Write a negative guest review

[Amanda1714]

Hi -  I think I need to write my first negative guest review but I really liked the guests.!

I’m a dog friendly property and specify ‘one well behaved dog’ so accepted the reservation for February 2022 when the guest asked in November 2021  and stated one small well behaved dog.  When the guest arrived, the dog was a four month old puppy - only 8 weeks old at the time of booking. I wouldnt have accepted a puppy as I’ve had damage before.  On check out day the guest had left three ‘presents’ from the dog in the shared garden  for me to clean up.   I had provided Pooh bags and a bin.

The guest walked charcoal from the log burner into a pure wool rug and then tried to clean it with water (it took me two hours to get the stain out).  The guest left the kitchen dirty and made no attempt to clean the cooker, the hob or empty the fridge.  The guest left bottle tops, food plastic wrappers,  and torn off labels all over the kitchen and lounge without bothering to use the bins provided, even used contact lenses on the bedside table.  The guest left curry stains on my dining table, placemats and one dining chair.  

They were a lovely, friendly young couple,   I feel so bad writing a negative review but I really was surprised at the lack of respect for my home and belongings.  I realise that wear and tear occurs, but I’ve been renting out my space for three years now and never had so much cleaning to do after a guest stay.  

I also think that other hosts should be aware and that the guest should realise his behaviour doesn’t make for positive reviews.  

How do I write this politely without causing offence? 

[Jane3513]

I just wanted to say I have huge sympathy for you, I feel the same about puppies and would have said no had the guest been truthful, have you tried an insurance claim or at least a cleaning fee from the guest via air b n b. Of course they are likely to deny everything as once happened to me. A guest brought 3 dogs, left open the French windows in December so the dogs could freely run outside, bring in mud on to the

soft furnishings and the curtains had stains from the rain and mud over a week! I dont think you should be polite, you should say you are upset they treated your place with disrespect. I have just lost a star rating due to a guest not reading the notes and complaining there was no washing machine, we have a full utility room only he didn't look and more complaints throughout, all due to not reading the house manual. Unfortunately I didn't know this until I had reviewed him. I only hope he was dyslexic not just stupid. Good luck, try a cleaning bill, they shouldn't get away with it.

[Anonymous]

@Amanda1714  The puppy actually sounds much more mature than its owners - it did its business outside where it was supposed to. I'd gladly host the dog, but ask it to leave the humans at home next time. 

Your review does not need to be a catalog of all the little things that the guests did wrong. I would say something like "x and y were friendly and respectful in their verbal communication, but I wish they'd taken greater care to respect the household. Much more than the usual cleaning was required after their stay." 

Even though it's supposed to be common sense that trash goes into trash bins, it's best to communicate your waste removal expectations both in house rules and in a message the night before checkout. Hotels have conditioned travelers to think of housekeeping as magic, rather than as labor that merits their respect and cooperation, and being a good guest requires un-learning this classist, dehumanizing subtext. 

[Patricia55]

@Anonymous 

"Hotels have conditioned travelers to think of housekeeping as magic, rather than as labor that merits their respect and cooperation, and being a good guest requires un-learning this classist, dehumanizing subtext."

Excellent point.

[Helen3]

You can also add to your listing that you don't accept puppies under xxx months old.