Airbnb will introduce a new house rules policy on 20 November, limiting what hosts can ask guests to do before checkout. Hosts will generally not be allowed to request washing dishes, removing bed sheets, doing laundry or taking out rubbish. Tasks that require considerable time or effort, or would normally be done by a cleaner, are not considered reasonable. However, hosts can ask guests to put used dishes in the sink or gather used towels.
The policy lets hosts choose from seven standard rules covering areas such as arrival and departure times, smoking, pets and quiet hours. They can add reasonable requests, but these must appear in the dedicated section of the property listing. Hosts cannot introduce rules after booking through messages, signs inside the property or conversations with guests.
Airbnb will flag requests that do not meet the policy. Hosts must remove them or appeal the decision. Repeated breaches could lead to lower positions in search results or other penalties. Hosts cannot charge guests for failing to complete a listed checkout task, while the cleaning fee should cover only a standard clean between stays.
