Airbnb has announced a new community policy that will limit what hosts can require of guests when it comes to cleanup tasks prior to check-out.
Taking effect for bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, the policy requires hosts to be reasonable with their house rules and requests.
According to the home-sharing platform, hosts will generally not be allowed to "ask guests 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."
This appears to be a big win for guests who have long complained of having to thoroughly clean up their rental despite being charged a hefty cleaning fee at booking. Hosts will still be able to make reasonable requests of guests, however, such as placing dirty dishes in the sink before leaving.
Hosts are also prohibited from imposing fines or other penalties on guests, according to the new policy.
Moving forward, Airbnb will allow hosts to choose from seven standard house rules and add their own reasonable requests based on the listing's context. "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," the company states.
Ultimately, the changes should prove positive for guests, who are still expected to follow reasonable house rules and face consequences from Airbnb for repeated or severe violations.
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