Airbnb Cracks Down on Guest Chores, Sparking Host Backlash

Airbnb has announced new policies that prohibit hosts from requiring guests to perform certain check-out chores, such as washing dishes or stripping beds. The changes, set to take effect on November 20, 2026, aim to simplify house rules and prevent unreasonable demands on guests.

Under the revised policy, guests will not be asked to wash and put away dishes, though hosts can request they be placed in the sink. Similarly, hosts can no longer require guests to strip beds, but they may ask them to gather used towels. Other updated guidelines state guests should not be required to take rubbish off-site, but can be asked to separate recyclables into indoor bins. Hosts also cannot prohibit guests from using amenities like air conditioning, but can ask them to turn it off upon departure.

Airbnb stated that the redesign of house rules is intended to make them easier to discover and clearer to set, with a new policy ensuring requests remain reasonable and free of surprises. "House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we've heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage," an Airbnb spokesperson said.

However, the new regulations have met with significant opposition from hosts. Concerns have been raised that the policy could increase cleaning time and costs for hosts. Some hosts fear that the relaxed rules may lead to guests leaving properties in a mess, potentially attracting pests. "If guests now think it's ok to not clean up after themselves, this has the potential to encourage a vermin problem," one host commented in a Facebook group.

Others have voiced strong dissatisfaction, with some threatening to move their listings to alternative platforms. "As a cleaner, I can't believe this! I hope guests don't get wind of this. Anyone leaving dirty dishes, empty bottles and bins puts additional strain on cleaners, leaves a smell that has to be aired," another host noted. One host expressed, "I will make a complaint - I cannot expect my cleaner to do dirty dishes - and the cost of cleaners is already too high - if Airbnb persist in this I will take my property off the site."

A petition has been launched on Change.org titled 'Airbnb: Keep self-catering self-catering - let hosts ask guests to wash up!', which has garnered over 2,900 signatures. Petitioners argue that the new policy is "unreasonable, unfair to hosts and fundamentally misunderstands the nature of self-catering accommodation."