Can I contact guests that stayed in a residence prior to me?

[Kellie66]

We have been accused of damaging property on our very first stay. Of course we didn’t take intentional photos, and we figured it wasn’t a big enough deal to mention, because there was NO WAY the host was unaware of the condition of his property. I wrote a glowing review because we had a great vacation, never giving things a second thought. 

A week after we return home, the host writes a public review accusing us of allowing our approved dogs to destroy the carpet and couch. While I scour hundreds of pictures for some interior shots, I’d like to also get confirmation of conditions from the guests that stayed before us. Is there a way to contact them?

[Emiel1]

@Kellie66 

The review did not mention the word "destroy", just "damage". You can not contact previous guests directly, only the host has their contact details. You can leave a public comment on the review to have your say. Keep in mind to write it as if addressing future hosts. It seems to me you are not charged for the "damage" ? Then let it go after leaving a comment.

Best regards,

Emiel

[Anonymous]

@Kellie66  No, there is not a "Contact Guest" feature for many reasons - privacy for one, and also prevention of guests being solicited and spammed. If the previous guest coincidentally happens to also be a host with an active listing, you could visit their listing and use the "Contact Host" feature.

If the host is pursuing a claim for damages, and you dispute the claim, Airbnb will likely ask him for evidence of the damage. But if he's not seeking funds and you only object to the public review, the best thing to do is write a public response to his comments. Future hosts can cross-reference his listing and decide which they believe more.

There was a complaint from the guest that came to one of John's properties right after you, about finding a large amount of dog poop left behind in the yard, so a sleuthing host would likely believe that the host was correct about the damage.

[Kellie66]

Unfortunately, you’ve just confirmed my primary concern, and assumed that we are, in fact, guilty of treating the property disrespectfully. There’s was no fenced yard at the property in which we stayed, and the front of the house is along a main walking route to the dog beach a block away. After some yoga and reflection, I am wondering if perhaps the host is getting information through his cleaning company that is dishonest. I will reach out promptly to the host, and hope to regain some of the integrity I value. 

Thank you for your input. It was very helpful.