Airbnb users who leave accommodation early given right to leave bad reviews

Airbnb customers who leave early or refuse to stay in accommodation after finding it is unacceptable, will for the first time be able to leave bad reviews, competition watchdogs have ruled.

Previously its online reviews system does not allow guests to rate accommodation which they have chosen not to stay at or left early. Reviews could only be left with the assistance of Airbnb’s customer services department.

However the Competition and Markets Authority has asked for this to change and now Airbnb will update its ratings system by August 31 this year. 

Once the new system is in place guests will be able to leave feedback with important information, such as the suitability of the host or the accommodation, or the reason they chose not to stay (or to cut short their stay), regardless of whether they cancelled on the day of check-in or during their visit.

Gordon Ashworth,  CMA  Project Director, said: "Airbnb is a popular platform used by people searching for accommodation, and the online reviews and opinions left by other guests are an important source of information.

"It’s therefore imperative that customers are able to access the complete picture about a property they are considering booking.

"We were concerned that, if someone cut short their stay, it was too hard for them to leave a review under Airbnb’s existing reviews system and so we are pleased that Airbnb engaged constructively with us and committed to making the necessary changes."