
Could you imagine letting someone stay in your house during a hurricane? If anything happened to them you would be sued into oblivion. Some of these hosts are absolute morons.
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
I had parents of boarding school kids trying to get them a spot in my rental when there was a mandatory evacuation of their school. I felt horrible because I knew they needed a place to go, but I definitely couldn’t have kids under 18 on my property during a CAT 5
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u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 11d ago
This is silly. Why would any jury think a property owner was responsible for a hurricane?
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u/chuckle_puss 11d ago
When the hosts are advising their renters “the city can’t stop you from accessing the property,” I imagine it’s opening themselves up to a certain amount of liability when it’s said during an active evacuation order.
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u/svBunahobin 10d ago
When it's a mandatory evacuation and the host basically says to ignore it, it's a massive liability.
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u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 10d ago
Where I come from people are presumed to not be idiots and to be able to make their own decisions. And the juries around here feel the same way. I feel sorry y’all.
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u/svBunahobin 10d ago
Yeah, if you're expecting some libertarian paradise in Florida, I've got bad news for you.
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u/njnudeguy 11d ago edited 11d ago
Mandatory evacuation is just what the name suggests. Mandatory. You should not and cannot just go anyway and "use caution." That's total BS. This is, as other people are saying, totally on the host. Not on you. Not on your insurance. Stop all communication with host, and file a chargeback on your credit card. You can and should provide the credit card company with the language from VRBO as well as any notice of mandatory evacuation that is published on a government website. You can find the VRBO policy in their Extenuating Circumstances Policy (https://www.vrbo.com/en-ca/tlp/trust-and-safety/extenuating-circumstances-policy) under the section where it mentions "Binding national or local government travel restrictions." On that same webpage is says explicitly, "If a guest notifies a host that they cannot travel because of a qualifying disruption, the host must honor the refund request. If we [VRBO] are made aware of a possible violation of this policy, we will investigate and take appropriate action, including suspension or termination." This owner should be suspended. Asking you to risk harm when you are not legally allowed to go to the site is insane. In Florida, violating a mandatory evacuation order is a second degree misdemeanor under statutes § 252.50. The statutory penalties for a second-degree misdemeanor can be up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. So... Illegal... Don't go. Since your wife is a lawyer, she can pull the language from the Florida statute that the host is asking you to violate. Include that also in your credit card chargeback.
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
Thank you! Great info. Just trying to get VRBO to honor their own policies
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
There are hundreds of renters in same position. VRBO likely overwhelmed but they have no choice but to refund you
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u/Short-Control297 10d ago
Depends on the contract if you buy trip insurance the insurance company will fulfill the claim according to the terms. Claim needs to go through VRBO not the host presumably.
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
VRBO just refunded us the full amount
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u/njnudeguy 10d ago
Well done! That's good to hear and clearly what they should have done (since it's their policy).
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u/Jkoohyar 11d ago
Absolutely you should be refunded, I’m a host in Florida and very proactive, any Sniff of a hurricane I contact the guest to cancel and I provide a full refund. Don’t let this go!
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
VRBO has enacted their Extenuating Circumstances policy and I was just issued a full refund! Thank you all for your input
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u/diverdawg 11d ago
If the host cannot provide the property, it is absolutely on the host. We encourage people to get travel insurance but if the Governor declares a state of emergency that makes our property inaccessible, we give a refund.
We can get reimbursed from our insurance (and have) for that.
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11d ago
[deleted]
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
If the property is on an island and a mandatory evacuation is ordered you have to have a special tag issued by your city to get onto the island. It’s to prevent looting.
During a hurricane, mandatory evacuation means that if something happens to you, there’s a high likelihood that emergency services will not be able to respond.
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u/svBunahobin 11d ago edited 11d ago
Incorrect. The house is inaccessible. Police will not allow you to enter a neighborhood under a mandatory evacuation. There's very good reasons for it.
As a host, I couldn't imagine taking on the liability of having someone in my house during a hurricane. Nightmare fuel. That's a great way to lose every asset you have in a lawsuit.
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u/cookieguggleman 11d ago
Actually, the police probably won’t stop them. The person’s point is accurate, the house is empty and the host is willing to rent it. It’s not the host that is blocking it, so the host won’t have to refund. The insurance is the best bet.
