Dilemma to review and to be reviewed

[Alice595]

EI just checked out a family today. They were nice, and respected house rules. They even collected kitchen trash and put the bags away outside the house in the backyard even though we did not require guests to do so.

However, we did find a few small things. (1) Their kids put bubble gums on the hand towel in the bathroom. The hand towel had to be trashed (2) The lady was at period and left blood stains on the sheet even though she tried to clean it without success. (3) A coffee cup which has a set of four was missing, most likely it was broken by kids. They did not tell me these during their stay.

Should I send a message to them? Should I just take the cost of damages without telling them? How and what should I review them? I am so afraid of getting a retaliatory review if I send a message to them and mention the damages.

Just four days ago, I got a retaliatory review from a guest who canceled one hour after checkin because he said to Airbnb the house was too hot while the temperature on thermostat showed 71 F. So far I have not written my review to him. Therefore his review is not shown yet. Definitely it would be 1 star based on his rough messages after Airbnb told him that I agreed to refund him unused night instead of a full refund.

[Susan1188]

Yes I know - I don't know all the details but I did see the drama unfolding on another forum.

Apparently gas leak only came up after reviews were posted,  and a partial refund was given to her (she wanted full refund).

Airbnb has had a share of accidents due to carbon monoxide poisoning and similar, my thought was that if they get a report of a gas leak, no matter how crazy the guest and obvious she is lying, they might HAVE to shut you down pending proof that it is a lie.

This seems credible to me, how could they possibly  take a risk with your next reservations if there is any chance that the disgruntled guest might be telling the truth.  The stakes are too high they have to show they did their due diligence.

[Sarah977]

@Susan1188  I've never read of a carbon monoxide poisoning in an Airbnb. The knee jerk reaction of Airbnb pasting that carbon monoxide detector on our listings was due to a family who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a condo unit in , I think, Cancun. And it also wasn't an Airbnb, I don't think.

FYI carbon monoxide detectors do not detect gas leaks. All they detect is carbon monoxide, which is produced when a gas appliance is not combusting properly. And it's actually quite easy to see if the appliance is combusting properly- the flame should be blue, not orange or yellow.

And gas leaks can be smelled- they add an odor to the normally odorless gas for just that reason.

[Susan1188]

Yes I realize that carbon monoxide detectors will not detect gas leaks.

My thought was rather that since  Airbnb has had these recent deaths of guests due to with carbon monoxide,  they will certainly be vigilant about any complaints relating to gas leaks or any other issue that might be life threatening.  

There was indeed a family that sadly died in a non-airbnb condo, but also another case of a retired couple who died in an Airbnb.

If a disgruntled guest falsely accuses you of having a gas leak I don't see how Airbnb could keep your future reservations on the books, without asking you to supply proof that this is not true.  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-23/death-of-brazilian-tourists-adds-to-airbnb-proble...

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2018/12/19/airbnb-making-push-smoke-carbon-monoxide-alar...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6442627/New-York-couples-dies-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-v...