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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be less than honest about my Airbnb stay?

41 replies

wildfellhall · 09/08/2025 17:29

I tend to give super positive reviews and I leave the place really tidy so I get good reviews in return. But I have always stayed in guest favorites so it’s been easy to give high praise.

We just stayed at a cottage recently which was absolutely fine, really lovely old building, good beds, clean bathrooms Etc, kitchen properly equipped etc.
but
1 has a damp smell in the kitchen cupboards
2 has a neglected garden
3 has a broken fence to get in and out of the garden

Also - the host warned us that there would be building work at the neighbours property but it was nearly done and to let her know if it was a problem.

My family didn’t mind the noise so I get it, not the host’s fault etc - but I really look for quiet when I go away - it’s my priority - so I try to book remote places. Even then it is hard to find out if there is any road noise.

But the builders were working from 8 to 6 every day so I never got the thing I value most which is a real sense of no one being nearby and the silence I don’t quite get at home.

So I tend not to mention in reviews what falls outside the host’s control.

I also feel supportive of the hosts as well.

I’m interested to know how much other people conceal and in what basis?

The family all loved it so I’m inclined to not mention the noise.

Also if I had said to her that I found it a problem - what could she do about it? I assume as an Airbnb host you are expected to be apologetic about things you can’t help.

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 09/08/2025 17:32

She could have spoken to them I guess. If she asked you to let know, and you didn’t, I do think it’s a bit off then complaining in the review. As you say, host had no choice and it you stay in these types of lets, you have to accept that real life goes on around it, such as work on neighbouring properties.

Original poster
wildfellhall · 09/08/2025 17:37

Of course, that’s true.

OP posts:
Dublassie · 09/08/2025 17:37

I think it’s wrong NOT to review honestly as others are relying on your views and opinions to help them make their choices . I’m never disingenuous in reviews .

Original poster
wildfellhall · 09/08/2025 17:39

Thanks Dublassie - what would you mention in my experience - all of it?

OP posts:
IsItSnowing · 09/08/2025 18:10

I would review honestly. I've been caught out before with properties which have good reviews and then when we arrive there are lots of problems. I'd rather people told it like it is.

LacStCharles · 09/08/2025 18:17

Can you message the owner first, just in case they don't actually know about the problems (other than the builders)? Then, you can say you had a couple of issues but the owner is sorting them for future guests. Win, win. You're not lying by hiding it, but you are also not landing the owner with a problem they maybe aren't fully on top of.

noctilucentcloud · 09/08/2025 18:21

I don't think it's fair to mention the building work when it's nearly done, the host warned you, and they said to let you know if it was an issue and you didn't.

idratherbedrawing · 09/08/2025 18:24

Im in a somewhat similar situation. Just returned from a holiday in Spain. Spent second part of it in on the north coast in Asturias and rented an Airbnb chosen as it was a guest favourite, within our price range (it’s quite pricey there in august) and town it was in looked pretty based on some online research. The place had glowing reviews and while it was all fine and hosts very communicative it was overall underwhelming and I can’t work out why the reviews were so glowing. Part of my issue with the place (that it was on a rather unattractive street with no good views) seems a bit unfair to reference in the review as I could have worked it out if I’d done more research beforehand, but in addition the place could have been cleaner, the kitchen was cramped and not that well equipped and the tv was v old with no smart tv services. I have not reviewed it yet . . .

Coconutter24 · 09/08/2025 18:30

Also - the host warned us that there would be building work at the neighbours property but it was nearly done and to let her know if it was a problem.

The host warned you and said to let her know if it was a problem so you would be unreasonable to write about it in a review if you didn’t contact her during your stay to say it was an issue

Bobbybobbins · 09/08/2025 18:34

I would definitely not mention the building work in a review. The other aspects are reasonable to mention if you felt inclined.

SriouslyWhutNow · 09/08/2025 18:41

So I tend not to mention in reviews what falls outside the host’s control.
But of course it's in her control. She chooses who she lets to and when. She could just not let it out if she knew it would deliver a suboptimal experience to guests (and maybe spend that time when it's not being let actually sorting the garden out). The fact that she doesn't just stop letting it until she can provide a decent experience says she cares more about the money than the guests.

I'm sure someone will be on to say blah blah whatabout mortgage blah but honest to God if you can't afford your second home Air BNB isn't there to prop your failed business up. Guests should always come first.

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 09/08/2025 18:47

Did the host warn you far enough in advance about the building work that you could have still cancelled without payment, and was the quietness a key advertised feature of the property? That would be important for me in determining whether to mention it in a review.
I‘m like you in being really positive generally about reviews, but on occasion with small things I‘ve not mentioned them in a review and given 5 stars but then told the host in a private comment. An example of that was a fairly basic property in the mountains (priced fairly as such) where the cleaner had generally done a good job but completely overlooked the shower door joint when it was fully closed - when open the dirt was hidden, when having a shower you could see the filth. It was clearly an oversight because the cleaner never personally showered there - I just let the host know to pass it on for future stays.
For another stay the bedroom loft was accessed via very steep stairs and I did say in the review that it was great for us but not suitable for anyone with mobility issues - a fair and true comment which wasn‘t immediately apparent from the pictures.
In your case the building work will soon be over so no point warning future guests. The damp smell is minor enough for me to mention in a private comment to the host. But I would mention in a review if the pictures of the garden were erroneous.

Original poster
wildfellhall · 09/08/2025 19:18

She told us a couple of days before we arrived and also after we had paid in full.

My family didn’t mind - so that is one reason not to mention it.