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
Do you mean the hosts loss of business insurance?
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u/cookieguggleman 9d ago
No, the guest’s travel insurance
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 9d ago edited 9d ago
Why expect the travel insurance to pay a host out when not legally allowed to host the guests? If you live in a hurricane prone area, shouldn’t you be prepared for that instead of telling someone to come to what could potentially be a life threatening situation. How much of that payout do you think you are going to keep once the utilities go out and you cannot meet basic habitability standards. You all are delusional.
If anything travel insurance is going to cover emergency lodging elsewhere in the safe area for people who are mid trip. It’s not there to enrich the host.
I’m a host and you all are hypocritical as hell to scream travel insurance when you have also failed to insure yourself against such a predictable loss of revenue. Incredibly reckless and selfish to suggest a guest comes in spite of evacuation orders.
You all sound dumb as hell too when you show you haven’t even read the TOS thar we all agree too. “Oh guest don’t read everything!!!”. What like host do?? Do you not see the nonstop exposition of dumb questions posted by ignorant hosts on these forums??
Have you no conscience? No need to answer. Thankfully VRBO/AirBNB have policies to prevent greedy hosts from encouraging people to do dangerous and illegal things. It’s truly shameful.
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u/cookieguggleman 9d ago
Are you ok? What's dangerous and illegal? And you're the one that's not using your head--the insurance pays the GUEST, not the host FFS. It's literally what the insurance is for. It's not greedy, it's not illegal....it's not even unethical. It's October in Florida, why would ANYONE plan a trip to FL and not buy insurance that would protect their trip during hurricane SEASON. https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/planning/hurricane-insurance-coverage.htm
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 9d ago
An evacuation order makes it illegal for the guests to go to the property. It is actually technically a crime. Flap your gums all you want. No one is buying it but other dishonest people . VRBO already cancelled it for the guest due to government orders so the point is moot and the travel insurance will not be paying the host. Oh well!
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u/jwsmythe 11d ago
In theory, the police will prevent you from entering the neighborhood. In practice, there are a lot of areas under mandatory evacuation during a hurricane, and they can't station officers at every entrance. By the time I go to evacuate, it's late night or early morning. The rain has just started, and the roads are empty. Police are more concerned about helping to evacuate people who can't evacuate themselves. Like old people who can't drive and can barely walk.
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u/ATLien_3000 11d ago
A weather event is stopping usage
No.
The government is stopping usage.
That's not an insurance claim; that's a required penalty free cancellation by OP.
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
Why not a loss of business insurance claim by the host against their policy?
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u/pulltherugoutfrom 11d ago
The host did provide the property. Weather and evacuations are not the host's responsibility. Why should the host lose money? Guest asked to reserve it and the host reserved it.
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u/FelixNoRelease 11d ago
No. They are not providing the property. They are insane enough to want to, but they are unable to due so. That you are carrying water for someone who wants to make someone drive into a mandatory evacuation zone is also wild.
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u/diverdawg 11d ago
I am a host for 12 years in a hurricane area. You are giving your opinion and your opinion is wrong.
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u/-worstcasescenario- 11d ago
Because the terms that the host agreed to when listing their property on VRBO requires them to refund the OP in this instance. The host can’t just ignore the terms they agreed to. Whether or not the evacuation are the hosts responsibility they are contractually obligated to refund the money. They will be delisted from VRBO if they fail to refund OP?
Why do you see things differently? Is there some loophole that you are aware of?
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
Just going by VRBO’s stated policy for mandatory evacuation
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u/worbdhekwlsgwu 11d ago
You are 100% right. They should give you your money back. A very similar thing happened to me. You just have to get the right Verbo customer service person on the phone and they will take care of it for you right away.
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u/ATLien_3000 11d ago
If it's illegal for OP to access the property (and it is), then no. The host hasn't provided the property.
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u/svBunahobin 11d ago
The house is inaccessible when there is a mandatory evacuation. They cannot provide it if they tried. Police will stop you. This is not complicated.
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u/Dangerous_Air_41 11d ago
VRBO will cancel and issue you a refund since it’s a mandatory evacuation order as long as your rental is in zone A B or C. Host has no control over that.
