How to Report a Guest to Airbnb for a Policy Violation

By ReviewRescueCross-checked against Airbnb's official Reviews PolicyUpdated August 5, 2026Not affiliated with Airbnb
The short answer

Report a guest through the Airbnb Help Center or the reservation's report option, documenting the specific violation — party, extra guests, smoking, damage, or harassment — with dates and evidence. Do it promptly: a violation formally reported before a review appears is what unlocks the retaliatory-review removal ground later.

How to report

  1. 1Go to the reservation (or the Airbnb Help Center) and choose to report the guest / a safety issue.
  2. 2Name the specific violation — extra guests, party, smoking, pet, damage, harassment.
  3. 3Attach dated evidence: photos, messages, the reservation timeline.
  4. 4Keep it factual and unemotional — you're documenting, not venting.

Why reporting early matters

Beyond safety and any damage claim, the timing of your report is what makes a future review removable. The retaliatory-review ground requires that you formally reported the violation to Airbnb before the biased review appeared.

If you only handle a violation privately and never report it, a later bad review usually can't be removed as retaliatory. Report it on the record, promptly.

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Frequently asked questions

Will the guest see that I reported them?

Airbnb handles reports confidentially and doesn't hand the guest a copy of your report. Focus on documenting the violation factually; Airbnb decides what action to take on their account.

Does reporting a guest remove their review automatically?

No — reporting and review removal are separate. But a violation reported before the review is the evidence that can later support removing that review as retaliatory. Report first, request removal separately.

Should I report a guest even if I don't have a bad review yet?

Yes, if they genuinely broke a policy — it protects other hosts and creates the dated record you'll need if a retaliatory review lands afterward. Don't wait for the review to appear.

Sources

This guide reflects Airbnb's own published policies. Verify against the primary source, as Airbnb can update its policy:

Related guides

Retaliatory reviews
They broke a rule, you reported them, then the review landed. Narrow ground.
Review after enforcing rules
Retaliatory only if you reported a violation to Airbnb first.
The complete removal guide
Start here: the six grounds, the request, and the escalation ladder.