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?  

[Emiel1]

@Alex1404,

As a host i can tell you Airbnb is not doing much to press hosts to leave a review. It's just the message to write a review and one or two reminders. But when not leaving a review nothing is communicated from Airbnb. I sometimes do not leave a review. Reasons are: simply forgotten, not knowing what to write, guest did not write a review etc..

Best regards,

Emiel

[Afric1]

I'm a new host and I've just had my first guests. I'm trying to leave a  (positive) review, but I'm being told that I don't have access to that page! I can't seem to get any help on this.

[Robin4]

@Afric1

Hello Afric and welcome to the hosting community.

The procedure for reviewing is...... 24 hours after the scheduled end of the stay you will recieve and email or a messsge on the phone app to write a review. The reason for this delay is that Airbnb want the reviews to be written independantly of each other....they do not want collusion between the guest and the host in the writing of the review!

From the time of that prompt you will have 14 days to submit a review and the guest has the same amount of time. When both the host and the guests reviews are received by Airbnb they will become public on each others review page. Once that has happened you will each be offered the opportunity to leave a public review response to each others review!

Wait a bit longer Afric, that review prompt will come.

Cheers.......Rob

[Afric1]

Thanks for your response, Robin. Problem is, when I first set up my account, I used a different email. Then I changed it to my regular email. Now I am being emailed on my original email to leave a review for my first guests. But when I try to do so, I receive a message saying 'you do not have access to this.' I have tried reverting to my original email address, but then I'm told that that email has already been taken. How can I leave my guests a review?

[Robin4]

@Afric1

You will need to get onto customer support and they will be able to sort this out for you. It is always hard for new users to understand how the platform works. It will come with experience but at this stage you need a bit of professional guideance.

The phone number for Airbnb in Ireland is +353 1 697 1831, if you call that number they will sort this out for you.

All the best mate.

Cheers.....Rob

[Mike19]

Hi Afric1 

Regardless of the email you used, you should get your messages direct in the App or even better on your PC. 
If you are having difficulties with the APP, I always find that I can access things better in a Browser. 

[Lizzie]

Hello @Emiel1,

Good to hear your feelings on this. 

What would you suggest would help to encourge more hosts to leave reviews? 

Thanks,
Lizzie

[Emiel1]

@Lizzie,

The posting is about what Airbnb should do more to encourage hosts leaving reviews. They could give a host some kind of "soft" penalty when not writing a review. But as i am rather lazy on writing reviews, i shoot myself in the foot by recommending such features. So i prefer to be silence...

Best regards,

Emiel

[Adria17]

You should not be eligible for super host status if you fail to review your guest.

[Lenore22]

That's so tricky, tho-- we see time & time again how well-intentioned policies like this go wrong in practice.  For example, I just had a guest cancel before check-in.  I issued a full refund... I feel like this is a done transaction with no need to review from either party, but I'm being pestered by Airbnb to write a review.  This is a new user with 0 reviews and I don't think a new user with 0 reviews should be able to "build a resume" with last-minute cancellations.  I also don't feel right writing a review- other than the cancellation, I have absolutely nothing to say about this person as a guest.

[Sarah977]

@Lenore22 So maybe leave that as a review- "This guest made a last minute cancellation and did not stay". 

At least that warns other hosts that not only is she a new user, she thinks it's okay to cancel right before check-in leaving the host in the lurch.

[Sandra126]

@Lizzie , simple. Every review written, by host or guest, goes into a draw to win travel credit. A small expense for Airbnb, a huge win. Can be a smaller monthly amount, or a bigger annual. Good for promotional use too! I think reviewing percentages would increase substantially. 

[Lenore22]

love this idea.

[Stephanie365]

@Lizzie 

I am late to this game as I was searching out how to respond to a host who doesn't leave reviews when she's a guest. And it turns out, she doesn't leave reviews when she's a host either.

While I shut down my AirBNB during the early part of the pandemic, after starting back up in July, I have been hard-pressed to get guests to leave reviews. I'm not making the 50% cut off which puts my Superhost status in jeopardy. Personally, I don't think it's fair to penalize hosts for the lack of an action by guests; something completely beyond our control. 

I have a simple solution for people (hosts and guests) who don't leave reviews.
Guests and hosts who do not review at least 75% of their stays will earn a badge that identifies them as a "Non Participant" in the review process. 

Guests earning this badge will lose the ability to Instant Book, so the next time they try to IB a location, they receive the following pop-up:
      "We have suspended your ability to Instant Book due to your lack of participation in the review process. If you would like your Instant Book abilities restored, please make sure to maintain a 75% review rate."

The hosts should also receive a pop up with the guest's reservation request that gives hosts the option to decline their reservation, penalty-free. 
      "This guest has been identified as someone who does not consistently participate in the review process. Do you wish to decline their reservation request without penalty? [  ] Yes  [  ] No"

If the host declines the reservation, the guest should receive the message,
      "This host has declined your request due to your lack of participation in the review process. To avoid this penalty, please make sure to review at least 75% of your stays."

Hosts earning this badge will also lost the right as a guest to Instant Book and the same pop-up alert should show up for any hosts they try to book with. Furthermore, any guest who books with the host will receive a pop-up message saying:
       "This host has been identified as someone who does not consistently participate in the review process. Do you wish to continue your reservation with this host? [   ] Yes   [   ] No"

If someone doesn't review 3 consecutive stays as a host or guest, they are suspended for 30 days.

If you're not willing to do something like this, you need to remove the review penalty from Superhost requirements. It's absolutely improper to penalize a host for the actions, or lack thereof, by guests.