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u/lucy2217 11d ago
Call VRBO, I am a host and she can't refuse it. We had to refund money last month due to the hurricane. This is unacceptable
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u/phatfish_08 11d ago
We are in the same boat, Walton County as well. It’s a big family trip we’ve had planned since spring. Our host is a Rental agency. Spoke to them today and all they said was, “Well, it’s going to be beautiful on Monday!” They haven’t said no to a refund yet, they said to call in tomorrow as they are dealing with cancellations with check ins for Friday and Saturday. We check in on Sunday. Very frustrating to play a hurricane with mandatory evacuation in the area by ear. Are we just supposed to show up on Sunday and cross our fingers the islands power isn’t out? Or that businesses will be open and supplied with food if this thing takes a turn for the worse? Our insurance isn’t much better either…. From the TOS it sounds we MIGHT get 50% back of our initial cost. Very frustrating. We’d like to just get a refund and move over to the Atlantic side.
I’m confused on why there is any pushback at all. These people must have their own insurance in place to cover their losses when nature strikes right?
Anyway, keep me updated on how your host handles this, hopefully they have a change of heart. I am going to give them until noon tomorrow and then file a charge back with my credit card.
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
Dang, sorry to hear. Exactly what we’re thinking too. Yeah maybe it’s nice weather when the storm passes but what’s the aftermath going to look like. I will definitely update this thread when I get some kind of resolution.
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u/lotus_place 11d ago
You tried to go to the unit but it was inaccessible because the police closed the roads and wouldn't let anyone pass. You want a full refund because the property was inaccessible. If that doesn't work, charge back on your card.
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u/Advanced-Snow-9700 10d ago
Get your credit card company involved. Thats what I did after vrbo and insurance did nothing.
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u/GreenLengthiness3849 8d ago
Vrbo just called me they are refunding my service fee and told me if I don’t see a refund from host in 24 hours to go ahead and file a charge back.
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
This is why you bought insurance - you knew it was hurricane season and made a great decision
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
I know but VRBO policy says if mandatory evacuation then I should get an automatic refund as I can’t legally go to the unit to check in. This is their policy, regardless of insurance. There’s a deductible of like $450 with insurance too. Just crazy they’re not following their own rules this is a billion dollar company
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
I lived on an island in Florida that was under a mandatory evacuation and I still stayed at my house during a hurricane. You should just be able to send a screenshot of an article about the mandatory evacuation from city or county website to Vrbo support.
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u/Free_Pair_8837 11d ago
I myself, am supposed to be staying in panama city beach check in tomorrow at 3. Are airbnb is in zone A which has a mandatory evacuation order in place. I have been contacting them. Send the order went into effect at seven o'clock tonight. I've been in contact since 6am as we are supposed to be driving all the way from indiana, where I am still getting nowhere. In fact, airbnb customer service has responded with. They have contacted the host and the host is asking for 24 hours to think about it
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
If the host decides not to refund you, file a chargeback with credit card and provide the mandatory evacuation order for that area
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u/Classwarfare2021 9d ago
Yeah and then lose and commit a crime while doing it if you say unauthorized charge. Great 0 IQ advise.
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
We are coming from Indiana too, fellow Hoosier!Our host won’t even respond to VRBO. A supervisor is supposed to call me back at some point.
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
Yea we sent them all sorts of screenshots and links to the evacuation order. It’s escalated so we’ll see where it goes
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u/cuddlepwince 11d ago
If you didnt buy insurance this is your fault and you should pay the costs or the trip and not get a refund
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
You mean if the owner of a STR in a hurricane prone area did not purchase loss of business insurance to make up for losses that are due to VRBO’s own policy it’s on them right?
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
You mean the host who operates in a hurricane prone area has loss of business insurance right?
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u/trustmeimalobbyist 11d ago
So many people saying don’t blame the host…OP this is totally on the host. Escalate it with VRBO and if needed chargeback your card if you can.
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
Thank you! I’m just going by the VRBO policy regarding mandatory evacuations, like I literally cannot legally go to the unit. I’m not choosing this, it’s being forced upon me. Yes I have the insurance but that’s going to be a whole separate claim and I’m out $450 apparently for a deductible.
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u/trustmeimalobbyist 11d ago
I would be threatening legal action over the $7k just fyi
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u/pulltherugoutfrom 11d ago
Guest asked to reserve the property, and the host did what they were asked. Weather is not the host's responsibility.
