The new rules

Airbnb has rewritten its house rules policy so that hosts can set seven standard rules and add other requests they consider reasonable. Hosts generally may not ask guests to complete tasks that require significant effort or time, or that a cleaner would typically do. The examples the company gives include stripping the bed, taking trash offsite, and washing and putting away dishes. Asking guests to put used dishes in the sink or gather used towels remains acceptable. Hosts also may not pass on additional rules by message, through signs in the home or in person.

Timing and enforcement

The policy covers all reservations booked on or after 20 November. Airbnb announced the change in an email to hosts on 21 October. Rules and requests will appear more prominently on listings and in guests' reservation reminders. Guests may see an 'includes cleaning requests' warning on listings that keep chore requests after the policy takes effect. A host cannot impose fines, but if a request breaks the policy the issue is flagged and the host can appeal. Contracts are permitted only in limited cases, such as when the law or homeowners association rules require them.

Airbnb's rationale

Airbnb says guests have repeatedly complained about house rules that are complicated or excessive. The company told the BBC that it had redesigned the rules to make them easier to find and clearer to set.

“House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we've heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage.”

Airbnb says the new policy keeps requests reasonable, with no surprises. The company may grant exceptions in some circumstances, such as asking guests to limit showers during local drought-related water restrictions, or to place trash in animal-proof containers in areas with bears.

Host pushback and guest reaction

Some hosts argue that basic cleaning is needed to protect sanitary conditions and their properties, and that the policy pushes Airbnb toward a hotel-like model. In Airbnb's community forums, one host said they could withdraw their listing and leave the platform after twelve years. On Reddit, one user compared the company to an abusive partner, and one host posted what was described as a screenshot of a failed attempt to edit the Requests section. Many guests have questioned why they should carry out cleaning tasks after already paying a cleaning fee. Airbnb has said hosts cannot get around the policy by listing cleaning tasks in the Requests section instead.

Cleaning fees and the dispute

Guests have complained for years about paying cleaning fees and still being asked to finish a list of tasks before checkout. Airbnb faced scrutiny in 2024 over price transparency after hosts added cleaning fees following guest bookings. In 2023, the company said more than 260,000 hosts had reduced or eliminated their cleaning fees. Videos from two Airbnb hosts in Georgia, who inspected their property closely after guests left, were widely mocked and inspired parodies, and the hosts said their content had been misinterpreted.