How to Remove a Retaliatory Airbnb Review: Criteria and Request Templates

Updated October 2026

Short answer: Airbnb removes a review only when it breaks the review policy. "Retaliatory" has a narrow meaning: the guest broke a policy, was reported for it, and then left a biased review because of that report. If your case fits, request removal, name the criterion and attach the evidence. If it doesn't, a calm public response will do more for you than an argument.

Few things feel as unfair as a one-star review that arrives right after you did the right thing. The good news: some of these reviews can be removed. The bad news: many hosts lose the request because they ask for the wrong reason. Here's how to tell the difference.

What Airbnb means by a retaliatory review

Airbnb's policy says users may not write reviews to retaliate against another user for enforcing an Airbnb policy. In practice, a review counts as retaliatory only when three things are true:

1. The guest committed a policy violation.
2. The guest was notified that the violation had been reported.
3. The guest then left a biased review because of that report.

Examples that can fit: you filed a damage request after a guest broke something; you reported a party or extra guests and the stay was ended; the review attacks you for the report rather than describing the stay.

Examples that usually don't fit: you declined a refund the guest wasn't entitled to, and they're unhappy; the guest simply disliked the place. These can feel like revenge, but they aren't "retaliation" in the policy's sense, because the guest didn't break a policy you reported.

The other grounds for removal

Retaliation isn't the only ground. According to the policy, a review can also be removed when it is:

• Extortion, incentives or pressure: a guest threatens a negative review to get a refund or compensation, or trades a review for something of value.
• Irrelevant: it doesn't describe the reviewer's first-hand experience of the reservation.
• Fake: it isn't based on a real reservation, or comes from someone who didn't take part in it.
• Competitive harm: the reviewer is affiliated with you or competes with you directly.
• Content Policy violations: explicit, discriminatory, harmful or illegal content.

Just as important is what Airbnb says it won't remove: reviews you disagree with, a low star rating on its own, complaints about factors outside your control, and subjective opinions. If your review falls into one of those, skip the removal request and go straight to the public response.

How to request removal

Airbnb's help page on review policy has a removal request flow: you select the review, choose the reason, explain why, upload supporting documents and submit. Before you start, prepare three things:

• The criterion, named exactly as the policy names it
• A short timeline: the violation, the report, the review, with dates
• The evidence: screenshots of messages, your damage request or report, photos

Template: retaliation after a reported violation

"I'm requesting removal of the review posted on [date] for the reservation of [dates]. On [date], the guest [violation, e.g. caused damage to the coffee table / held a party]. I reported it on [date] through [damage request / support case number]. The review was posted [x days] later and focuses on [the report / the request], not on the stay. I believe it is retaliatory under the review policy. Evidence attached: [list]."

Template: a review used as leverage

"I'm requesting removal of the review posted on [date]. On [date], the guest wrote: '[exact quote]' (screenshot attached). The review followed after I declined. The policy doesn't allow pressuring another person through a review to obtain compensation. Evidence attached: [list]."

Keep it factual. No adjectives, no guesses about the guest's character. You're making it easy for the reviewer at Airbnb to match your case to the policy.

If the review stays: write for the next guest

Airbnb says it generally doesn't mediate disputes about whether a review is accurate, but you can post a public response. That response is read by every future guest who looks at your listing, so write it for them, not for the reviewer:

• Thank them, briefly.
• State one neutral fact, or what you've improved.
• Don't argue, don't share guest details, don't sound hurt.

"Thank you for staying with us. Our house rules, shown in the listing and accepted at booking, apply to every guest. We're glad to have hosted many guests who enjoyed [what guests like about your place]."

Make the next one easier to remove

Retaliation cases depend on a clear record that the guest broke a policy and was reported. Keep every message on the platform, report violations through the platform as they happen, and keep dated photos from every turnover. When a review arrives, the evidence is already in one place.

Source: Airbnb, Authentic and trustworthy reviews. General information, not legal advice. Don't Refund Yet is an independent guide, not affiliated with or endorsed by Airbnb.