Airbnb is updating its house rules policy to limit the types of chores hosts can request from guests. Beginning with reservations booked on or after November 20th, the platform will prohibit hosts from requiring guests to complete tasks that involve significant effort or time, or those typically performed by a professional cleaner. This move aims to standardize the guest experience by ensuring that checkout procedures do not become a significant burden on travelers.
The image represents the platform implementing the new chore restrictions.
The new policy specifically targets several common household tasks. For instance, while guests can be asked to place used dishes in the sink, they can no longer be required to wash or put away dishes. Similarly, hosts may ask guests to gather used towels, but they are prohibited from asking guests to remove bed sheets or start laundry. Regarding waste management, guests may be asked to separate trash and recycling into indoor bins, but they are no longer permitted to be required to take garbage off-site. The policy also covers utilities, stating that while guests can be asked to turn off air conditioning when they leave, they cannot be prohibited from using listed amenities.
To enforce these changes, Airbnb is introducing a more prominent "rules and requests" section in listings to display host requirements clearly. The platform also intends to issue warnings if hosts attempt to include prohibited chore requests in their listings. Hosts are further restricted from including extra rules in private messages or on physical signs around the property. While some hosts have expressed concern that these restrictions might pose health risks or that guests could simply avoid listings with strict rules, Airbnb noted that exceptions remain for specific safety needs, such as requiring guests to use animal-proof containers in areas prone to bears.