1. Can you delete an Airbnb review?

No. Airbnb does not allow hosts or guests to delete reviews. Once a review is published, the author cannot remove it and neither can the person it is about.

There are only two ways a review can be removed:

• The author contacts Airbnb and asks for their own review to be taken down. Airbnb will do this if the review violates the Reviews Policy.
• The host (or guest) reports the review to Airbnb for a policy violation. If Airbnb agrees, they remove it and notify the reviewer by email.

You cannot remove a review simply because it is negative, unfair, or inaccurate about subjective matters. Opinions based on a real guest experience are protected, even harsh ones. Airbnb will only act when a specific policy rule has been broken.

You get a maximum of two dispute attempts per review. Once your second dispute is closed, the decision is final.

2. When Airbnb will remove a review

Airbnb's Reviews Policy and Content Policy set out the specific grounds for removal. A review will be taken down if it falls into any of these categories:

2.1 Irrelevant content

The review is not about the listing or the stay. For example, a guest complaining about Airbnb's corporate policies, commenting on unrelated topics, or reviewing a property they never actually stayed at.

2.2 Fake or inauthentic reviews

The reviewer did not participate in the reservation. This includes reviews left by someone other than the guest who booked, or reviews from stays that were cancelled before check-in.

2.3 Extortion or manipulation

The guest threatened a bad review to pressure you into a refund, free extras, or other concessions. Airbnb takes extortion reports seriously. If you have message evidence of a guest saying "give me X or I will leave a bad review", report it immediately.

2.4 Retaliatory reviews

A review posted to punish you for reporting a legitimate policy violation. For example, if a guest threw an unauthorised party, you reported it, and the guest then left a revenge review. Airbnb strengthened enforcement of this rule in 2025.

2.5 Discriminatory, abusive, or threatening content

Any review containing slurs, threats, harassment, discrimination based on protected characteristics, or sexually explicit content.

2.6 Privacy violations

A review that publicly discloses private information about the host or another person.

What will NOT get a review removed

• A low star rating with positive text (or vice versa).
• Complaints about things outside your control (noisy neighbours, bad weather, local construction).
• Subjective opinions you disagree with ("the bed was uncomfortable", "the area felt unsafe").
• Factual disputes about matters of opinion.

3. How to request review removal

Airbnb has a dedicated review removal process. Here is how to use it.

3.1 Step-by-step process

1. Go to the review removal request page (linked from Airbnb Help Centre article 3582).
2. Click "Get started".
3. Select the review you want removed.
4. Choose the reason for removal (the specific policy violation category).
5. Write a clear explanation of why the review violates the policy.
6. Upload supporting evidence: screenshots of messages, photos, timestamps, booking records.
7. Click "Submit".

Airbnb typically responds within 48 hours. If they agree the review violates the policy, they remove it and notify the reviewer by email. The reviewer can appeal if they believe a mistake was made.

3.2 Tips for a successful dispute

• Be specific. Name the exact policy the review violates. Do not just say "this is unfair".
• Provide evidence. Screenshots of threatening messages, timestamps that disprove claims, before-and-after photos.
• Stay calm and professional. Emotional or accusatory language hurts your credibility with the support team.
• File promptly. Do not wait weeks before submitting.
• Use your first attempt carefully. You only get two disputes per review. Make the first one count.

3.3 Who can file a dispute

Listing owners, full-access co-hosts, pro-hosts with broad permissions, and team owners or members can all file review disputes.

4. The 14-day review window and editing

4.1 How the window works

After checkout, both host and guest receive an email invitation to leave a review. The 14-day clock starts on the morning of checkout. Reviews use a double-blind system: neither party can see the other's review until both have submitted or the 14 days expire, whichever comes first.

If only one party submits a review, it goes live after the 14 days. If both submit, both publish simultaneously. There are no exceptions to allow reviews after the window closes.

4.2 Can you edit a review?

For home stays, you can edit your review at any point within the 14-day window, but only until the other party submits theirs. Once both reviews are in, they lock permanently. After publication, no editing is possible.

4.3 A tactical note for hosts

When you post a public response to a guest's review, it immediately locks the guest's review and prevents them from making further edits, even if they are still within their editing window. Keep this in mind before responding.

