Can I Ask a Guest to Remove or Change Their Airbnb Review?
You can politely ask a guest to update or remove their review, but you must never pressure, pay, or retaliate to get it changed — that violates Airbnb's review policy and can penalize you. Reach out warmly, acknowledge their experience, explain what you've fixed, and leave the decision to them; they can edit within Airbnb's window.
The line you must not cross
Asking is fine. Coercing is not. Airbnb prohibits using incentives, pressure, or retaliation to influence a review — and enforcement can fall on the host, not just the guest.
- OK: a warm, no-strings message acknowledging their experience and any fix.
- NOT OK: offering a refund or discount in exchange for changing it (that's review manipulation, close to extortion in reverse).
- NOT OK: threatening them or retaliating in your review of them.
How to ask well
- 1Message them through Airbnb, calm and genuine — thank them, acknowledge the issue.
- 2Briefly note what you've changed because of their feedback.
- 3Invite (don't demand) them to update the review if they feel it's fair — then let it go.
Check your review in ~30 seconds — free
Paste the review. We'll tell you honestly whether Airbnb's policy makes it removable — and give you the exact words if it is. No login, no account access.
Check my review — freeFrequently asked questions
Can I offer a partial refund if they remove the review?
No — tying money to a review change is review manipulation and can get you penalized. Resolve any refund on its own merits, separately, and ask about the review with no strings attached.
How long does a guest have to edit their review?
Guests can edit a review within Airbnb's review/edit window, typically shortly after posting and before it's finalized. Once locked, they usually can't change it, so ask promptly and politely.
The guest agreed to change it but hasn't. What now?
You can send one gentle reminder, but don't badger them. If they don't act, focus on a strong public response and more good reviews rather than pushing further.
Sources
This guide reflects Airbnb's own published policies. Verify against the primary source, as Airbnb can update its policy: