Airbnb hosts can no longer make guests strip beds, wash dishes under new rules

Airbnb has tightened what hosts can require of guests, introducing a simplified house-rules framework that limits chores guests may be asked to perform. For reservations booked on or after 20 November, hosts can choose seven standard rules and add only other “reasonable” requests; they generally cannot require tasks that would normally be done by a cleaner or take significant time, such as stripping beds, washing and putting away dishes, or removing trash offsite. Property rules will be shown more prominently in reservation reminders, contracts will be allowed only in limited legal or homeowners-association circumstances, and hosts are prohibited from imposing fines under the platform’s new policy.

The change responds to years of guest complaints about onerous exit tasks despite paying cleaning fees and follows social-media attention to hyper-detailed hosts. Exceptions will be allowed for specific local needs - for example, limiting shower time during droughts - and hosts retain control over rules, with policy violations flagged for review and the ability to appeal. The update aims to make expectations clearer and reduce surprises for guests while balancing host rights to manage their listings.