Renting out your property to Airbnb guests can be stressful; you never really know who is going to come knocking on your door. Sometimes, unpleasant renters can cause several problems for you and your neighbors. So, how do you block unruly guests from returning to your Airbnb?

To block guests from returning to your Airbnb, blocking them through your inbox will prevent them from booking ever again. And if you give them a 3 star or below review, they won’t be permitted to book via “Instant Booking”. They’ll be required to contact you, which you can then deny the reservation.

Let’s take a closer look at both of the options to block guests from returning to your Airbnb.

Block the Guest Through Your Airbnb Inbox

One of the ways that you can block a guest from returning to your Airbnb is to go into your inbox and block them there.

It’s a simple process, and it will prevent them from messaging you. Also, it will block them from booking your property ever again so it should be used as a last resort. Essentially, you would be reporting them to Airbnb.

Check out the step-by-step guide below for blocking a bad guest through your inbox.

1. Find the guest’s message in your inbox and click on it.
2. Click on the flag next to the conversation to report the guest to Airbnb.
3. You’ll be prompted to answer why you’re reporting them, and you have to select the option “They’re being offensive.”
4. You’ll be given a list of a few more questions and asked to explain why you want to block them.
5. Submit your request.
6. You’ll be asked if you wish to block this person after you submit the report; click on “Block this person.”
7. You’re all set, so click, “Ok.”

Once you complete this process, the guest you’ve just blocked won’t be able to contact you anymore. This means they won’t be able to request a booking, use the Instant Booking option, send you messages, or receive any requests from you.

Leave the Guest a 3-Star (or lower) Review

A possibly easier way to block a returning guest would be to leave them a low review. This will prevent them from using the Instant Booking option, which leaves you with more options for your other potential guests.

The review will need to be three stars or less to effectively block them from returning to your Airbnb, but it won’t outright ban them.

Be sure to explain in the review why you’re giving them three stars or less, and you don’t have to mention that you intend to block them.

Explain what they did to deserve the low review. If they left your property in bad shape, put that in the review. If communication with the guest wasn’t good, put that in the review as well.

Be polite and honest. Airbnb takes the low reviews as a signal that the host no longer wishes to book with that particular guest.

Disable Instant Booking

Another way to block a user is to disable the Instant Booking option on your property. This isn’t as appealing for many hosts because this means your other guests will lose this feature as well.

However, by doing this, you’ll have more control over who books your property – and we have actually used this to stop a potential bad guest from Instant booking our place after they sent us a message that threw some red flags.

If the guest you wish to block wants to book with you again, you’ll have to decline their request manually to book with you.

While there is the downside that other guests won’t be able to use the Instant Booking feature, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively with new guests. Ask questions, and try to get a sense of who is looking to rent your property.

Set Clear Guidelines

Alternatively, you can also use the Instant Booking option to deter potential repeat guests or even new ones that could be problematic. When you enable the Instant Booking option on your property, you’ll need to set very clear guidelines.

Here’s how to set up your Instant Booking:

1. Select the listing you want to set up.
2. Click on “manage listing.”
3. Select the “booking settings” for the listing.
4. Choose the option that states guests who meet your guidelines don’t require approval.
5. Click on “guest requirements” and then click on “edit.”
6. Choose the requirements you want your guests to meet in order to use Instant Booking.
7. Finally, save your changes.

You can edit these guidelines to suit your needs and concerns. What happens is that guests who meet all of your guidelines don’t require your approval to use the Instant Booking feature. However, if they don’t meet your guidelines, they’ll need to submit a request and discuss them with you.

You can use this to your advantage when trying to block a guest from returning.

Based on your reasons for blocking them, you can edit the guidelines to prevent them from using Instant Booking. There is a chance this may not always work out for you.

Use a Penalty-Free Cancellation

Finally, the last method you could try to block a returning guest is to use one of your penalty-free cancellations.

As an Airbnb host, you have three cancellations a year that you can use without penalty. These are nice to have in an emergency, but remember, you only have three. It’s better to try any of the methods listed above before resorting to using one of your cancellations.

Another way to cancel a reservation penalty free is to use the option that you are “uncomfortable with the reservation” due to safety concerns, either because the guest had concerning reviews or they sent you a message that threw some red flags.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Bad guests can put a damper on your goals as an Airbnb host, destroy your property, and ultimately damage your reputation.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent them from staying at your property. Being proactive about who stays at your Airbnb will keep you feeling safe and secure about who is in your home.

Be Extra Transparent About the Physical Layout of Your Property

Sometimes when you aren’t sure, it’s easy to be concerned that you could end up with problems with your guests or that there could be a liability issue with them. The best way to avoid these situations is to be extremely transparent about the property.

This isn’t limited to just the guidelines you have set in place.

Be extra clear about the physical layout of your home. If you have a lot of stairs, be sure to mention that in the listing so they can’t complain about it later on.

This could prevent guests with small children who are prone to falling from renting your property. Things like that can really save you the stress of a liability lawsuit.

Repeat Your Guidelines Everywhere You Can

Another way to avoid problems with guests is to repeat your guidelines in every place you can. You can have them posted in the home as well. Having your guidelines clearly stated could also prevent certain guests from returning to your home.

Avoid Same Day Bookings

While it isn’t always true that same day bookings are bad guests, it’s best to avoid them if you can.

Unless you’re able to communicate with the guest about why they need such a last-minute reservation, it’s best to avoid those. The guest is likely using your home to do something they’d rather not do in their own home, especially if they are local and are only renting for one night.

Check out the video below for tips on keeping unwanted guests out of your Airbnb:

Summary

Don’t let the experience of bad guests hinder your goals and plans as an Airbnb host.

There are ways to get the most out of the Airbnb community without limiting your property to the potentially great guests you might miss out on. Hopefully, this article has given you the best ways to block those bad guests from returning to your Airbnb.

And if you found this article helpful, consider subscribing to our email list to receive more posts like this!