A research of the University of Queensland says that, about 80 percent of Airbnb hosts who actively screen their guests report a positive effect on dealing with property damages, disputes, or house rule violations. Screening is not just about being careful. It is about being smart and staying in control of your property. Airbnb guest screening means taking time to learn about the people who want to stay in your rentals.
At STR Assistance, guest screening is part of our daily operations. Our dedicated virtual assistants are reviewing guest profiles and booking history to analyze message tone and spotting red flags for hosts. Your property will be safe from unauthorized party bookings, last-minute cancellations, and property damage before they happen. From our experience, today we are sharing a full-fledged explanation of Airbnb guest screening best practices, tips, and suggestions.
Need Manual Guest Screening?
Protect your property from risks with streamlined screening, using both manual checks and automated tools for reliable bookings.
What Does Airbnb Guest Screening Mean?
Guest screening is a protection plan of your property from issues like property damage, booking scams, unauthorized parties, using manual or software-driven automations.
The manual screening process involves asking pre-booking questions, verifying personal information, understanding their purpose of booking, and other details to pick trustworthy guests. You need to deal with background checks, international identity clearance, and data validations. Below, we have covered a specific section on Airbnb manual guest screening strategies.
Alternatively, automation of guest screening utilizes artificial intelligence to identify user patterns, mining guest relevant data to give them a score. It analyzes guests history, on platform reputation, and other reviews to understand their motive. All you need only to review and decide whether to accept or reject the booking request. Accurate guest screening combines Airbnb’s screening system with a host’s personal judgment to minimize property risks.
First, take a brief look at how Airbnb onboards a new guest profile and how this can help you to make decisions.
How does Airbnb approach guest Screening?
Airbnb uses a combination of identity verification to check the validity of a guest. This includes OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) checks and a personal background check. Airbnb ID verification may involve uploading a government-issued ID or a selfie. In comparison, OFAC checks screen users against global watchlists. In the U.K. or U.S.A., Airbnb conducts background checks using regional public records of guests. However, in regions like Europe or parts of Asia, background checks are not performed due to legal restrictions.
Airbnb does not share ID documents or verification results with hosts. Instead, hosts only see verification badges. This makes Airbnb’s screening a foundational safeguard rather than a foolproof vetting system for hosts. This limitation allows hosts to protect his own properties by applying an extra layer of protection in the guest selection process.
Why Guest Screening is Important for Airbnb Hosts?
For Airbnb hosts, screening guests is one of the smartest ways to avoid trouble and keep hosting enjoyable. Taking time to vet each booking helps protect your property, prevent damage, and maintain good relationships with neighbors. It also lowers the chances of bad reviews and creates a safer, more welcoming space for everyone. A proactive guest screening will help your business by following these means:
Avoiding Bad Guests: Property Damage, Rule Violations, Parties
Poorly screened guests may lead to expensive property repairs and emotional stress to hosts. They could cause damage to furniture, break appliances, or throw unauthorized parties. Airbnb’s AirCover protection backs hosts with damages, but it can be time-consuming and uncertain. Screening helps to identify red flags in guest profiles, such as a lack of reviews, unclear communication, or bad behavior.
Ensuring Safety for Neighbors and the Community
A guest’s behavior can affect more than just your home. Bad guests disturb your neighbors, building management, and the local community. Loud noise, unauthorized guests, or illegal activity may lead neighbors to file a complaint or even take legal action. Proper screening helps to ensure your guests won’t disturb others. This helps to keep a respectful environment and maintain local support for short-term rentals.
Protecting Your Business Reputation and Listing Status
Negative experiences with guests can lead to poor reviews and even penalties from Airbnb. If your listing is repeatedly flagged for violations, it can result in your property being removed from Airbnb. Careful screening reduces the risk of low ratings and maintains a strong reputation. Higher ratings are essential for achieving Superhost status on Airbnb and attracting high-quality bookings.
Reducing Airbnb Claims, Disputes, and Negative Reviews
When you host the wrong guest, disputes become more likely to occur. Filing claims and getting Airbnb host damage protection can be a lengthy and uncertain process. Strong guest screening minimizes these conflicts by filtering out high-risk bookings in advance. It saves your time and preserves community standards.
What Information Can Airbnb Hosts See About Guests?
Airbnb hosts can access limited but valuable information about guests from their profiles. You should know what information is visible and what’s not to make decisions while screening. Before accepting a booking, hosts can see the guest’s full name, profile photo, Airbnb join date, and any reviews left by previous hosts. If the guest has completed Airbnb’s identity verification process, a “Verified ID” badge will appear on their profile.
What Airbnb guest info is hidden from hosts?