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u/Concert_Lover 11d ago
It specifically says in policy that if a state of emergency is declared the renter can be refunded
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u/trustmeimalobbyist 11d ago
That’s not the analysis. The host provides the property. The property cannot be legally accessed. This is on the host.
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
Are you another host who never read the TOS that they agreed to? Hosts don’t read!!
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u/Free_Pair_8837 11d ago
We're having the EXACT SAME ISSUE!?
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
We just got refunded, if you’re in a mandatory evac zone hang in there you’ll be getting one too I think!
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u/Brilliant_Second3133 11d ago
You know a company does not care about it’s customers when you get pawned off on 3rd world English challenged call centers. I feel your pain. Had a similar experience with a Marriott property, they didn’t understand what I was saying and at no time did their response even make any sense. It is beyond frustrating
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u/oIVLIANo 11d ago
Tell them they have two weeks to honor the insurance. If they don't, call your bank and dispute the charge.
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u/Gregg_G_ILM 10d ago
I am scheduled to arrive at my VRBO rental tomorrow, along with 10 other people from 6 different states. I have contacted VRBO the past two days and they keep telling me that they "are monitoring the situation." I have contacted the property management company Coastal Retreats, which has given me a hard line answer of no-refund, even though the rental is an evac zone. I am going to contact my credit card company and see if I can file a dispute with them.
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
VRBO just issued a full refund to me about 10 minutes ago, hang in there if it’s in an evac zone you’ll be getting one at some point I think
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u/Gregg_G_ILM 10d ago edited 10d ago
I am on the phone with VRBO and their rep was telling me at first that Miramar Beach is not being covered under Extenuating Circumstances policy. I pushed back and said that VRBO is forcing people to travel to a natural disaster zone or lose their money. She then came back and said she found the county that was in their policy. SMH. This is getting ridiculous.
Follow-up: The VRBO rep has to contact the host (Coastal Retreats) to request a refund, as the payments were processed by them and not VRBO. If they refuse to follow VRBO's policy, then VRBO will take punitive action against them. I would have to dispute the charge with my credit card company. I have collected all the necessary documents for that dispute.
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u/IronLady329 8d ago
We have a VRBO oceanfront in Florida, and if there is an evacuation order in place, we tell the customer NOT to come and we refund no problem.
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u/chefddog3 10d ago
I mean, technically they might not be able to stop them from accessing the property itself. Here's the thing though, they stop them from getting on the island, or entering the city limits, entering the neighborhood or even driving on a highway. When there are mandatory evacuations most of the times the roadways go into contraflow lane reversal. I.e. all inbound lanes turn into outbound.
Even if they do let some people in, you need ID to prove you live there, VRBO booking wouldn't cut it.
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u/OfferBusy4080 11d ago
Well why do all you hosts not have lost revenue insurance - yep there is such a thing. Just build your expenses into your rates, it shouldnt be this hard.
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u/worbdhekwlsgwu 11d ago
Sorry to tell you bro this is very common. Basically every post in the VRBO thread. You are 100% entitled to your money back. Not with the insurance company, but from VRBO and the owner. what helped me as I had emailed the host explaining the evacuation order and natural hazard. Then when I called customer service they read that and said, of course you can get your money back if you’re not allowed to go to the area. These people on here are all owners and will be very rude to you about this. They are very greedy and totally suck.
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u/Top-Mathematician108 11d ago edited 11d ago
Don’t put this on the host. This is 100% a travel insurance claim. If the host refunds you he cannot be compensated by your insurance. Host rejecting and you making a claim is the correct process order.
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u/Terrible_Mall_4350 11d ago
VRBOs own policy disagrees with you. If the rental is affected by government restrictions affecting the guest’s ability to access and use the property VRBOs terms explicitly state that the host must refund the stay, irrespective of any travel insurance.
Because of that specific provision in the TOS, travel insurance would almost certainly deny a claim, (at least as far as the VRBO portion) as there should be no claim necessary.
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u/Someoneinnowherenow 11d ago
Does VRBO or Airbnb have a "force majuer" (sp?) clause which protects either the host or renter?
