Airbnb Limits Host Demands for Guests, Citing 'Onerous' Rules
New policy, effective November 20, prohibits hosts from requiring guests to perform tasks typically done by cleaners, such as stripping beds and washing dishes.
Airbnb has updated its policies to restrict the cleaning and chore-related demands property hosts can place on guests. Effective for all reservations booked on or after November 20, the new guidelines aim to clarify expectations and prevent guests from being asked to undertake tasks for which they pay a cleaning fee.
The updated rules state that hosts can set a maximum of seven standard house rules and can also include other requests deemed "reasonable." However, guests will no longer be required to perform duties that "require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner." This specifically includes washing and putting away dishes, and stripping beds.
Airbnb acknowledged that existing house rules could be "confusing, onerous and hard to manage." The company stated it redesigned the system to make rules easier to find and clearer to set, with a policy ensuring requests remain reasonable.
Hosts are generally prohibited from asking guests to complete tasks like taking trash offsite or washing dishes. The company indicated that exceptions may be made in specific circumstances, such as asking guests to conserve water during local drought restrictions. Moving forward, house rules will be displayed more prominently to guests, appearing in reservation reminders.
While hosts maintain control over their rules and requests, they cannot impose fines. If a host's request violates Airbnb's policies, the issue will be flagged, and the host will have the opportunity to appeal. The changes come as guests have increasingly voiced complaints about unreasonable pre-departure tasks, particularly in light of cleaning fees. Viral social media content has also highlighted instances of hosts with exceptionally strict standards, prompting parodies from other users.