The key facts

  • Guests cannot be required to perform tasks that require 'significant effort or time or are usually done by a cleaner'
  • Seven standard house rules have been introduced, displayed on the listing page and in reminders
  • Charging fees for uncompleted checkout tasks is prohibited; Airbnb will flag non-compliant requests

New rules: no 'chores' at checkout

Airbnb has updated its community policy, banning hosts from including in house rules tasks that require guests to make 'significant effort or time or are usually done by a cleaner.' As Euronews reports, this follows frequent complaints about checkout chores — for example, having to strip bed linens or take out the trash. An example from the new policy: a host cannot require a guest to wash and put away dishes, but may ask them to place used dishes in the sink.

Company statement

In a statement sent to Euronews Travel, Airbnb explained: 'House rules help guests understand hosts' expectations, but we have heard from our community that they can be confusing, burdensome and difficult to follow. So we have redesigned them to make them easier to find and clearer to customize, adding a new policy that keeps requirements reasonable and eliminates unpleasant surprises.'

How house rules work now

As part of the update, house rules are displayed on the listing page, in the trips tab and in booking reminders. Hosts can specify seven standard rules: check-in and check-out times, the maximum number of guests allowed, the attitude toward smoking, agreement on whether pets may stay, quiet hours, and conditions for commercial photo and video shoots. In addition, hosts will be able to add 'reasonable' requests and update them at any time.

Enforcement and cleaning fees

Airbnb will flag requests that do not comply with the new policy: the host will have to either remove them or file an appeal. According to the updated rules, the cleaning fee must cover only standard preparation of the home for the next guest, and hosts are prohibited from charging guests for failing to complete checkout tasks.