Airbnb has updated its guidelines to limit the cleaning tasks that hosts can require from guests. The new rules, effective for all reservations booked on or after 20 November, state that hosts can set seven standard house rules and add other reasonable requests, but guests should not be asked to perform chores typically handled by cleaners.
Key Changes to House Rules
According to Airbnb, guests are required to pay a cleaning fee and should not be burdened with tasks such as:
- Stripping beds
- Taking trash offsite
- Washing and putting away dishes
Airbnb emphasized that house rules are meant to clarify expectations but acknowledged feedback from the community indicating that they can often be confusing and burdensome. "We've redesigned them to make them easier to discover and clearer to set, alongside a new policy that keeps requests reasonable, with no surprises," the company stated.
Exceptions and Visibility
While the new rules generally prohibit hosts from imposing significant cleaning tasks, exceptions may apply in certain situations. For instance, guests might be asked to limit shower time during local drought-related water restrictions. The property rules will now be displayed more prominently to guests and included in reservation reminders.
