Tourismupdated 1h ago3 min read
Airbnb Restricts Hosts From Requiring Guests’ Checkout Chores After Cleaning Complaints
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Airbnb restricts checkout chores guests must perform before checkout for bookings after Nov 20, 2026. Hosts cannot require tasks like stripping beds, washing dishes, starting laundry, or taking out trash.
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New checkout rules
Airbnb is changing its rules for hosts by restricting the cleaning tasks they can require guests to complete before checking out after years of complaints about excessive demands. Airbnb said the new guidelines will apply to all bookings made from November 20, 2026, and the company aimed to prevent guests from being asked to carry out time-consuming cleaning duties, particularly when they have already paid a separate cleaning fee. Airbnb said hosts will generally be unable to require guests to complete chores that involve significant time or effort, including removing bed sheets before departure, taking rubbish out of the property, and washing dishes and putting them away.
Airbnb said hosts will be able to establish seven basic house rules and make additional requests only if those requests are considered reasonable, and Airbnb said it will make property rules more prominent during the booking process and include them in reservation reminders. Airbnb told the BBC that house rules should help guests understand what hosts expect, while Airbnb acknowledged feedback that some requirements have become confusing, excessive and difficult to manage.
What hosts can ask
Airbnb said hosts should not deter guests from using amenities advertised like air conditioning, though hosts can be asked to turn it off when departing. Airbnb said hosts will generally not be able to require guests to wash and put away dishes, undo beds, or do a laundry load before leaving, while Airbnb said hosts may ask guests to leave used dishes in the sink, gather towels, and sort trash and recycling into designated interior containers. Airbnb said all house rules and requests must appear in the designated section of the property listing at the time of booking, and Airbnb said hosts will not be able to introduce new requirements later via messages, in-home notices, or in-person instructions.
Airbnb said it will flag requests that violate the policy and email hosts with guidance to correct them, and Airbnb said hosts will have the opportunity to appeal. Airbnb said unresolved violations could result in a warning on the listing informing guests about cleaning requests, while repeated violations could translate into reduced visibility in Airbnb search results or other measures.
Backlash and enforcement
Some hosts pushed back against the update, and one host wrote in Airbnb’s community forums that “Guests are given complete freedom to be lazy while the hosts bear the risk,” while arguing that guests can be expected to wash dishes or put them in the dishwasher and remove dirty linens. Airbnb said it will still allow certain additional requests in specific circumstances, including that hosts in areas experiencing drought or water restrictions may ask guests to limit their shower time. Airbnb said it will evaluate exceptions by property and local circumstances, and Airbnb said that in bear-prone areas hosts might be allowed to ask guests to place trash in an animal-proof container.
“Hosts in areas experiencing drought or water restrictions may ask guests to limit their shower time.”
Airbnb said the policy change follows years of complaints from guests about strict checkout instructions, particularly when cleaning fees are charged separately, and the debate gained attention on social media through videos from American hosts Cassie and Jon in Georgia. Airbnb said it will prohibit hosts from imposing fines for breaches of house rules under the updated policy, while Airbnb said hosts may warn guests of possible fines from a homeowners association, building safety, or local government.