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You paid a $250 cleaning fee, yet you're running around your Airbnb like a headless chook, scrubbing pans, stripping beds and taking out the trash. Sound familiar? Thankfully, those days are over.
Starting November 20, Airbnb is rolling out a new ‘House Rules’ policy worldwide, designed to curb excessive checkout chores – a long-standing grievance for guests already paying mandatory cleaning fees.
Under the new policy, hosts can choose from seven standard House Rules. These cover existing guidelines like quiet hours and restrictions on pets, smoking, events or commercial photography, alongside two new standard rules: maximum overnight guest limits and locking the property at checkout.
While hosts may still list custom checkout instructions under a separate "Requests" section, these must be reasonable. AI will be used to detect any “unreasonable” requests.
“For example, hosts are generally not allowed to: Ask guests to complete tasks that require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner, including stripping the bed, taking trash offsite, or washing and putting away dishes,” the policy states.
Exceptions will apply for specific local conditions or safety concerns. For instance, requiring guests to secure rubbish in animal-proof bins in bear territory or conserve water during severe droughts will still be permitted.
Travellers around the world are celebrating the end of their stint as unpaid Airbnb cleaners, but the change has triggered a backlash from hosts, many of whom are threatening to leave the platform altogether.