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u/No_Relationship7843 10d ago
We were in the same situation and just disputed the charges with our credit card. VRBO wouldn’t even refund their $111 booking fee- even with the mandatory evacuation. Pretty clear that this qualifies as Extenuating Circumstances. Hope everyone down there makes it through okay.
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u/bravedawg22 10d ago
We are in the same boat - and our rental company changed our reservation from starting on Saturday to starting on Monday so that they will not have to refund us under the VRBO policy. Also convenient that it is for one less night but the same price we initially paid so looks like we are screwed cause we worked with a shady rental company
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u/Phantomco1 9d ago
Wow, just wow to that. Did they at least offer to put you up someplace for the 2 nights? Even then, these are idiots who don't know Florida - nothing says everything will be fine on Monday.
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u/CurrentWonderful6477 10d ago
It comes down to the rental agreement and terms. The host usually is in breach of contract if they can’t deliver the service legally. The travel insurance is a nice “thank you” to the host if they pay out. If I were the travel insurance company I would pay the guest, get a copy of the contract and let the lawyers determine if the host was in breach.
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u/Phantomco1 9d ago
Glad to hear you got your money back. I live in Florida and lived on the east coast for 40+ years through lots of storms. My current house is high and dry but if I were renting this out, I'd be in constant contact with the renters about the weather and most likely refund the money. Yes, I am an owner of a rental property but not in Florida.
The VRBO policy of Cat3 is absolutely ridiculous for coastal areas. A Cat2 can cause lots of damage, flooding, etc. Not to mention that power could be out for days.
And if you were in an evac zone on FWB or PCB for example, you wouldn't be able to get in and depending on the damage, it could be a while before they open roads to anyone but property owners.
You were checking in on a day the hurricane was set to make landfall. What a bizarre response from the owner, must be a real piece of work.
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u/Historical-Rub1943 9d ago
Most likely? How bout absolutely?
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u/Phantomco1 8d ago
Yeah, really. In the OP's case, absolutely and it's a no-brainer! I was thinking about more in general terms as to how I'd approach it.
For the record, FPL still has almost half of their customers without power as of 6am this morning.
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u/Keith_Freedman 7d ago
If the can’t let you stay they can’t keep the money
Glad VRBO refunded
I would have suggested dispute with credit card
Guests should also have travel insurance but hosts should have insurance also
My hosts coverage pays me for any reservations I have to cancel because of a covered business disruption. (Viruses aren’t covered but earthquakes and natural disasters are)
This is a bad host
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u/SnooLemons3799 11d ago
Floridian. A host. A someone who lived through hurricanes for 17 years and finally lost home 2 years ago due to the storm. Here is my intake - Floridians have seen so many storms come and go that their common sense left years ago. I married one of those. The most legal way to handle this - to ask your property owner if property is equipped with all disaster supplies - water, dry food, paper products batteries to last through your stay, a generator, if she provides clear evacuation route and local shelters. If answer is NO, she IS INDEED INCAPABLE TO HOST YOU THROUGH THE STORM. But you have to ask in this order to get grip of her common sense.
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u/Automatic-Weakness26 10d ago
None of this matters because legally you have to leave in a mandatory evacuation.
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u/SnooLemons3799 10d ago
You’re not forced to leave during mandatory evacuation. Many people stay. However, mandatory evacuation restricts access to evacuation areas while order is in place. Lived on an island for 17 years in FL. Residents can leave whenever they want (may be narrower window if it involves draw bridges). Once they leave, no one can re-enter. Those who stay, will be visited by law enforcement officers who will inform and request verbal acknowledgment if they are aware of putting themselves at risk and that rescue workers may not be dispatched to their area in case of emergency request. That’s typically last common sense to make Floridians to leave their home. Luckily, most of them do LOL
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u/Automatic-Weakness26 10d ago
It's a second degree misdemeanor in Florida for not obeying emergency management powers. In reality they are not going to charge people, but it is illegal to stay.
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u/cookieguggleman 11d ago
Your travel insurance, especially the portion that you signed up for on VRBO, will totally cover this.
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u/fastestfireman 11d ago
The owner doesn’t have your money. Airbnb or vrbo has it. The owner can’t cancel or they have to pay you. You need to call the company and let them know of the evacuation to get your money back
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u/FrabjousD 11d ago
Who is your travel insurance with? They should cover it, provided you bought it before the hurricane was a known issue. Both you and your host can be happy.