Airbnb does not share a guest’s government ID, complete address, date of birth, or contact details with hosts. Hosts can not access this information before or after a booking is confirmed. Even if Airbnb conducts a background check, the results are never disclosed. This privacy-focused approach means that hosts should depend on basic information and communication for vetting a guest.
How to interpret guest profiles and behavior patterns?
A complete guest profile with a friendly photo, detailed bio, and positive reviews suggests a trustworthy guest. Look for consistency in communication, polite tone, and prompt replies. On the other hand, vague profiles, missing photos, or hesitating to answer basic questions can be red flags. Review recurring complaints in past reviews to spot guests who may cause issues.
What Airbnb Does Not Do in Guest Screening?
Airbnb offers some built-in security measures. But its guest screening process has apparent limitations. Many hosts think that Airbnb performs thorough background checks on every guest, but this is not true for all. The inefficiency of Airbnb guest screening are:
No Comprehensive Background Checks
Airbnb does not run complete criminal background checks on all guests. In some countries, such as the U.S.A., Airbnb may perform limited checks using public records. But this checking is not guaranteed and depends on available information. Globally, Airbnb primarily screens guests against the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC is not comprehensive for criminal or sex offender databases.
Limited Data Verification
Airbnb collects personal details such as email addresses and phone numbers. But these aren’t always verified beyond basic confirmation. A guest may use temporary phone numbers or secondary email accounts. Even ID verification is optional in many listings unless the host requires it.
Loopholes Guests Can Exploit
Some guests create fake profiles by using others’ identities. Since Airbnb doesn’t share detailed identity with hosts, high-risk guests can return under different names. Without careful host-level screening, these loopholes can put your property at risk.
How Insurance Backs Up Your Airbnb Vetting Process?
Airbnb’s AirCover for Hosts protects up to $3 million in damage coverage and USD 1 million in liability insurance. It’s a valuable safety net that can help cover unexpected costs or legal issues related to guests. This coverage is applicable even when you’ve done your best to screen guests.
However, hosts and property managers should also invest in private short-term rental insurance. AirCover covers a lot, but it doesn’t account for every situation. Also, insurance claims can sometimes take time to process. Having your insurance adds an extra layer of security for faster support and broader coverage.
How Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO Handle Guest Screening?
Each platform has its own guest verification and screening process. In Airbnb, hosts set requirements like verified ID, positive reviews, or pre-booking messages. Whereas, Booking.com confirms all bookings instantly without screening. VRBO offers optional ID badges, but screening is mostly up to the host through their own checks or third-party tools. The following are details about the screening process of different booking platforms:
- Airbnb’s Background Check: Airbnb uses a person’s government ID to open a guest profile. It also considers OFAC details for guest verification globally. However, it has a limited criminal check for profile creation.
- Booking.com’s Guest Background Check : Booking.com verifies guests by a valid email address and credit card information for all bookings. It also uses AI screening for fraud flagging and background checks. However, it does not require any comprehensive checks regarding guest reservations.
- VRBO’s background check : Focuses on verifying guest identity through basic information such as name, phone number, and physical location. The ID verification is optional in VRBO screening. Hosts on VRBO need to depend on a personal screening process to find potential guests.
Are you now wondering who provides the best guest screening? Don’t worry, here is our detailed article: Airbnb vs Vrbo vs Booking.com Guest Screening Compared.
How Hosts Can Screen Airbnb Guests Manually?
Manual screening is one of the most effective ways to protect your property. Airbnb hosts can use platform tools, start conversations, and do their own research. You have to deal with checking profiles, confirming IDs, reviewing feedback from past stays, and asking targeted questions to understand guest plans and spot possible risks. Here’s how to do it properly, using both the Airbnb platform and your analysis.
Review Guest Profiles Thoroughly
Explore the guest’s profile before you start a conversation. A complete profile with a clear photo, short bio, and verified ID means accountability. Reading guest reviews is equally important. If multiple hosts mention issues with cleanliness, communication, or rule-breaking, it’s a strong indicator of bad guests. You can use Airbnb tools like AirReview let you see reviews they’ve received across different stays. This gives you a more complete picture of guests’ nature.
Communicate Directly with Guests
- What brings you to the area?
- How many guests will be staying?
- What time do you plan to check in?
Once you receive a response, take the opportunity to set expectations. Share your house rules, including quiet hours or no-party policies. If they seem reluctant or dismissive, that’s a sign to cancel the booking request. After the booking is confirmed, you can politely ask about their Airbnb ID verification. Though Airbnb doesn’t give you direct access to their ID, acknowledging this adds an extra security.
