Airbnb is cracking down on excessive checkout chores with new rules preventing hosts from forcing guests to wash dishes, do laundry, and complete other cleaning tasks before leaving their rentals.
For years, Airbnb guests have complained about being charged cleaning fees while still being expected to tidy up properties themselves. Now, the vacation rental company is introducing stricter guidelines to limit what hosts can demand.
According to Airbnb’s updated policy, which takes effect on November 20, 2026, hosts will no longer be allowed to require guests to complete time-consuming chores typically handled by professional cleaners.
The changes apply to reservations booked on or after that date and are designed to establish clearer expectations for both guests and property owners.
Airbnb’s new rules limit cleaning demands for guests
As reported by WESH, hosts will no longer be allowed to require guests to wash and put away dishes, strip beds, start a load of laundry, or take garbage off-site.
“Guests shouldn’t be asked to avoid using a listed amenity like air conditioning,” Airbnb states. “But you can ask them to turn it off when they leave.”
However, that doesn’t mean guests can leave their rentals in complete disarray.
Flickr: Ivan RadicHosts can still ask visitors to place dirty dishes in the sink, gather used towels, and separate garbage and recycling into designated indoor bins.
Airbnb also expects guests to leave properties in a reasonable condition without requiring excessive cleaning afterward.
Under the new guidelines, hosts must disclose their rules before a reservation is made and cannot introduce additional requirements through messages, signs inside the property, or verbal instructions after booking.
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The company is also standardizing seven categories of house rules covering pets, smoking, quiet hours, events, commercial photography, maximum overnight guests, and locking up at checkout.
These restrictions are particularly relevant when it comes to parties, which have previously caused problems for property owners. In February 2025, Twitch streamer Jasontheween was kicked out of an Airbnb after throwing a gathering that angered the host.
Property owners who repeatedly violate the new policy could receive warnings, have their listings flagged, or see their visibility reduced in Airbnb search results.
The changes have already sparked backlash from some hosts, with one complaining on Airbnb’s community forum that the decision could leave cleaners dealing with piles of dirty dishes between reservations.
“This is a stupid decision,” the host wrote.
Another host suggested the concerns were overblown, arguing that most guests would clean up after themselves without being explicitly told to do so.
The updated rules come as Airbnb continues expanding beyond traditional vacation rentals. In 2025, the platform introduced in-home services such as private chefs and massages, offering guests a more hotel-like experience.
While hosts can still charge cleaning fees, Airbnb’s existing policy also prohibits them from imposing additional charges simply because guests fail to complete specific checkout chores.