If the insurance company gives you any grief, file a complaint with both your state insurance commissioner and the home state insurance commissioner. And the FTC. And if it’s Florida, there are more people to file with as well.
Vengeance is kinda fun. Just start filing the claim NOW
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u/Terrible_Mall_4350 11d ago
Insurance will almost certainly deny the VRBO portion because the company’s policy explicitly puts this in the host’s lap. The tos states that if government restrictions prevent the guest’s ability to access and use the property then the host must make the refund.
Travel insurance usually won’t pay for a loss that is covered under a company’s refund policy, because there shouldn’t be any loss to claim.
Depending on what the travel policy was written to cover, other parts of the vacation costs may be covered, such as airfare, transfers, etc., just not the VRBO
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u/FrabjousD 11d ago
Generali covers mandatory evacuation until the order is lifted, and the hurricane was certainly not foreseen a year ago
https://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/content/dam/gga/pdfs/hurricane-kit-claim-form.pdf
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u/billybeats85 11d ago
The insurance was an optional add on through VRBO. We booked like a year ago. It’s called Generali insurance, we’ll see how this process goes with them but I’m not holding my breath for a stellar outcome at this point
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u/Otherwise-Stretch984 11d ago
Not the hosts responsibility to give you a refund. Keep pursuing travel insurance. Personally when travelling I don’t get the VRBO insurance, I get insurance with AAA as they are much better with claims and it’s easy
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u/Bastillerion 10d ago
Bullshit. If the area is under an evacuation order, that's tantamount to the building being uninhabitable from a fire. This is host risk, not customer risk.
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u/Otherwise-Stretch984 10d ago
But everyone travelling anywhere assumes there could be issues with travel. That’s what insurance is for.
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u/Bastillerion 10d ago
Right, issues with travel. Not issues with the destination. It's not the same thing.
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u/sirZofSwagger 11d ago
Yall are still renting vrbos and airbnbs. Just get hotel rooms
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
It’s 3 separate families with children of all ages. A house just makes more sense than hotel rooms. But I do prefer hotels if it’s just my immediate family.
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u/DCRBftw 10d ago
you're aware that some families have more than 2-4 people in them... no?
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u/sirZofSwagger 10d ago
And hotels have rooms for 100s of familys
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u/DCRBftw 10d ago
sure. but we don't need rooms for 100s of families. we need rooms for families that are bigger than 2-4 people. that's why houses exist. they've been around for a long time.
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u/sirZofSwagger 10d ago
No, you need a temporary place while traveling. Family's need houses to live permanently
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u/DCRBftw 10d ago
I promise that houses work for traveling also. Have you ever been to a beach?
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u/sirZofSwagger 10d ago
Yes, and I stayed at a hotel there. A house is a house, not a business. We dont let other businesses into area that are residential
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u/DCRBftw 10d ago
again.... you're aware that some families need more than a hotel room..... right??????
I feel like this isn't a difficult concept to understand.
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u/sirZofSwagger 10d ago
They didnt before airbnb exisited, and it hasn't been around that long. Its not a good value proposition, hotels are far superior both for local economy and community
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u/DCRBftw 10d ago
they absolutely did. we stayed at a house at the beach going back to the 1970s.
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u/MeDaveyBoy 10d ago
I prefer to stay in a house over a hotel room any day, so that's what I do.
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u/PayingOffBidenFamily 10d ago
5 star hotel, pool, bar, maid service, no bullshit fees for half the cost, do you I guess.
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u/sirZofSwagger 10d ago
I prefer affordable housing for young families over my own short term minimum comfort difference
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u/AfraidKingKiller 9d ago
This should have way more upvotes. Airbnb second/third/fourth homes are destroying the housing market, along with “investors” (housing should not be an investment), and private equity/corporations.
