Airbnb has changed its house rules. Starting with bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, hosts can no longer require guests to do hard checkout chores. Guests do not have to wash and put away dishes, strip beds, start laundry, or take trash off the property. These jobs are normally done by cleaners. Hosts can still ask guests to put used dishes in the sink, gather towels, or sort trash into indoor bins. The change comes after many guest complaints about paying cleaning fees while still being asked to clean. Some hosts are unhappy and say the new rules will raise their costs.
• Who: Airbnb (the company) and its hosts and guests worldwide.
• What: A new house rules policy that bans hosts from requiring guests to perform significant cleaning chores such as washing dishes, stripping beds, starting laundry, or taking trash off-site.
• When: Announced around October 20, 2026; applies to all reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026.
• Where: On the Airbnb platform globally (all listings covered by the policy).
• Why: To respond to long-standing guest complaints about confusing or burdensome house rules and the expectation of doing cleaner-level work while still paying cleaning fees.