How the house guests from hell trolled my home with online reviews

As somebody who lets out her home for short stays, Anne Atkins tries to provide the best experience possible for her guests. But what do you do when the people you allow into your home take advantage of your hospitality?

You can usually tell rare troublemakers immediately (Getty Images)

Seldom have I felt such an instant rapport with a stranger.

Matt Powell and his partner Naomi run a tiny restaurant in Pembrokeshire – Michelin-starred, listed in The Good Food Guide – and their usual review is five stars.

Not any more (briefly, anyway). “Send me £50,” Mr Powell was told, “or I’ll review your restaurant.” On blocking his blackmailer (who had never eaten there) he was inundated with one-star reviews, with fake photos of fried rat and stuffed hamster. The time Google took to remove these may have cost the Powells far more than £50.