While this has been a challenging first year as a host its exceeded my expectations. I just rent out a guest apartment but over all the vast majority of my guest have been very positive. I'm also new the forums and its very clear after reading that Airbnb needs to address some issues as how to handle the occasional troublesome guest: ones that smoke, bring pets, extra guest, etc... As it is now host are subject to negative review, or revenge review, if they confront a guest breaking the rules, for example, or if host leaves negative review guest could still find a way to return and leave negative review. Airbnb should require proof of ID as a default. As it is now Abnb has cultivated a subculture of troublesome guest who are exploiting host. I've had guest under 25 not be able to book. Of course there are bad host but the guest can just leave or easy enough to find them another place, while excepitionally good host with years of work into building their reviews are subjected to revenge reviews by troublesome guest. Positivity and community are just marketing hype. I really love hosting, though, and love how positive my guest are. Right now I think host just have expect to cover damage by the subculture of troublesome guest Airbnb has cultivated.
