Can You Kick an Airbnb Guest Out?

A few months ago, I decided to rent my house out on Airbnb and so far, things have been great. Sadly though, my last guest was a nightmare and I’ve been wondering, can you kick an Airbnb guest out? I took a closer look at Airbnb’s terms and policies to find out. I also went on Airbnb’s community forum to see how other hosts have dealt with the issue of kicking a guest out. 

So, can you kick an Airbnb guest out? The short answer is yes — as a host, you can request that an Airbnb guest leave if they break your house rules or violate Airbnb’s policies. However, it’s important to note that hosts should not physically remove guests themselves. All enforcement must go through Airbnb or local authorities if safety is at risk. There might also be a bit of a gap between Airbnb’s definition of breaking house rules and yours. If a guest breaks a house rule that is considered minor by Airbnb, they may penalize your account or apply a listing restriction for ending the stay early without sufficient justification.

That being said, there are a number of situations in which you can cancel a reservation and request Airbnb’s assistance to have a guest removed after they have checked in without having to pay a penalty. Typically, these situations involve the guest behaving in a way that negatively affects the health and safety of you or your neighbors or endangers your property. As of 2025, Airbnb’s updated Host Guarantee and Safety policies provide 24/7 access to Community Support agents who can step in, mediate, and if necessary, arrange removal and rebooking for the guest.

Can You Ask an Airbnb Guest to Leave?

According to the terms and conditions of Airbnb’s host agreement, hosts can ask Airbnb guests to leave their premises if they 

Break the House Rules

Every Airbnb guest is required to read through the house rules specified by the host and agree to them when they confirm their booking. As the host, you have a lot of leeway in determining your own house rules. Airbnb’s policies clearly state that a host can ask a guest to leave if they break those house rules, as long as they document the violation through Airbnb’s platform.

You can also cancel a reservation if the guest makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any way. Many guests use the Instant Book feature to make their reservations. Once you look at the guest’s reviews, you might not feel comfortable renting to them. At that point, you can cancel the reservation. As long as you cancel before check-in and cite “safety concerns” or “host discomfort,” Airbnb generally waives any penalties.

Endanger You or Your Property

If your guests are out of control and acting in a way that’s dangerous to your safety or that of your neighbors, you’re well within your rights to ask them to leave. In these cases, Airbnb instructs hosts to leave the property immediately if they’re onsite and feel unsafe, and to contact local authorities before confronting the guest directly.

For instance, one Airbnb host reported having some guests who booked his townhouse for the 4^th of July weekend. The guests got drunk and shot off fireworks from the balcony. The host was not on-site, but his neighbors called him to let him know what was going on. He texted the guests to let them know they were being kicked out.

In this situation, Airbnb was very supportive and did not charge the host any penalties for terminating his guests’ reservation. He did, however, have to get the police involved to force the guests to leave his property. Airbnb later suspended the guests’ accounts under its Safety and Trust policy, citing dangerous conduct and refusal to vacate.

Overstay Their Reservation

Sometimes, you’ll have guests who try to overstay their reservation. As a host, it’s up to you to decide if you’ll allow it. You can negotiate a fee with your guest to cover the extra days. However, if you don’t want to do that and your guest refuses to leave, you can formally request Airbnb’s help to cancel the reservation, which is the equivalent of kicking them out. 

Airbnb will not charge you a penalty fee for asking an overstaying guest to leave. Keep in mind that Airbnb cannot physically remove a guest — only law enforcement can. Airbnb will, however, provide documentation and assist you in filing a police report if necessary. In some jurisdictions — including California — guests staying longer than 30 days may gain tenant rights, so hosts should contact Airbnb or legal counsel before taking action.

Emergency Situations

There are instances in which an emergency situation can force you to ask your guests to leave. For example, if you have a death in the family, property damage that needs repair, or a serious illness and need to return to your home, you can ask your guest to leave with a 24-hour notice period. Airbnb will verify your emergency and assist your guest with finding alternative accommodations. 

How Do You Ask a Guest to Leave?

Asking a guest to leave can be a delicate and difficult thing to do, especially if you’re living on the property yourself. There are, however, a few steps you can take to protect yourself and make the process easier. 

Do You Really Want to Kick Your Guest Out?

The first thing you need to do is to decide if the issue you have with your guest really merits kicking them out. Keep in mind that Airbnb has the right to assess a penalty fee against a host who cancels a reservation after the guest has checked in. You will have to show that the guest is committing a serious infraction of the house rules or Airbnb’s terms and conditions. 

The other thing to remember is that guests have the right to leave a public review on your host profile. If you kick someone out for an unsubstantiated or petty reason, they will most likely leave you a bad review. So take the time to weigh the situation carefully before you kick a guest out – leaving wet towels on the floor is not that serious, but flouting a smoking ban or causing property damage absolutely is. 

Inform Airbnb About the Situation

Once you decide that you want to kick a guest out, your first step should be to contact Airbnb. Let them know the situation and be very specific, especially regarding what your house rules are, and which rules have been broken. Inform them of any measures you might have taken to remedy the situation, for instance, any conversations you might have had with the guest about the issue. Attach photos, messages, or security reports if applicable — this helps Airbnb Support make a quicker ruling in your favor.

Communicate Through Airbnb

Use Airbnb’s messaging system to communicate with your guest. Maintain a professional tone even if you’re really upset – your messages are visible to Airbnb moderators and may appear in case documentation. Tell the guest the reason you’re cancelling their reservation and give them at least 24 hours' notice to vacate your property. If the guest insists on a refund, refer them to Airbnb Support.

It’s best to avoid confrontation when your guest is in the process of moving out. If the guest refuses to leave, contact Airbnb – they will communicate with the guest directly and try to mediate. If that fails, you can call local law enforcement. Once you cancel the reservation, the guest has no legal right to be on your property.

How Do You Kick a Guest Out?

In Airbnb terms, kicking a guest out is referred to as canceling or terminating a reservation. All you have to do is go to the “Reservations” tab on your profile, select the relevant booking, and click on “Change or Cancel”. You’ll be asked why you need to cancel the reservation and given a list of options to choose from, such as “Guest broke house rules” or “Safety concern.” Pick the choice that best reflects your situation.

You won’t be penalized for cancellations that fall under safety issues, rule violations, or verified emergencies. Airbnb will contact the guest via email to let them know that their reservation has been cancelled and the reason why. They will also help your guest find other accommodations, which actually makes it a lot easier to get the guest out of your house. In most cases, a Trust & Safety team member will also reach out to confirm your report and ensure your listing remains protected.

When a reservation is canceled this way, a notification is automatically posted to your host profile. However, you can leave a response on your profile explaining why you had to cancel the reservation. You can also leave a review on the guest’s profile and respond to any reviews they might leave for you. 

Hosting Responsibly: The Bottom Line

Airbnb hosting can be a rewarding experience, but like any business, it comes with its challenges. The key is to document everything, enforce clear rules, and communicate through official channels. As of 2025, Airbnb’s safety policies and host protections are stronger than ever, with dedicated 24/7 support and host liability coverage. If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t handle it alone — reach out to Airbnb Support immediately, involve law enforcement if needed, and trust the platform’s safety mechanisms to back you up.

Ultimately, being a great host is about setting boundaries as much as it is about providing hospitality. With a clear head, quick communication, and respect for the process, you can protect your property and your peace of mind — ensuring that both you and your guests have the best possible experience.