I went to an Airbnb in the Lake District last summer and the owner took it off rental for six months after we stayed while she completed improvements.

I wish properties had a silence rating
Air - 0
Road - 0
Neighbours - 0
Dogs - 0
that would be 4 ⭐️ silence rating and they could charge more.

My family say that I am very noise sensitive - which is true, I am also a bit burnt by having lived near a noisy road in the past - I absolutely hated it - it was a massive error of judgment. But I know silence is a privileged environment.

i think this place is a 4 over all rather than a 5 because they are not going the extra mile in the details that all my ‘guest Favourite’ hosts have done.

I did have this problem before in an Airbnb in Norfolk where the neighbours was doing building work and my heart just sank. I guess in future I could say to hosts that quiet is my priority and ‘do they know if any immediate building work nearby - if so - I will look elsewhere’! But usually it’s hard to find the time, I usually go for the ones with the best reviews…. There’s the rub!

OP posts:
NaranjaDreams · 10/08/2025 08:22

My family say that I am very noise sensitive - which is true

I think if you know that about yourself, you need to message the hosts, like you’ve said. Reviews aren’t going to be accurate enough for you because it seems you’d be affected by noise that wouldn’t bother most people.

I wouldn’t mention the construction noise as you didn’t contact her, and so she had no chance to do anything, plus it wasn’t directly her fault. I’d mention anything else that felt fair but you’ll need to assess how much the other bits would have bothered you if you weren’t already on edge from the increased noise.

Smidge001 · 10/08/2025 08:31

The point of leaving a review is to help inform future guests. There's absolutely no reason to mention next doors building work in this review as it's almost complete so won't impact anyone else booking.

Fine to mention the unkempt garden though.

GleisZwei · 10/08/2025 08:32

A review should be accurate and honest, otherwise it's pointless.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/08/2025 08:45

Be as honest as you like - providing you don’t want to stay again

we stayed somewhere for a sporting event that had south facing bedrooms and very thin curtains which meant everyone woke very early (we stayed there in July). Black out blinds or curtain linings would have made such a difference.

We’d also had a problem with the heating which was resolved fairly quickly after I let the owners know.

The rest of the stay was fine. I mentioned both of these things I may review, and also talked about some good things in the house. I gave it a 4 star rating overall.

The owner was furious that I’d ‘ruined’ her 5 star status. I had another stay booked there for later in the year which she cancelled!

I don’t think there’s any point in not being honest in reviews but some owners have rose tinted glasses about their properties!

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 10/08/2025 08:49

I wouldn't mention the building work - it will likely be done soon and then it just looks petty. And I don't think anyone can ever do a noise review like you mentioned - I live in a VERY quiet hamlet but we sometimes get jets going over very loudly, but it's so sporadic, like walkers who sit and have a picnic outside with their dogs barking and kids shouting. Nobody could cover all eventualities.

I'd mention the garden though. If someone came with a dog (is it dog friendly?) or youngish children. the lack of a secure garden could ruin their stay.

Original poster
wildfellhall · 10/08/2025 08:52

That’s hilarious Muchtoomuch.

I always send private feedback which hosts have always seemed grateful for.

But I can’t give 5stars because of the building noise - but I can’t mention the building noise. It is a quirk of the rating system.

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 10/08/2025 09:21

The way I always see it is that reviews are a way of conveying useful information to other potential guests. I don’t think it’s useful to guests (or fair to the host, to permanently impact their score) to focus on something like a neighbour’s building work which will be entirely irrelevant in the near future because it will have ended. Fair to comment that you couldn’t use the garden because it was neglected and unfenced and that this wasn’t reflected in the listing photos - the host can then respond to the comment to indicate that this will be or has been addressed if they choose to.

PetiteBlondeDuBoulevardBrune · 10/08/2025 10:00

Mention the other negatives (damp smell, etc) but not the building work.

For me it would be the same as complaining that the weather wasn’t nice: not the host’s fault, could happen anywhere, not relevant to future stays.

IMissSparkling · 10/08/2025 10:08

I once stayed in an Airbnb where the upstairs neighbour stomped around until 2am every night. I am very used to the everyday noises that come with flat life, but this was something else!
I mentioned it briefly in the otherwise very positive review, noting that it was obviously outside the host's control but that it did impact our stay. I'd read all the reviews before booking and nobody had mentioned any noise so hopefully I did future potential guests a favour!
I also sent a private message to the host saying it was excessive noise and they really needed to address it with the neighbour, but never heard anything back. I guess she didn't give a shit since she had our money and we'd already departed!

JustGiveMeWineNow · 10/08/2025 10:10

I do airbnb a flat above my garage. There is no road noise, the place is silent 99% of the time. However when the surrounding fields are harvested the noise is insane and this can go on to after midnight. I do be dying that I will get a bad review based on this even though it is totally out of my control. I also worry about slurry spreading and bad reviews. Again I cannot control that. A 4 rating is actually bad in airbnb.

AppleCiderVinegarTheSecond · 10/08/2025 10:32

@JustGiveMeWineNowbut if this happens at a particular time of year then you could just not rent the property out? Or have a note in the description. There are ways around this.

JustGiveMeWineNow · 10/08/2025 10:42

I would literally have to close. There are normally three silage cuts a year they can be anytime between May to September. Slurry will be spread three to four times a year between End of Feb and right through to October. I never know when it’s going to happen. They came in one night at 12.30am to spread seed and I did get up put on the lights and go outside and gave the tractor driver the look of death as if to say wtf at this hour of the night and they have seemed to have got better at not coming in so late after that.