This type of vacation rental cancellation is on the rise

Your Airbnb home could get sold out from under you. Here's how to avoid it.

A few days before flying to Bali, Indonesia, I received an unexpected email from Airbnb: My host had sold my vacation rental.

"We’re reaching out with the unfortunate news that your reservation was canceled," it said. "Your refund is on its way."

But wait — I didn't want my money back. I needed a place to stay while I was in Indonesia. Airbnb assured me I…