How do I handle the host review to rate wanting a guest to return when I don't want them to?

[Debbie51]

I just had a guest check out that I would not want to return. I got the procedural email from Airbnb asking if I would like to host the guest again. The answer is "NO" but I don't want to leave a negative review for the guest. Am I required to review a guest?

[Marit-Anne0]

@Debbie51

You are not required to leave a review, but for the sake of warning other hosts, I think you should.  

[Alice-and-Jeff0 · Accepted solution]

Why wouldn't you want to leave a review?  If you had read the review you would like to give, would you have hosted this person?  At a minimum, say something short even if you don't want to elaborate why:  "We would not host xxx again." As a host, I would appreciate knowing about this guest before I say "yes" to them too.  The guest will not know that you gave them a thumbs down, they aren't even told what star ratings you gave them.  Airbnb uses those items to determine if the guest should be allowed to continue booking on the site.  

[Debbie51]

Thanks so much - your answer is what I was looking for. I thought the guest would see the thumbs down and am relieved they won't.

I could not find that information on the Airbnb site so was not sure what was visible to the guest.