Unfair Airbnb Review? 5 Examples of Reviews You Can Get Removed

The term "unfair" is one of the most common words hosts use when they receive a negative review. It can feel deeply unfair when a guest complains about something outside your control, misrepresents the truth, or seems to have unreasonable expectations.

However, when it comes to getting a review removed, "unfair" is not a word that Airbnb's support team recognizes. Their decisions are not based on fairness; they are based on a strict set of content policies. The key to success is to translate your feeling of "unfairness" into a clear, evidence-based report of a specific policy violation.

Many reviews that hosts feel are unfair are, in fact, policy violations in disguise. This guide provides five clear examples of common "unfair" reviews that you can—and should—report for removal. To understand all the valid reasons, read our post on the 5 real reasons Airbnb deletes reviews.

Quick Reference: Reporting Unfair Reviews

If a guest's review contains...	It violates this policy...	Your best evidence is...
Complaints about weather, traffic, etc.	Relevance	A screenshot of the review itself.
Your private phone number or address	Privacy	A screenshot of the review itself.
A threat to get a refund	Extortion	A screenshot of the guest's message.
Feedback about a stay they canceled	Canceled Reservation	A screenshot of the "Canceled" reservation status.
A false claim about an amenity	Misleading Information	A screenshot of your listing and time-stamped photos.

1. The "Blame the Host" Review (Irrelevant Content)

This type of review occurs when a guest has a bad trip for reasons that have nothing to do with you or your property, but they take it out on you in the review.

The Review: ⭐⭐ "Our vacation was a total bust. It rained every single day, the traffic from the airport was a nightmare, and the local restaurants were all too crowded. The apartment itself was okay, I guess, but the whole trip was a disappointment."

Why It's Removable: This review violates the Relevance policy. A review must be about the host's performance and the property itself. The host has no control over the weather, city traffic, or the popularity of local restaurants. By focusing on these external factors, the guest is not providing a relevant review of their stay.

How to Report It:

• Violation: Irrelevant Content.
• Your Report: "I am reporting this review for violating the Relevance policy. The guest's complaints are about the weather and local traffic, which are outside of my control as a host. The review does not provide feedback on the actual hosting or the property."

2. The "Security Risk" Review (Privacy Violation)

This is a serious and often shocking violation where a guest exposes your private information.

The Review: ⭐ "The host was impossible to get a hold of through the app. If you need him, his name is John Smith and his personal cell is 555-123-4567. You can usually find him at the back of the property, as he lives in the main house."

Why It's Removable: This is a clear violation of Airbnb's policy against sharing private or confidential information. This is a major safety and security breach, and Airbnb takes these reports very seriously.

How to Report It:

• Violation: Sharing Private Information.
• Your Report: "I am reporting this review for a serious privacy violation. The guest has published my full name, personal phone number, and details about my primary residence. This is a security risk. Please remove this review immediately."

3. The "Bargaining" Review (Extortion)

This is when a guest uses the review system as a bargaining chip to get a refund or other compensation they aren't entitled to. The evidence is usually in your private messages.

The Private Message: "Hi, we felt the cleaning fee was a bit high for the size of the apartment. If you are willing to refund the $75 fee, we would be happy to leave you a 5-star review."

Why It's Removable: This is a direct violation of Airbnb's Extortion Policy. The guest has explicitly tied a positive review to a financial incentive. Even if they haven't left the review yet, you should report the message proactively. If they do leave a retaliatory negative review later, Airbnb will have the context and will almost always remove it.

How to Report It:

• Violation: Extortion.
• Your Report: "I am reporting this guest for violating the Extortion Policy. As you can see in the attached screenshot of our message thread, the guest offered a 5-star review in exchange for a refund of the cleaning fee. Please take appropriate action."

4. The "Ghost Guest" Review (From a Canceled Stay)

Only guests who have completed a stay are eligible to leave a review. If a guest books but cancels their reservation, they forfeit their right to comment on your property or hosting.

The Review: ⭐ "I had to cancel my booking last-minute due to a family emergency. I understand the host's strict cancellation policy, but their refusal to offer a full refund felt incredibly greedy and inflexible. I would not book with this host."

Why It's Removable: This review violates the policy that reviews must be from a guest who completed the stay. The feedback is about the cancellation policy, not the experience at the property. This is a simple, factual removal request.

How to Report It:

• Violation: Review from a canceled reservation.
• Your Report: "I am reporting this review as the guest's reservation was canceled, and they did not stay at my property. Per Airbnb policy, they are not eligible to leave a review. Please remove it."

For a complete walkthrough of this process, see our step-by-step guide to removing reviews.

5. The "Imaginary Amenities" Review (Demonstrably False Claims)

This is when a guest's review contains a central complaint about something that is demonstrably false. The burden of proof here is high, but if you can meet it, the review will be removed.

The Review: ⭐⭐ "The listing was deceptive. It showed a large, modern kitchen, but the actual kitchen was tiny and outdated. The hot tub was also broken."

Why It's Removable (With Proof): This review can be removed if you can prove the claims are false.

• If your photos clearly and accurately show the kitchen, there is no mention of a hot tub in your amenities list, and your description is honest, then the guest's review is not a subjective opinion—it's a false statement.

How to Report It:

• Violation: Falsifiable Information.
• Your Report: "I am reporting this review for containing demonstrably false information. The guest claims the kitchen was not as pictured and that a hot tub was broken. My photos accurately show the kitchen, and my listing has never advertised a hot tub. The guest's central claims are factually incorrect, and the review is misleading to future guests."

What Is NOT an "Unfair" Review?

It's equally important to understand what kind of reviews, while frustrating, cannot be removed.

• Subjective Opinions: "The bed was too firm for my liking."
• Minor Inaccuracies: "The host took two hours to respond," when it only took one.
• Fair Criticism: "The bathroom could have been cleaner under the sink."

Trying to report these will only waste your time and damage your credibility with Airbnb support.

FAQ: Handling Unfair Reviews

1. What's the most important piece of evidence I can have?

Screenshots of your Airbnb message thread. The timestamps and official record within the platform are considered irrefutable proof by support agents, especially in cases of extortion or harassment.

2. A guest left a 1-star review with no text. Is that removable?

Unfortunately, no. While incredibly frustrating, a rating without any accompanying text is considered a valid (though unhelpful) expression of the guest's opinion and does not violate any policy.

3. Will Airbnb remove a review if I can prove the guest broke my house rules?

Not always. A guest breaking a house rule (e.g., smoking on the property) does not automatically invalidate their review. However, if the review is clearly retaliatory because you enforced a rule, you can report it as biased. For example, if you charged a guest a fee for smoking and they immediately left a 1-star review, you should report it and provide the context.

4. How long do I have to report an unfair review?

There is no strict deadline, but it is best to report it as soon as possible. Acting quickly shows you are taking the matter seriously and allows support to investigate while the details are still fresh.

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The Bottom Line: Translate Unfairness into Policy

The next time you feel a review is unfair, take a moment to re-read this guide. Instead of getting angry, get strategic. Identify the specific policy violation, gather your evidence, and present a calm, factual case to Airbnb. By learning to speak their language, you empower yourself to protect your business from the small percentage of reviews that simply don't belong on your listing.