4.4 Cancelled reservations

If a booking is cancelled before check-in day, neither party can leave a review. If it is cancelled on or after check-in day (12:00 AM in the listing's timezone), both parties can still review. Refunds do not affect review eligibility; only the cancellation timing matters.

5. How to respond to a negative review

If a review does not qualify for removal, your next best option is a well-crafted public response. You have 30 days from when the review was submitted to respond. The response posts instantly and cannot be edited or deleted once submitted.

5.1 How to post a response

1. Go to Profile > Reviews.
2. Select "Reviews about you".
3. Find the review and click "Leave public response".
4. Write your response and click Submit.

5.2 What makes a good response

• Use the guest's name and reference their specific stay or issue.
• Lead with empathy. Acknowledge the experience. Apologise where appropriate, even if you disagree with their take.
• Explain what you have done. Describe corrective actions ("we have since replaced the mattress" or "we have added a second heater"). This reassures future guests.
• Keep it brief, neutral, and professional. Defensiveness backfires. Future guests read your response to gauge how you handle problems, not to referee a dispute.

5.3 What to avoid

• Emotional or accusatory language.
• Arguing point by point about subjective opinions.
• Disclosing private details about the guest.
• Sarcasm. It never reads well.

A calm, professional response to a bad review can actually build trust with future guests. It shows you take feedback seriously and fix issues.

6. How reviews affect your ranking and Superhost status

6.1 Search ranking

Airbnb's algorithm uses over 800 signals to rank listings in search results. Reviews are one of the most important. Since 2025, the algorithm has shifted to weight recent reviews far more heavily than historical performance. A single recent one-star review can noticeably reduce your visibility, even if you have years of perfect ratings.

The algorithm also analyses the language and sentiment of review text, not just star ratings. Neutral or slightly negative wording in a five-star review can still hurt ranking. Enthusiastic positive language boosts it.

6.2 Superhost requirements

To qualify as a Superhost, you need to meet all of these over the past 12 months:

• Overall rating: 4.8 stars or higher.
• Reservations: 10 or more (or 3 or more totalling 100+ nights).
• Response rate: 90% or higher within 24 hours.
• Cancellation rate: Less than 1%.

Superhost status is assessed quarterly (January, April, July, October). A bad review that drops your average below 4.8 can cost you the badge and the visibility boost that comes with it.

6.3 Why this matters for your income

Lower search ranking means fewer views, fewer bookings, and lower revenue. Superhost status also unlocks priority placement and a trust badge that increases conversion rates. Managing reviews is not vanity; it directly affects your bottom line.

7. Preventing bad reviews in the first place

The best review strategy is not about removal. It is about making bad reviews rare.

7.1 Set accurate expectations

Most bad reviews come from a gap between what the guest expected and what they found. Make sure your listing description, photos, and amenities list are honest. If the flat is on a busy road, say so. If the Wi-Fi is slow, mention it. Guests who know what they are getting leave better reviews than guests who feel misled.

7.2 Communicate proactively

Send a message the day before check-in with clear directions and access instructions. Check in on the first evening to ask if everything is as expected. A quick "is there anything you need?" message on day two can surface problems before they become complaints.

7.3 Fix issues fast

If something goes wrong during a stay, resolve it immediately. A broken appliance that gets fixed within hours is a minor inconvenience. The same issue left for three days becomes a one-star review.

7.4 Maintain high standards consistently

Cleanliness is the number one driver of bad reviews. Professional cleaning between every guest, fresh linen, and a consistent checklist eliminate the most common complaint. For hosts managing multiple properties or frequent turnovers, this is where professional management makes the biggest difference. For more on what that involves, see our guide to holiday let management.

7.5 Ask for reviews (within policy)

Airbnb's policy prohibits incentivising reviews (no discounts, gifts, or quid pro quo). But you can send a friendly post-checkout message thanking the guest and mentioning that you would appreciate a review if they have time. Most guests who had a good experience simply forget. A gentle nudge helps.

7.6 Use a property manager

A good property manager handles guest communication, professional cleaning, maintenance issues, and review responses. They keep your standards consistent and your response times fast, which are the two biggest factors in review quality. Management fees are also a deductible expense for tax purposes. See our guide to costs of running a holiday let for a breakdown of what that looks like financially.