AirBnB doesn’t want guests to have to undergo a lengthy list of cleaning chores while also being charged with a cleaning fee. That means hosts can’t require guests to wash the dishes or take the trash offsite anymore.
The company unveiled a new list of cleaning and checkout rules, and they’re getting a lot of buzz online. “To help set clear expectations and create positive experiences, hosts may set house rules and requests for their listing, as long as they are reasonable and comply with the requirements detailed below. Guests must follow hosts’ house rules, and are encouraged to comply with hosts’ requests. Learn more about how to set house rules and requests,” AirBnB wrote on its website, announcing the new rules, which go into effect on November 20, 2026.
The policy is entitled “reasonable house rules and requests.”
AirBnB Believes It’s Unreasonable for Hosts to Make Guests Strip the Bed, Wash Dishes or Take Trash Offsite
Airbnb listed the following requests as unreasonable. Guests should not be asked to:
- Complete tasks “that require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner, including stripping the bed, taking trash offsite, or washing and putting away dishes.”
- Hosts may not “restrict access to any feature that’s advertised as part of the listing. Any fees for an advertised part of the listing must be included in the price shown to guests at the time of booking. Hosts may include information about fees for optional add-ons, like breakfast service, in their requests.”
- Hosts should not “impose fines or other penalties on guests. AirCover provides protection for hosts in the rare event that their place or belongings are damaged by a guest during an Airbnb stay. If there is a risk a community association (such as an HOA or building security) or local government might impose a fine, hosts can provide notice to guests in the designated section of their listing.”
“We understand every home is unique. In assessing whether a request is reasonable, we strive to understand the listing’s context, including the type of listing or stay and any relevant local considerations, and may grant exceptions to the general guidelines above based on those factors. For example, it may be reasonable to ask guests to limit shower time due to local drought-related water restrictions, or to dispose of trash in an animal-proof container in bear country,” AirBnb added.
The Rules Provoked a Firestorm of Controversy Online
People weighed in on the controversy online. Some people indicated they are switching back to hotels. “I avoid Airbnb and just went back to hotels. It was fine when it was someone trying to earn some extra cash with a vacation home. Now it’s large corporations milking guests for every penny they can. Hotels are just easier and ultimately cost less,” wrote one person.
“Imagine paying a $200 cleaning fee and the host still wants you to do the laundry,” wrote another person.
But some people said they still prefer AirBnb rentals. “I enjoy having a full kitchen and being able to cook and have a private area for visiting. I always clean up when I’m done in the kitchen after every meal. I don’t mind taking the trash out that’s gonna stink after a day. Also don’t mind throwing in a load of towels,” that person wrote.
“Staying at an Airbnb was starting to feel like a chore so I stuck with hotels,” added another person.
Related: Airbnb Introduces New Service Available Now in Over 125 Cities
