Airbnb is taking steps to limit the chores that hosts can require of guests prior to checkout, addressing a long-standing grievance among customers who often pay cleaning fees and are told they must do a list of tasks themselves.
In a new policy update, Airbnb prohibits hosts from mandating that guests strip beds, wash and put away dishes, start laundry, or remove trash from the property. This new guideline will apply to reservations made on or after November 20.
This change comes in response to years of backlash regarding overly burdensome checkout instructions and hefty fines for not disposing of trash. Many guests have voiced their frustrations on social media, questioning why they should be responsible for cleaning tasks after already paying a cleaning fee.
However, some hosts aren’t pleased with the update. Within Airbnb’s community forums, some argue that basic cleaning responsibilities are essential for maintaining sanitary conditions and protecting their properties. They point out that hosts must manage the costs and practical demands of preparing their properties for the next guests.
One host expressed concern that the new policy leans towards a hotel-like model, which detracts from the unique appeal of Airbnb.
“Guests are given complete freedom to be lazy while the hosts bear the risk,” the host wrote. “The major distinction between commercial hotels and my private home is the personal touch. Guests can certainly be expected to wash their dishes or put them in the dishwasher and remove their dirty linens. In exchange, they enjoy a personal connection and a unique environment that a hotel simply can’t provide. Plus, every potential guest has the opportunity to read the listing beforehand and decide what they prefer. If these restrictions are removed, it could lead me to withdraw my listing and bid farewell to Airbnb after twelve years.”
Airbnb has outlined some exceptions to the new policy, though. Hosts may still ask guests to conserve water during droughts or use bear-proof trash containers in areas where wildlife poses a risk.
The policy change highlights the challenge Airbnb faces in balancing the expectations of guests versus hosts, and is another step taken in addressing guests’ concerns. The company faced scrutiny in 2024 over price transparency from hosts tacking on cleaning fees after guests booked their listings. In 2023, the company said more than 260,000 hosts had reduced or eliminated their cleaning fees. In May 2025, Airbnb began displaying total prices — including fees but excluding taxes — by default in search results worldwide.
It will be interesting to see how many hosts decide the new restrictions make Airbnb less attractive as a platform. But the move could also draw in more travelers who want the convenience of a rental without feeling as though they are both paying for housecleaning while still expected to clean the home themselves.
Source: techcrunch.com
