Airbnb new rules will stop hosts from requiring guests to strip beds, take trash offsite, or wash and put away dishes on bookings made on or after November 20. Airbnb emailed hosts about the change on Wednesday, and the policy will also block attempts to work around it through listing instructions or printed check-in rules.
The company said the banned chores are tasks that would typically be performed by a cleaner. Simon Letouze, an Airbnb spokesperson, said hosts can still make “reasonable” requests, including asking guests to put dirty dishes in the sink.
Airbnb Requests Section
Airbnb said hosts cannot bypass the new rule by putting cleaning tasks in the Requests section of their listings. A pop-up in that section now tells hosts, “Guests shouldn't be asked to do this task.”
The policy leaves room for narrow cleaning-related requests. Airbnb said hosts can ask guests to take short showers in areas with drought-related water restrictions and to place trash in bear-proof containers, which keeps the rule focused on chores that look like turnover work rather than routine courtesy requests.
Simon Letouze and Hosts
Letouze’s examples draw the line Airbnb is trying to enforce. A guest can be asked to leave dishes in the sink, but not to scrub, store, or complete the kind of cleanup that replaces paid housekeeping work.
That line is where the friction sits. Some hosts argue the policy limits their ability to protect their homes and investments, while Airbnb says guests should not be asked to do cleaner-type tasks. The company is responding to years of complaints from travelers who said they were paying cleaning fees and then being asked to finish chores before checkout.
November 20 Contract Rule
Airbnb is using the same date to tighten another rule. Starting November 20, hosts also cannot require guests to sign separate contracts, with limited exceptions for local legal requirements, longer stays, or access to an “optional amenity” such as a golf cart rental.
If one of those exceptions applies, Airbnb said the host has to note it in the dedicated section of the listing. The company also said it does not help enforce those contracts, and hosts who violate either policy may receive warnings. In severe cases, listings can be removed or the host can be banned from the platform entirely.
For guests, the practical line is simple: read the listing, then expect only requests that fit the new narrower standard. If a host tries to add cleanup chores through messages, house rules, or a separate paper contract, Airbnb has set out the enforcement steps that can follow.
