Can my guests leave a review if I don't?

[Marianne84]

I just hosted the guests from hell. Not dirty or loud but bitter, chronic complainers. It started before they arrived. The daughter who booked the space, had not read the description thoroughly and complained that we misrepresented the rental. I sent her the exact language from our listing which said it was the ground floor of a larger home, but a self contained living space with a separate entrance, bedrooms bathrooms and a separate kitchen. I suggested that, if she was disappointed, she cancel and make another reservation elsewhere, since it was 4 days before check in, and we have a very flexible cancellation policy. She said while they were "very disappointed", they would go ahead with the rental. They complained about the Keurig in lieu of a coffee pot (which we have for convenience). We also had a 2x4 propped against one of the doors (the stationery side of the door), because we had a repair scheduled for the wood above the door and had to reschedule it because we had a death in the family and had to go out of state. They complained that it made them feel unsafe, even though the situation was explained to them and it had no bearing on the home safety. So they cancelled their last night (with no penalty). We got home while they were still checked in but arrived late and left early in the morning to avoid having a reasonable conversation with us.
Frankly, I do not want either of us to do a rating, since we have stellar five star reviews across the board from all our guests and glowing reviews. But if they do, I'm assuming that it will be posted even if I don't post anything. Can anyone verify this for me? If that is the case, I feel it necessary to give them a very negative rating and say that I would not recommend them as guests.
Marianne

[Helen3]

Hello @Marianne84

The help section on Airbnb is useful for answering this sort of question

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/13/how-do-reviews-work

As a host we leave reviews for our guests to both help them and other hosts.

That being the case why wouldn't you want to leave a review to help warn other hosts about their behaviour.

As an established host, you are likely to be aware that if the daughter didn't stay with you it's counted as a third party booking and therefore if there is a problem with the booking you won't be able to rely on Airbnb for help.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/427/can-i-book-on-behalf-of-a-friend-or-family-member

[Marianne84]

The daughter did stay with us, along with her parents. Frankly right now I am just back from my Mom's funeral, so I have very limited motivation for nastiness. If my guest writes a review, then I'll write one with all the details I mentioned. This is the only bad experience I've had with a guest because I screen them very carefully. I blame myself for this one, because her email raised some red flags and I could have cancelled without a penalty because of bereavement. Guess I'll just have to  go ahead and have the unpleasant review exchange. 

[Kirstie]

Hi @Marianne84,

I'm sorry to hear about your guests, it sounds like a difficult situation. 

@Helen3 has give you a good link to a guide with more information about how reviews work. Reviews will be posted either after both parties have written their review, or after 14 days - so if you don't write a review but they do, their's will still be posted after 14 days. I would agree with Helen that it is best to try and leave a review, even if it is short, for the benefit of future hosts.

Just to let you know, I have moved your post here to a new thread so that it is easier to find and follow the conversation. I have also given it a title, please let me know if you want to change it!

Kirstie

[David126]

Post you review just before the 14 days are up, that way the Guest will not be alerted that you have done so. Works both ways of course,

[Dana91]

Hi! I am recently new to hosting and I had my first awful guest recently. Although not the same as you-my guest had pretty much wanted half his money back for a good review (this was well after he left because he refused to discuss any matters with me).  It's pretty disappointing getting such guests.

i agree with the person that stated writing a review before the time frame is up. This way they are unable to. However you can always respond back publicly if the daughter writes you one. This way other future guests can see your side too and then can decide from there. There's nothing worse then having an issue and only being able to see one side. You have to do in the end what you feel Is right.

everything will work out. Best wishes sorry for the loss. 

Ps-remember just because you have one bad egg doesn't mean others will view you to be awful. You can always listen to others opinions but in the end you have to make your own choices.