Airbnb is changing its house rules policy to prevent hosts from requiring guests to complete certain cleaning tasks before checking out, including washing dishes, stripping beds, starting laundry and removing rubbish from the property.
The new requirements will apply to bookings made on or after November 20, 2026. The changes are intended to make checkout expectations clearer for travellers who have faced extensive cleaning lists despite paying a separate cleaning fee.
In an email to hosts on October 21, Airbnb said house rules had become “confusing, onerous and hard to manage” for guests.
Hosts Restricted to Seven Standardised House Rule Categories
Under the revised policy, hosts will be limited to selecting from seven standardised categories of house rules.
These include smoking restrictions, pet policies, quiet hours, limits on overnight guests and procedures for securing the property at checkout.
Airbnb is also introducing stricter requirements for communicating checkout instructions. All instructions must be displayed alongside the other house rules in a designated section of the listing before guests confirm their reservations.
Hosts will no longer be allowed to introduce additional checkout obligations through private messages, notices inside the property or verbal instructions after a booking has been made.
Washing Dishes and Stripping Beds No Longer Mandatory
The policy specifically prohibits hosts from requiring guests to wash and put away dishes, strip beds, start a load of laundry or take rubbish away from the property.
However, guests may still be asked to complete simpler tasks before leaving.
These include placing dirty dishes in the sink, gathering used towels, sorting recyclable materials and putting rubbish into designated containers on the property.
The distinction means hosts can continue to provide basic instructions for keeping a property tidy, but cannot require guests to undertake certain cleaning duties traditionally handled by professional cleaning staff.
Airbnb Strengthens Protection Against Checkout Fines
The updated policy also reinforces existing restrictions on charging guests simply because they have not completed specific checkout chores.
Airbnb already prohibits hosts from imposing fees solely for failing to perform such tasks, and the latest changes provide clearer protection for guests against checkout-related penalties.
Hosts who repeatedly breach the rules could receive warnings, experience reduced visibility in search results or have notices displayed to potential guests highlighting problems with their listings.
The cleaning fee itself will remain unchanged under the new policy. Guests will still be expected to avoid excessive mess and damage to the property.
Hosts Raise Concerns Over Unwashed Dishes
The announcement has prompted objections from some Airbnb hosts, with hundreds reportedly raising concerns on the platform’s community forum.
Much of the criticism has focused on the restriction against requiring guests to wash dishes before leaving.
Some hosts argue that unwashed dishes left overnight could attract pests before cleaning staff arrive the following morning.
Others say the policy makes Airbnb more similar to a traditional hotel, reducing the distinction between private home rentals and conventional accommodation.
One host criticised the changes on the community forum, writing: “Guests are given complete freedom to be lazy while the hosts bear the risk.”
Two hosts in France also indicated that they might leave the platform because of the new requirements.
Exceptions Apply in Areas Facing Environmental Risks
Airbnb has outlined limited exceptions for situations involving genuine environmental or safety concerns.
Hosts may still ask guests to conserve water during periods of drought. They can also require guests to use bear-proof rubbish containers in locations where wildlife presents a genuine risk.
These exceptions allow hosts to retain certain instructions designed to address local conditions, while restricting routine checkout chores that would otherwise be compulsory.
Guests Must Still Avoid Excessive Mess and Damage
Although the policy removes several mandatory cleaning tasks, Airbnb is not eliminating guests’ responsibility to treat properties appropriately.
Travellers will still be expected to avoid excessive mess and damage during their stays, and hosts will continue to charge cleaning fees under their existing arrangements.
The change instead limits the additional work hosts can demand from guests before departure.
From November 20, 2026, travellers making new bookings will be covered by the updated rules, which require checkout expectations to be disclosed before a reservation is confirmed and prevent hosts from adding prohibited chores after the booking has been completed.