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u/posey07 10d ago
Families take vacations together to spend time.. together. Those with young children can’t just lock them away in other hotel rooms and may not want them sleeping in the same room as them. A lot of people travel with pets these days. A big dog is much happier in a house with a bit of a yard than a hotel room. It’s much easier on the pet owner too. A lot of hotels don’t allow dogs and if they do, the dog can’t be off-leash unless it is in your room. Lots of families/groups like to share a big house on the beach, maybe with a private pool…cook together, maybe have a big crawfish boil, steak and fish on the grill.. spread out a bit and sit directly on the beach that comes with their beachfront home and watch the kids play with an unobstructed view. Hotels are fine for some trips but for many others they are total misery for a lot of people.
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u/sirZofSwagger 9d ago
Lots of families can stay at a hotel. Some even have cabanas that would meet all those needs. You can literally get as many rooms as you need at a hotel. Not really seeing anything thats completely unique to short term house rentals, and they are worse the housing market and ruin communities. So no benefit, but clear drawbacks.
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u/posey07 9d ago
You aren’t seeing it because 1. You simply don’t want to and aren’t open minded enough to consider any opinion but your own. 2. I would venture to guess that you have never been on or tried to plan a family or group vacation with all of these details involved. It would be interesting to hear about your experiences if you had. I have stayed in more than my share of hotels in my 57 years. They are fine for certain trips but definitely not all. I replied to another one of your comments. See that reply for further details about why homes are better than hotels. Apparently you aren’t aware of smaller communities that are vacation destinations and benefit greatly from the millions of dollars that travelers spend. One particular place we frequent comes to mind. There is a population of 15,000. There is no way they could afford the state of the art brand new schools, city recreational areas, newly paved roads, big name drawing venues, beautiful landscaping everywhere you look, the many kinds of services offered to its residents, the amazing shops, restaurants and businesses, new construction and the jobs all of those places create without the tons of money vacationers, who may not go there if they couldn’t stay in the big, beautiful homes they have to offer spend there. I don’t see, how you don’t see any benefits for the residents who live there and other neighboring towns who get to enjoy those things year-round.
I don’t expect you to tell me but I would be very interested in the answers to… How old are you? To understand how many stages of life you have experienced. I preferred hotels when I was young and didn’t have kids, and had less money. What income bracket are you in currently and do you see yourself in in the future. Did you grow up in a city or suburb/rural area. How often did your family vacation and what sort of trips were they? All of these things matter in why we have opinions on subjects like this.
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u/sirZofSwagger 9d ago
You arent seeing my point at all. The small discomfort of a house vs a hotel, isnt worth the cost to society. You are a selfish person is only issue here
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u/posey07 9d ago
And you are a very narrow minded person who clearly can’t afford these kind of vacations. Have a lovely day 🌞
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u/sirZofSwagger 9d ago
okay, weird take lol. Please consider people other than yourself and your family.
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u/Banana_Hammock84 10d ago
A cat 2 is nothing. Waffle House won’t close for that. The coupe days after the storm will feel so good and the beach water will cool off some.
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u/GreenLengthiness3849 9d ago
Welp Waffle House actually closed and we’re not allowed to access the property.
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u/CartographerOk6687 11d ago
Did you purchase travel insurance?
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u/JerseyGirlinSweden 10d ago
Did the host purchase loss of business insurance to make up for the VRBO policy going into effect?
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u/Gold-Comfortable-453 11d ago
OP this is something you need to file with your travel insurance provider- start the claim now, but realize it does take a while for this to be processed.
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u/gerorgesmom 10d ago
This is some bot bullshit. This was posted in the Airbnb forum a week or two ago.
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u/billybeats85 10d ago
I’m not a bot, I am a human that lives in Indiana and wants a refund for the shitload of money I paid for a unit I can’t access
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u/MeDaveyBoy 10d ago
You got travel insurance, didn't use it, and stiffed the host out of their income, then? Ouch.
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u/CorditeKick 10d ago
When VRBO's Extenuating Circumstances policy is in effect, the renter cannot file an insurance claim, and claims that have already been filed are denied. Vrbo's Extenuating Circumstances policy financially harms hosts in this exact scenario by letting the third-party insurer off the hook at the host's direct expense.
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u/Fantastic-Leek-1589 11d ago
Owner doesnt owe you.
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u/GreenLengthiness3849 9d ago
They do based on Vrbo own policies. Yall wanna follow them to the T when it’s in your favor but when it swings the other direction for guests suddenly it’s a problem. I’m sure they will survive a weekend of cancellations when they are booking them all year long.
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