The key facts
- Airbnb has banned checkout chores for guests that require significant effort or a cleaner's work; the ban takes effect on November 20
- Guests are reacting positively on social media, while some hosts are calling for a boycott of the platform
- The company explains the changes by saying that 'house rules' were confusing and burdensome
Airbnb's new rules
Airbnb has changed its house rules: hosts are no longer allowed to ask guests to complete household chores before checkout that require 'significant effort or time, or are normally part of a cleaner's duties.' The company cites dishes as an example: guests cannot be required to wash them, but hosts may ask them to leave dishes in the sink. On the ban on checkout chores such as stripping bed linens or taking out the trash Euronews reported this last week, and on October 26 the outlet covered the reactions from both sides. The ban takes effect on November 20.
Reactions from guests and hosts
The reaction from guests has been mostly positive: social media users are sharing photos of long task lists from past trips. Hosts have received the change far more coolly. Some are calling for a boycott of the platform, timed to November 20 — the date the ban takes effect. One host said they would sign up for another platform if one becomes available, while another complained that hosts can no longer ask guests to wash dirty dishes, especially on longer bookings.
A split in the host community
At the same time, many hosts support the changes, believing they target 'bad hosts' who damage the reputation of the entire platform. One popular post on the Airbnb Hosts subreddit notes that for the average host the new rules 'change nothing,' since most hosts already 'do not require significant effort from guests.' In the view of some commenters, the changes will improve the platform for the majority of hosts at the expense of a few 'rotten apples'.
The company's position
In a statement sent to Euronews Travel, Airbnb explained: 'House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we hear from our community that these rules can be confusing, burdensome and difficult to follow.' The company added that it has reworked them 'to make them easier to find and simpler to set up,' and introduced a new policy 'that keeps requests reasonable, with no unpleasant surprises.'
Why it matters
The changes directly affect everyone who uses short-term rentals: guests will no longer have to spend their vacation time cleaning, and hosts will have to revise the lists of requirements in their listings. In practical terms, this means that from November 20, chores such as washing dishes or stripping beds cannot be included in house rules, and the disputes within the host community show that some owners may move their listings to other platforms. It remains unknown how the boycott that individual hosts are calling for will affect the number of listings.
