You’ve heard the horror stories of bad Airbnb guests — wild parties, broken furniture, neighbours complaining to the council. Opening your home to strangers isn’t a decision to take lightly — that’s why guest screening on Airbnb is so important. 

But here’s the good news: despite what headlines and social media may suggest, bad Airbnb guests and hosting experiences are rare.

This blog is designed to help homeowners overcome their fear, understand the facts, and gain confidence through proper guest screening and proven safety practices.

How likely are you to get a bad Airbnb guest?

If you’re nervous about hosting, you’re not alone. Many first-time Airbnb hosts share one big fear: “What if I get a bad Airbnb guest?”

Let’s unpack that.

While there’s no denying some negative stories exist, they tend to be the most sensational and least common. Most guests check out without issues, particularly when they are travellers, families, couples, or professionals who want a comfortable and clean place to stay.

Even when things do go wrong, they rarely spiral into disaster. Small scuffs, a broken glass, or confusion about the Wi-Fi are far more common than property destruction.

Fortunately, Airbnb has a process in place to deal with any accidents that may occur. Guests should inform the host within 24 hours, and the host will send a reimbursement request to cover the cost of any damages. Airbnb’s Community Support team is also there to review any damages and determine if the guest is at fault. So rest assured, support is in place to handle the cost of damages. 

The key to peace of mind is prevention — for Airbnb, screening guests is a must. You can either screen guests yourself, or work with Airbnb managers in Australia who'll do all the work on your behalf:

How to avoid bad Airbnb guests through guest screening

While accidents can’t always be helped, Airbnb guest screening is there to snuff out the worst contenders from the get-go. Let’s take a closer look at how to screen guests on Airbnb.

If you’re wondering how to screen Airbnb guests without reviews, here’s what smart hosts and property managers look for:

1. Verified identity and platform safeguards

Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com have built-in tools to confirm a guest’s identity. These include:

• email and phone verification,
• government-issued ID upload,
• payment authentication, such as 3DS secure checkout, and
• reviews and host feedback from past stays.

At Hometime, for example, first-time guests booking on our platform must complete a 3DS security check, where a one-time PIN is sent to their mobile during checkout. This significantly reduces fraud and confirms they are who they say they are.

2. Guest history, review data, and booking patterns

Your property manager should allow you a few days to check prospective guests before you allow them to stay at your property. 

When screening guests, you should ask yourself the following:

• Does the guest have positive reviews from other hosts?
• Is this a last-minute booking for one night on a Saturday?
• Is the stay during a high-risk period like New Year’s Eve or a local festival?

These are the moments when red flags may or may not pop up.

Some platforms also provide helpful guest history. For instance, Booking.com gives hosts a summary of a guest’s cancellation rate, number of completed stays, and any misconduct reports. As a part of guest vetting, Hometime’s local hosts will make sure guests read and agree with the ‘house rules’ for your property, or whether the booking should be cancelled. 

3. Screening long-term Airbnb guests

Long-term bookings carry a different kind of risk — not necessarily parties, but potential wear-and-tear, non-payment, or friction over rules.

That’s why it’s important to:

• ask for the purpose of the stay,
• confirm whether it’s remote work, relocation, or something else, and
• make sure the guest is aware of all house rules and agrees to them.

If you’re wondering how to screen long-term booking guests on Airbnb, this is where asking smart pre-booking questions matters most.

What happens if something does go wrong?

Screening helps a lot, but no system is perfect. When issues occur, fast and professional responses matter the most. Stay prepared for the risk of bad Airbnb experiences with the following:

1. Damage protection and insurance

Here’s what hosts have at their disposal:

• Airbnb’s damage policy provides up to $3M in damage protection, including pet and deep clean coverage. 
• Platforms like Hometime also collect pre-authorised security deposits, which can be claimed if there’s damage or rule violations.
• Additional short-term rental insurance is recommended, especially for coverage gaps not handled by Airbnb.

If you’re unsure what your current insurance covers, check out independent resources like the Finder’s guide to short-term rental insurance for clarity.

2. On-the-ground response and escalation

It’s not all about policies. Sometimes, you just need someone who can act on the go. This includes:

• local support teams who can check on the property,
• keeping emergency lines open to neighbours or building managers, and
• proactive communication from guest managers if guest behaviour strays off course.

Having a professional partner or property manager in place means you’re not relying on Airbnb’s customer service to handle a crisis alone.

3. Booking cancellations and refusals

Worried about how to avoid bad Airbnb guests who won’t cooperate? You can decline booking requests if the guest seems untrustworthy or vague. You’re not obliged to accept guests who refuse to answer your questions. If a booking is already confirmed and risk increases, platforms usually allow cancellation under specific criteria, especially if you’ve flagged the risk early.

Airbnb problem guests are the minority

There’s no such thing as zero risk. But with the right systems in place, that risk becomes manageable — and rare.

Bad Airbnb guests do exist, but they’re far from common. With identity checks, behaviour filters, pre-booking questions, deposits, and fast support, today’s hosts have more control than ever.

You don’t have to manage it all alone

Bad guests are rare, but peace of mind shouldn’t be. At Hometime, we manage every aspect of Airbnb guest screening, so you don’t have to worry. Our Airbnb management services in Australia combine automation, human review, and on-the-ground response to help homeowners sleep easier. 

In addition, our comprehensive services include:

• property onboarding,
• listing optimisation,
• ‍property styling and photography,
• dynamic pricing strategy,
• Airbnb cleaning services,
• property maintenance.

Schedule an obligation-free chat with Hometime to learn more about guest management services and get Airbnb revenue projections for your property:

Frequently asked questions

What questions should I ask when screening my Airbnb guests?

When screening Airbnb guests, ask clear, friendly questions that reveal their intentions and help you assess a suitable fit. Start with: “What brings you to [City]?” and “Who will be staying with you?” Follow up with, “Have you stayed in short-term rentals before?” to gauge experience, and “Are you expecting any visitors?” to clarify expectations. If your property has specific rules, ask them to confirm they’ve read and agreed to them. These questions help establish trust, set clear boundaries, and filter out guests who may not be a good match — all without sounding intrusive or too formal.

How do I deal with bad Airbnb guests?

If you’re unsure how to deal with bad Airbnb guests, it starts with remaining calm and professional. Document everything — messages, photos of damage, and any complaints. Address issues early by messaging the guest politely, reminding them of your house rules. 

If behaviour continues, contact Airbnb support or your property manager immediately. For serious problems, involve local authorities if needed. After check-out, submit a claim through Airbnb’s Resolution Centre within 14 days. Always review guests honestly to help future hosts. Prevention is key, but when things go wrong, clear communication, thorough records, and knowing your platform’s policies will help you resolve issues quickly and fairly.