New trend. Why are Hosts not leaving reviews?

[Alex1404]

I've been using Airbnb a lot recently and always leave a review for the host and the place. I've noticed a new trend when hosts are not leaving reviews at all. Hosts message me and say that the place is left sparkling clean and thank me for your stay, but never leave any reviews.

I thought it was a vital part of the Airbnb experience because it helps with future rentals.  In my opinion, there should be a stricter policy in place for hosts violating the rules of reviewing. Is Airbnb doing anything to motivate or follow up with hosts that are not habitually leaving any reviews?  

[Lorraine401]

Money talks.. fine them a penalty perhaps. 

[Sarah977]

@Lorraine401  Get fined for not leaving a review? What a bizarre idea.

[Chris395]

When things go "smoothly", there is little I can say that is meaningful.

[Jan10405]

How do I delete my great review for a host that did not leave me a review? Feel cheated.

[Sarah977]

@Jan10405  Cheated? You paid for a place to stay and apparently it was a nice stay if you wrote a great review. Reviews are not meant to be tit for tat. Some hosts and some guests fail to leave reviews. That is their choice, it isn't required. (I do review all my guests, though)

Rescinding your review just because the other party didn't leave one seems childish and vindictive.

Your review as a guest is meant to let future guests know of your experience at a listing. If your review was honest, there is no reason to remove it. 

The review isn't just for the host's benefit, you are informing your fellow guests of what to expect.

You never know what is going on in a person's life. If a guest didn't leave a review for me, I have no way of knowing if they just got diagnosed with cancer, or their mom died, and writing a review is the last thing on their minds, if they're on a camping with no Wifi signal,  if they just didn't get around to it on time, or if they just don't bother to leave reviews.

If you want hosts to leave you a review, there's nothing wrong with telling them you'd really appreciate it when you check out, or sending them a message to that effect afterwards. That may prompt them to do so if they aren't otherwise inclined to.

I could understand you being upset if you had no reviews yet, and wanted other hosts to see a good one so you wouldn't have trouble being accepted in the future. But you have 25 good reviews as a guest! You don't "need" this one review. Let it go, it's no big deal.

[Jan10405]

You're right. We don't have to give each other reviews.  

[Sarah977]

@Jan10405  If you want to make sure to book with hosts who will leave you a review, just click on the host's profile photo, which takes you to the host's profile page, where all their reviews will be listed. If you then click on one of the reviewing guest's photos, you'll be on the guest's profile page. Scroll down to see if that host left them a review.

If you do this for 4 or 5 of their guest reviews, and see they reviewed no one, you'll know that host doesn't bother themselves to leave reviews and know not to book with them if it's important to you.

The other thing is that we are living in a review crazy culture, where people are asked to review everything from their haircut to the place that changed their tires to the cafe they stopped into for 20 minutes for a coffee and a piece of pie.  While reviews for accomodations and guest behavior are pretty important, some folks are just sick of the whole review culture, and choose not to participate in it. Lots of hosts may only get a low % of their guests leaving reviews, even if the host always reviews- who knows why the guests don't bother.

[Carol7429]

As a new guest I’d consider reviews important from the hosts. I took the time to write a (good) review for my host. It was an honest review of course and I was happy to do it.  The discussions seem a little one-sided. Both parties to the transaction are benefiting.

My first stay was a freshman mistake, a host that has had “run ins” with previous guests and has berated them on this app . I did not see those reviews before my stay.  Fortunately, I did not engage in back-and-forth with her so things ended peacefully and safely. The host did however “get me back” for contacting Airbnb for guidance (not to refuse it but only for guidance) in her review  when I asked for clarity around her extra charges for a mandatory $160 cleaning fee (NOT in the listing). I had already paid a cleaning fee upfront. I was only 10 days into the <month stay and she informed me that ALL guests MUST pay it, regardless of how tidy you are.  Within the span of less than 2 days ( while I was working with Airbnb), she sent me several messages through the app, called and texted my private cell phone number complaining about how little money she gets from hosting and saying that she would kick me out if I didn’t pay up . I told her that our communication will only take place over the Airbnb platform, as they suggest  The host called the extra fees a house rule.  In her review, the host said that her cleaning team noted that I took the best care of her property and was cleaner than of any guest she’s ever had  but then the added a comment that I sometimes have a “problem” with following the house rules and with communication.  This was not an honest assessment, and I believe that she tried to  ruin my reputation because I asked Airbnb about the sudden extra charges. 

I sympathize with hosts having bad experiences/bad guests  but I wanted to point out that this is a two-way street and unfortunately sometimes hosts are not great as well. It seems as though it should be fairly straightforward if everyone is respectful 

[Carol7429]

Just to clarify, the positive review that I wrote was for my last host not my first one. 

[Sandra856]

Hi @Alex1404 🙂

Airbnb's rating system is harsh. Airbnb changed it to be even harsher this Summmer meaning that airbnb now expects every host to have at least 4,7 out of 5. It means that if I'm not sure I will get a 5 star rating from a guest I don't review them. If I do they will get a notification that I reviewed them and it is more likely that they then will leave me a review. I have had many guest that did not knew what a 4 star rating means for a host. I currently have 2 guests that I haven't left a review because I'm unsure how they will rate me. I'm quite sure it could be the reason for this new trend. 

Best, Sandra

[Helen3]

@Sandra I'm sorry I don't agree with your approach 

I review all my guests, and think hosts who don't review their guests should be penalised.

Our whole community is built on trust. Hosts who don't review their guests are doing both their guests and other hosts a dis-service.

@Alex1404 I am sorry your host didn't leave you a review. Either they were too lazy - even though it only takes a minute or two, or like Sandra they are worried about a negative review.

@sandra if you are worried that guests don't understand the rating system then explain it to them.

[Sandra856]

Hi @Helen3 🙂

I always review guests if I feel that I need to warn fellow hosts about them of course. And I also always review a guest if I get a notification that they reviewed me. But as I write I don't review a guest if they don't review me and if I'm uncertain that they understand the system and feel they might downrate me. I'm a softy and this harsh system really gets to me. I can feel it in my stomach when I get a notification that a guest reviewed me. So I guess it is a way to just protect myself and a way of being tactic in this lottery.

[Helen3]

Sorry I don't agree  with your approach.

As I said previously, if you don't feel guests understand the review system, help to educate them about it. Don't deny them a review.

Why do you feel they might mark you down?

Your approach is highly unfair to guests who rely on their reviews to be accepted by other hosts.

[Sandra856]

@Helen3 I don't really deny my guests a review. If they review me I always review them. I don't think it is my responsibility to educate my guests. I have many 1 nighters. It seems to me that some people do not understand @Alex1404 question. He asks WHY it could be that hosts stopped reviewing him and I explain WHY I think it could be. What kind of approach I have to the system is somehow irrelevant. I still believe that the current system most likely is the problem. And I can understand why hosts choose to navigate so they wont drown. 

[Helen3]

We will need to agree to disagree.

I think it is wrong for hosts to either not leave a review for guests at all or only review those who review them first.

It is not fair on guests.

You feel you are right to do this.

I have many one nighters it doesn't stop me reviewing them, or them reviewing me.

As hosts if we want fair reviews of course it helps if we educate our guests on the rating system.

A note about this in your guest book takes no effort at all.