Look for Red Flags
Even a well-written profile can hide potential risks, so it is important to watch for subtle signs. Last-minute bookings are not unusual, but if the guest avoids clear communication, proceed with caution. Local guests can also require extra attention. While many are respectful, some may be looking for a place to host events. A one-night weekend booking from a local guest is worth questioning further. Common red flags to watch for:
- Incomplete profile or no reviews
- Strong focus on price or discounts
- Requests to communicate outside Airbnb
- Asking for an unrecognized payment gateway
Use Additional Manual Checks
If a guest seems suspicious or lacks profile information, a quick Google search or social media lookup can give you more information about the guest. For new guests, you might ask for a personal reference on why they’re new to Airbnb. Most honest guests won’t mind answering politely. If a guest starts asking about how many people the space can hold or whether visitors are allowed, then learn more about them. These questions could signal plans for a gathering.
Set Up Your Listing for Screening
Turning off Instant Book gives you complete control to approve each guest after you’ve done your checks. It may slightly reduce bookings, but it dramatically lowers your risk. Make Verified ID a requirement so that only verified users can send booking requests. It’s a simple setting but adds real value. Also, practice Airbnb content marketing to showcase house rules. Mention quiet hours, no parties, guest limits, and any other boundaries related to the property and neighborhood. Airbnb will ask guests to agree before they can book.
Automated Airbnb Guest Screening Tools
Airbnb guest screening tools are popular for their faster response, advanced technology to flag risky bookings before they turn into problems. They assess factors such as booking patterns, identity inconsistencies, email legitimacy, and behavioral red flags to detect potential fraud or high-risk activity. Some tools run checks against criminal databases, global watchlists, and credit history, where legally allowed. These tools also integrate a property management system (PMS) to automate the entire screening process. Here are expert recommended tools to automate Airbnb guest screening:
Recommended Airbnb Guest Screening Tools
- Autohost – Best for automated risk scoring and fraud detection process. Autohost saves you time and effort by giving an overall score for each booking request.
- Superhog – It makes your rental space safer by verifying guest identities and offering protection against potential risks.
- Safely – This tool is best for guest background checking before booking. It protects your property by offering you private insurance coverage.
- Chekin – Chekin is best for guests’ identity verification and the screening process. It also helps in legal registration and the automation of access to your rental property.
What Questions Should You Ask Airbnb Guests Before Accepting a Booking?
Asking questions before confirming a booking helps you to understand guests’ intentions and identify potential issues earlier. Another hack of clear communication is sending professional yet personalized messages to guests. Clear communication is essential to ensure privacy and an exciting hosting experience. Here are example questions and text massages for guests to write:
Question to Ask Airbnb Guest
- What brings you to [city name]?
- How many guests will be staying?
- Have you stayed in an Airbnb or similar rental before?
- Are you familiar with our house rules?
- Do you plan to have any visitors during your stay?
- Will you be arriving by car or using public transport?
- What time do you expect to check in?
Text Massages to Send
Friendly:
Hi [Guest Name], thanks for your interest in my place! I’d love to learn a bit more about your trip. What brings you to [city]? And who will be joining you during your stay?
Formal:
Hello [Guest Name],
Thank you for your booking request. Before confirming, I kindly ask that you share the purpose of your visit, the total number of guests, and confirm that you’ve reviewed the house rules.
Firm:
Hi [Guest Name],
To help ensure a great stay for everyone, I just need a few quick details: What’s the purpose of your visit, and will anyone else be joining you? Please also confirm you’ve read and agree to the house rules. Thanks!
Balancing Privacy and Vetting
You must ask questions to guests to feel confident about the guest without making them uncomfortable. Keep your questions short, polite, and related to the stay. Ask about the purpose of the visit, how many people will be coming, and if they have read the house rules. Avoid asking anything too personal that might feel intrusive. Maintain a calm, respectful tone and treat all guests equally so they feel valued. This helps you make better decisions and still create a positive guest experience.
Airbnb Instant Book vs Request to Book: Which is Better for Guest Screening?
