Do AirBnB hosts write attacking reviews of guests if they expect bad reviews from them?

[DoggerelBank]

Just trying to work out why our hosts' review is so horrid, and wondering if there's any benefit for them if they give us a bad review. Also wondering if this means we'll find it difficult to use AirBnB again in future. I've had probably more than 20 trips without any problems, so I really hope not!

I've just received a horrible review after staying on an island recently. The trip was pretty bad as ferries to the island were up the spout. We had to arrive a day late and leave a day late, spend most of our last day queuing for a ferry that might or might not leave, and spend hours on the phone trying to work out how to get there. When we arrived, the first thing the host said was that we wouldn't be able to get off again on the day we had planned, which after all the hassle getting there was a bit demoralising. But we were polite and made the best of it. None of this was the hosts' fault.

The heating was broken down on the morning after our arrival. They spent some time trying to fix it and eventually had to get a man in to sort it out. We weren't rude or angry about any of this - all fine, these things happen.

We hoovered before we left, emptied rubbish, and left everything spick and span, as we always do.

Anyway, got home, wrote a nice review, because they were helpful and friendly (almost too friendly), and the cottage was great. Mentioned the ferries in a 'this probably won't affect future visitors, but worth checking ferries are working OK now' sort of way.

Two weeks later, have got an awful, awful review from them. I haven't even read to the end, because I closed it when I read that my husband has horrible facial expressions and that we 'made a complaint within hours of getting there'. Well yes, wouldn't most people if there was no heating and very cold, snow-on-the-hills kind of weather?

It was a tricky holiday but we made the best of it and have some good memories. I think this will really really taint the memories though. Why would a host do this?

Mind you there are some very strange people around. I left a 3 star review of a local cafe saying the coffee was only ok, and the hard surfaces made it very loud for conducting business meetings. I was vilified by the owner and banned from ever going there again!

I disagree about Airbnb reviews. I think that the 2-way review system is a good thing. There are people who basically get off on giving bad reviews - it can be a power trip. This encourages them to be more sane and reasonable. Plus some guests are atrocious and it's fair to warn other Airbnb owners about them. We live in a very harsh trading environment where everything is reviewed to the nth degree, and a couple of bad reviews can seriously affect someone's income.

But you are hating a system that gives a lot of protection because of one single review the OP has had which yes was a shocking review but I've used Airbnb 100s of times around the world and never had that experience, sometimes they just don't review you at all which my partner finds disappointing. Of course it's important to rate guests because of a host has a number of guests wanting the apartment on the same date, they want to choose the guest that has a good reputation for looking after a place over a guest that's had bad reviews for drunken parties or whatever. The reviewing system.deters bad behaviours!

I remember I stayed in an Airbnb and the owner told me that when they talked to insurance companies about insuring the property (allowing paid guests), it was much easier to get insurance if they only let the property out with Airbnb. That was because the 2-way review system meant that guests were less likely to cause damage to the property.

Plenty of Air BnBs are spare rooms in a family home or an annexe - if they weren't able to rent them out, they'd just lie empty or full of the owner's junk.

It is really horrid hen that happens - I had someone say something mildly negative about how I left their place once and it niggled at me for ages! The house stank and was not as advertised at all but I reviewed it nicely because I'm a mug. Now I only leave a review if it's a 5 star one which doesn't help other people but helps me live my life in a normal way.

You can publicly reply to their review of you though can't you? I would try to leave something there that will stop other guests wanting to book with them so they will try to take the whole thing down themselves. Something like but better than 'This is a really unpleasant and personal review, especially when we were generous in our review and didn't mention the broken heating on arrival or the 2 nights we paid for but couldn't use.'

Even if OP was a shitty guest (and doesn't sound like she was), what bearing does her dh's facial expressions have on anything? That sounds like an unnecessary personal attack. It's very subjective, maybe he has a tic, or just resting bitch face. Reviews should be objective and truthful and theirs sounds neither.

I agree, ask the platform to remove it. edited - just seen that they won't. That's disappointing. I'd now contact the hosts and tell them how rude I think they are 😄

Did you notice this thread has been dredged up from April? I imagine both the host and OP have long since moved on.

Can’t say I did seeing as the majority of replies are from today and yesterday.

MN really need to make their zombie thread warning last longer as it seems it’s only for the first new poster and then it disappears.

my threads are set so the most recent post is at the top, so for me they were from today and yesterday. Can’t say I bother checking the date of the OP if there are lots of recent replies.

Oh yeah! She probably had forgotten about it and now she'll see it and it'll strike her in the heart wth unfairness again!

Most of the replies are from April.

They don’t see your review before they have shared theirs with Airbnb.

How can a passenger get a 1 unless they swear at the driver or throw up? What did he say you'd done?

The first seven replies weren’t. Why don’t you go and harass those posters as well? If they hadn’t posted I wouldn’t have so not sure why you’re going on at me about it. You’re the one now who keeps bumping the thread up in active 🤷‍♀️

I'm not going on at anyone. Just pointing out facts.

You keep telling yourself that. 👍😂

You don’t have to leave a review. If you found the place to be awful and you don’t want to leave a negative review, then just don’t review at all.

Regarding host’s reviews of guests, one of the best I had was somewhere I didn’t even stay! Was due to have an overnight stay in Granada last winter but the trains were cancelled due to storm damage so I cancelled the accommodation. Host was happy at how clean and tidy we had left the place 🤣

Tend to agree with this. After receiving loads of good reviews in the past have just been sent a really awful one based on the fact I did not clean the place from top to bottom before leaving. I did the usual tidying up but I think the host's expectations were unreasonably high especially as we were supposed to leave before 9:30 am.

It makes a mockery of the whole review system really. No one can be honest for fear of repercussions.