Hi Rena,
I'm sorry to hear about your troubling experience. It's understandable to feel shaken after such an incident. Here are some steps to help you move forward and enhance security:
Leave an Honest Review: It’s important to leave an honest review about the guests to inform future hosts. Airbnb’s review system is double-blind, meaning your review won’t be visible to the guests until they have left theirs, or until the review period ends. But I recommend to leave the review 12 days after the guest check out. Here's a sample review for reference:
"Unfortunately, I must report a serious incident during this guest's stay. Despite their prompt payment for damages, the behavior exhibited was alarming and included excessive drinking, a physical altercation, and significant damage to property, including a broken door and various household items. While I appreciate the guests' immediate response to the financial aspect, the overall experience has compelled me to advise caution to future hosts."
2. Report to Airbnb: Ensure that you’ve reported the incident in detail to Airbnb. They can take further action, like banning the guests if their behavior warrants it.
3. Enhanced Screening: Consider setting stricter booking requirements, such as requiring government ID verification, or only accepting guests with multiple positive reviews.
4. Security Enhancements: You might want to invest in security measures such as better locks, security cameras (in common areas as per legal guidelines), or an alarm system.
5. Blocking Guests: To prevent specific guests from booking your listings again, you can block them on Airbnb. This option is available in the messaging thread with the guest by selecting the "block" feature.
Remember, incidents like this are rare, and most Airbnb experiences are positive. It’s good to take proactive steps to secure your property and peace of mind.
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Upfish Management