Choosing between Instant Book and Request to Book can impact your controls on reservations quality. Instant Book lets guests confirm a stay instantly, which limits how much screening a host can do beforehand. Request to Book gives hosts more control, as each reservation must be reviewed and approved before it is confirmed. This extra step allows for better vetting and fewer surprises. Here is a table of comparing features of these two methods of booking:
Feature |
Instant Book |
Request to Book |
|---|---|---|
Screening Control
|
Low – guests book automatically if they meet the set criteria
|
High – you can review and approve each guest manually
|
Booking Speed
|
Fast – no approval needed
|
Slower – requires host confirmation
|
Guest Visibility Before Booking
|
Limited – you see guest info after booking
|
Full – you can view the profile and communicate beforehand
|
Risk of Unfit Guests
|
Higher – less time to spot red flags
|
Lower – you can decline suspicious guests
|
Search Visibility Boost
|
Yes – Airbnb promotes Instant Book listings
|
No – fewer bookings may affect visibility
|
Convenience for Guests
|
High – seamless booking experience
|
Moderate – more effort required to secure the stay
|
Common Red Flags When Screening Airbnb Guests
Airbnb hosts need to stay alert to subtle signs that a guest might not be a good fit. Identifying red flags early can help you prevent property damage, disputes, or uncomfortable situations. Here is a list of common red flags that a guest should focus on:
- Vague or evasive responses
- Overly focused on discounts or pricing
- No profile photo or bio
- Last-minute bookings with urgency
- No reviews or poor guest history
- Requests to communicate off-platform
- Conflicting or inconsistent information
- Disregard for house rules
- Asking to bring unregistered guests
- Refusal to provide trip details
How to Handle Red Flags Professionally
Spotting red flags when screening potential guests is only half the job. It’s important to stay professional and transparent in communication to protect your property. Here are a few ways to handle red flags effectively:
- Ask polite follow-up questions to clarify unclear or vague details
- Keep all communication on Airbnb to maintain protection and a record
- Set clear boundaries and restate your house rules early
- Decline bookings respectfully if something feels off or untrustworthy
- Use booking settings to filter for verified guests with good reviews
- Stay calm and focus on facts, not assumptions.
Legal and Fair Housing Considerations
When screening guests, it’s important to follow laws that protect people from unfair treatment. Airbnb has its non-discrimination policy. Also, many countries have government and regional legal rules that hosts must follow. Staying compliant with the law protects your hosting business. Consider these aspects while doing guest screening:
What You Can and Cannot Do
You can reject a guest based on valid hosting concerns, like lack of reviews, poor communication, or rule violations. But you cannot reject someone based on personal traits such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or family status. These types of rejections are not allowed and may result in Airbnb host account suspension.
Avoiding Discrimination
Keep your communication focused on booking details, not personal information. Use the same questions and screening process for all guests. If you need to decline a booking, give an apparent reason based on house rules. Don’t do so based on assumptions or misjudgments.
Local Laws
Laws around short-term rentals can vary by city or region. Some areas require licenses or limit how often you can host. Others have specific rules about guest screening or anti-discrimination policies. Always check local regulations to make sure you’re staying within legal limits.
How STR Assistance Handles Guest Screening for Clients?
We Protect From Bad Guest
Protect your property with trusted screening solutions, combining manual checks and automation to ensure safe and reliable bookings.
At STR Assistance, guest screening is one of the most important things we do to protect our clients’ hosting business and property. We are a team of 40+ professionals who manage short-term rentals on every popular platform. Our goal is to make hosting safer, easier, and more reliable for property owners. We combine manual review with advanced automation to filter out high-risk guests before they step forward. Our process includes:
Verifying guest details across platforms
Reviewing guest history, behavior patterns, and reviews
Applying AI-powered risk scoring tools for fraud detection
Asking personalized pre-booking questions
Flagging suspicious or incomplete profiles for manual follow-up
Cross-checking booking data with house rules and property needs
This multi-layered approach means nothing slips through the cracks. We do the hard work on behalf of your hosting business. Get a free consultation to discuss your hosting experiences and challenges.
Final Thoughts
Guest screening is one of the most critical steps in running a successful short-term rental. It helps you avoid problems before they start, keeps your property safe, and creates a better experience for everyone involved. Whether you are trying to prevent parties, protect your home, or simply find respectful guests, proper screening makes a real difference.
Our Airbnb Virtual Assistant team relies on facts, stats, and evidence for guest screening. With a mix of expert knowledge and innovative tools, we help hosts welcome the right guests with confidence. Protect your property and make hosting safer, easier, and more rewarding.
FAQs About Airbnb Guest Screening
Yes, you can decline a booking if you feel uncomfortable, as long as the reason is not discriminatory. Always stay within Airbnb's non-discrimination policy and provide a clear, neutral explanation if asked.
Not always. New users can be great guests, but they carry more risk. Ask questions, check for a verified ID, and look at how they communicate before accepting.
Yes. Even Superhosts should screen guests to avoid issues. High ratings do not protect you from rule breakers or damage. Good screening supports your reputation and reduces risks.
Ask for trip details and check their profile closely. Locals booking one-night stays are often linked to parties. If anything feels off, decline the request.
If you require ID and the guest refuses, you can cancel or decline the booking. It's essential to stick to your safety requirements.
Focus on booking-related questions like trip purpose, guest count, and rule agreement. Treat all guests the same and avoid asking about personal traits or background.
