Joint reviews by renter and host?

[Kathy-and-Jere0]

We recently had a very poor experience at a property whereby the photos posted by the host were NOTHING like the actual property. Pictures looked beautiful online but in real life it was appalling and completely neglected in & out. T

he ceiling is falling down in a bedroom, filthy carpeting, urine stained mattresses (no mattress pads), picket fence has fallen down, landscaping is all weeds/overgrown and discovered a live snake under kitchen sink! I could go on and on….

This property was advertised as a “Luxury Family Estate” (sleeps 16) and was not cheap. So, I took a lot of pictures, sent them to Airbnb support to bring it to their attention (“Bait & Switch”) & requested a refund! The host is clearly misrepresenting her property. Host refused to refund anything.

I then wrote/posted an honest review about the appalling condition of the property versus what is being advertised but it was never posted, so after reaching out to Airbnb support as to why, was informed that the only way a review is posted is when BOTH parties post a review. 

Why would this host post a review of my group knowing we complained/requested a refund and that my negative review would be posted if she reviewed me.

Makes no sense!! I wish Airbnb would change this feature! 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Kathy-and-Jere0 The way the review system works is that a review is posted either when the other party posts their review OR after 14 days whichever is the sooner. So your review will be posted soon.

[Huma0]

@Kathy-and-Jere0 

@Mike-And-Jane0 are correct about how reviews work. Even if the host doesn't leave one for you (and they still might), yours will be published 14 days after the check out.

I wanted to ask though, RE the refund, did you stay at the property and also request a refund/partial refund, or did you leave and stay elsewhere? Did you first contact the host about the issues, or go straight to Airbnb? At what point did you do this, i.e. how soon after you checked in? All of these things are relevant when it comes to refunds for such issues. You would be wise to read the guest refund policy so that you know which steps to take if anything like this happens in future.