Be extremely cautious before using Housing Anywhere.
We had to cancel our booking within 72 hours of placing it due to unforeseen circumstances completely out of our control. This date was more than 45 days before our requested move in date.
Housing Amywhere's strict cancellation policy refers to the Dutch Civil Code, which states that good faith must be applied to such situations as ours, however, their exceptions rule out almost every situation where good faith could and should apply.
We have subsequently lost €1848 (several months savings for our family) to Housing Anywhere and the landlord for effectively doing nothing; while they still have ample time to find a replacement.
I know that someone from Housing Anywhere will reply to my comment apologising as a form of PR damage control, but know that they have not been sympathetic to our situation.
I hate to think how they have treated other customers before us going through more stressful events and in worse-off financial positions.
My advice is to use almost any other housing booking platform (Air BnB, Spot a Home, Booking, etc) before resorting to Housing Anywhere, as their terms and conditions have far greater adoptions of the true meaning of good faith.
Good afternoon Jewelia,
Thank you for sharing your experience with Housing Anywhere, and we apologize for the inconvenience you've faced.
While we are committed to aligning with legal requirements and ensuring transparency, it's crucial to understand that personal reasons for cancellation are generally not considered valid under our terms and conditions.
We do offer a flexible cancellation policy for certain listings, but it's essential to select them prior to booking so that you can get the funds back if you have to cancel it.
We regret any misunderstanding or lack of sympathy you may have experienced. We aim to assist our users with empathy and understanding, especially during challenging times.
We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve our services. If there's anything further we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Curtis