A shortlet cancellation policy tells guests until when they can cancel and get their money back. On Cabans, you pick one cut-off for each listing, from 24 hours to 30 days before check-in. Before it, a guest can cancel for a full refund. After it, they cannot cancel at all.
Picking the cut-off is a trade-off. A short one makes guests feel safe to book. A long one protects your dates from late cancellations. This guide explains each choice, the 30-day rule, and what the cut-off can and cannot do in a busy season.
How cancellation works on Cabans
Every short let that takes online bookings has a free-cancellation cut-off. There is no “no cancellation” option. If you do not choose a cut-off, it is 48 hours (2 days) before check-in.
The deadline is worked out from the check-in date and your check-in time, in West Africa Time (WAT). Say check-in is Tuesday 6 October at 14:00 and your cut-off is 2 days. Then the guest can cancel for free until Sunday 4 October at 14:00 WAT.
Here is what happens in each case:
| When the guest acts | What happens |
|---|---|
| Cancels before the deadline | The booking is cancelled at once. You do not need to approve it. The guest gets a full refund of the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. |
| Tries to cancel after the deadline | There is no cancel button. The stay page says the free cancellation period has ended. |
| Books after the deadline has already passed | The guest can never cancel this booking. They see “No free cancellation” before they pay. |
Guests see the exact deadline before they pay, in the booking box and again at checkout, for example “Free cancellation until Sun 4 Oct 2026, 14:00 WAT”. So nobody is surprised later.
Refunds are sent by the Cabans team, not by you. They reach the guest within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days. A stay that is refunded in full earns you nothing, so the cut-off decides how much notice you get to fill those nights again. To see what guests are shown, look at shortlets with free cancellation.
The cut-off choices
You set the cut-off on your listing, under “Cancellation”. The label reads “Guests can cancel for a full refund until”, and you pick one of these:
| Cut-off before check-in | How it feels to guests | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | Very flexible | Busy areas where a free night is easy to fill; business travellers whose plans change |
| 2 days (the standard) | Flexible | Most short trips and weekend stays |
| 3, 4 or 5 days | Fair | Hosts who want a few days to find a new guest |
| 7 days | Firm | Week-long stays and family trips planned ahead |
| 14 days | Strict | Large homes and long stays that are hard to re-let at short notice |
| 30 days | Very strict | Long stays booked well ahead (the 30-day rule below applies) |
The form reminds you of one more thing: the refund covers the cleaning fee and the caution deposit, not just the nights. Step-by-step help is in how to choose your free-cancellation time.
The 30-day rule in plain words
A cut-off longer than 15 days only works in full when the guest books more than 30 days before check-in. If they book closer to the stay, they can cancel for free until 15 days before check-in, at most.
Here is how a 30-day cut-off plays out:
| The guest books… | Free cancellation until… |
|---|---|
| 60 days before check-in | 30 days before check-in (the full cut-off) |
| 20 days before check-in | 15 days before check-in (so the guest has 5 days to change their mind) |
| 10 days before check-in | No free cancellation. The 15-day point has passed, and the guest sees this before paying. |
The rule means a guest who books a few weeks ahead still gets a short time to cancel, instead of none. A 14-day cut-off is not affected by the rule, because it is not longer than 15 days.
Short or long cut-off?
There is no single right answer. Ask yourself four questions:
- How far ahead do your guests book? If most book a few days before, a long cut-off means many of them can never cancel. Some will choose a more flexible home instead.
- How fast can you fill a free night? In a busy area, a night freed two days ahead may still sell. In a quiet one, it may not.
- How long are your stays? Losing a one-night booking hurts less than losing a two-week one.
- Can you afford an empty night? If one gap would hurt, give yourself more notice.
Your cut-off works best alongside your other settings. A minimum stay stops a string of one-night bookings. Your booking window decides how far ahead guests can book. “Instant book” decides whether paid bookings are confirmed straight away. Our guide to instant book or request to book explains that choice.
The Host Academy lesson your cancellation promise walks through the same trade-off, with a short quiz at the end.
Busy seasons: what the cut-off can and cannot do
December, Easter and big event weekends are when a late cancellation hurts most. It helps to know the limits first.
- The cut-off is one setting for the whole listing. You cannot set a stricter one for December only.
- There is no non-refundable option, even for peak dates.
- A change needs approval. The cut-off is part of your listing, so the Cabans team approves a change before guests see it. Make the change well before the season starts.
What you can do for busy dates:
- Set prices by date. Add a price window or a special day price in your calendar. Calendar changes go live as soon as you save them.
- Open your calendar early. Guests who book more than 30 days ahead get your full cut-off, even a long one.
- Think about your minimum stay. It applies to the whole listing, not just busy dates. Longer bookings are harder to replace, but they also fill more of your nights at once.
- Keep your calendar honest. Block dates you cannot host, so you never have to cancel a guest.
What happens if you cancel
You can cancel a booking that is waiting for your answer, or one that is confirmed, before the guest arrives and before the check-in time. You must give a reason, and the guest sees it. They get a full refund, the nights open up again on your calendar, and you cannot undo it.
A host cancelling is hard on a guest who has paid and planned a trip. Use it only when you truly cannot host. If you cannot take a new request, it is kinder to decline it within your answer time than to accept it and cancel later.
Leaving early is different from cancelling. If a guest checks out before the last night, the unused nights are not refunded unless you approve a refund. If you do approve one, those nights go back on sale.
How the money works
Guests pay online through Paystack when they book. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by the guest, and they see it before they pay. It is not part of a refund. Cabans charges you a 5% commission. You are paid within 7 days after the guest’s stay, and sooner when the guest approves the payment after their trip.
Ready to set your terms? Read how to take shortlet bookings online, or list your short let first if it is not on Cabans yet. To see how guests search, browse shortlets across Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard shortlet cancellation cut-off on Cabans?
If you do not choose one, guests can cancel for a full refund until 48 hours (2 days) before check-in. You can change it to 24 hours, or to 3, 4, 5, 7, 14 or 30 days.
Can I make my shortlet non-refundable?
No. Every short let that takes online bookings on Cabans lets guests cancel for free up to a cut-off. The longest cut-off is 30 days before check-in. You can still protect busy dates with your prices, your minimum stay and your calendar.
Does a guest need my approval to cancel?
No. Before the deadline, the guest presses “Cancel booking” and the booking is cancelled at once. You do not need to agree. After the deadline, the guest has no cancel button.
How much does a guest get back if they cancel in time?
A full refund of the stay: the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. There are no part refunds for cancelling in time. Paystack’s processing fee, which the guest paid on top, is not refunded.
How long does the guest’s refund take?
The Cabans team sends the refund. It reaches the guest within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
Can I change my cut-off later?
Yes. It is part of your listing, so a change waits for the Cabans team to approve it before guests see it. Plan changes before a busy season, not in the middle of it.
What if a guest leaves before the last night?
That is not a cancellation. Unused nights are not refunded unless you, the host, approve a refund. If you do, those nights are refunded and go back on sale.
Related guides
Instant book or request to book · Shortlet agreement: what to include · Shortlet listing tips · How to list a shortlet in Nigeria · Shortlet vs long-term rental
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