AirBnB refund refusal, can I fight this?

Lones

I had a holiday booked back in May 2020 for this January staying at an AirBnB.  As both Spain and UK are forbidding travel I assumed getting a refund would be no issue. However AirBnB state because the host has a cancellation policy in place I can not get a refund other than AirBnB's own cut of the booking.  How can this be legal as I assumed since it's not my fault and both states involved forbid travel to Tenerife (Spain recently updated their rules to include the Canaries) and no service has been provided I would be able to get a refund?

What are my options here, can I claim a refund via PayPal or am I stuck?

[Deleted User]

No. It's not the owner's fault you can't get to Tenerife. That's how it's legal.

eskbanker

Lones said:

What are my options here, can I claim a refund via PayPal or am I stuck?

Your best option will be to reclaim from your travel insurance....

Thrugelmir

Lones said:

However AirBnB state because the host has a cancellation policy in place I can not get a refund other than AirBnB's own cut of the booking.  

What's the hosts policy? You read this presumably prior to making the booking. As Covid last May was a known event. 

mattyprice4004

This is a job for travel insurance, assuming the venue was open and you just couldn't get there.

Travel restrictions aren't the hosts or AirBNB's problem, unfortunately.

[Deleted User]

Have you been in touch with the host to ask if you can defer the holiday?   Whilst they might not be willing to give a cash refund most people are being reasonable in the circumstances. 

Obviously check the t’s and c’s you agreed to as well as your insurance particulars.