Starting from the end of next month, guests staying at Airbnb accommodations will have reduced cleaning responsibilities upon check-out. The short-term rental platform has implemented new guidelines limiting the cleaning tasks hosts can request from guests before departure. The updated rules, applicable to reservations made on or after November 20, aim to ensure hosts are reasonable in their cleaning expectations.
Under the new policy, hosts are no longer permitted to ask guests to perform labor-intensive cleaning activities or tasks typically handled by professional cleaners. These tasks include changing bed linens, disposing of trash off-site, and washing dishes. The adjustment means that Airbnb’s cleaning fee should only cover basic cleaning between guest stays, and hosts cannot charge guests for incomplete cleaning tasks from a checkout list.
The revision in Airbnb’s cleaning policies comes after longstanding debates surrounding guest cleaning duties. Hosts have shared anecdotes about guests leaving messy accommodations, while some have showcased property conditions post-checkout on platforms like TikTok. On the other hand, guests have expressed grievances about paying cleaning fees only to be assigned a list of cleaning chores.
Makarand Mody, an associate professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, highlighted the disparity between hosts charging cleaning fees and guests being required to clean, a departure from traditional hotel experiences. Airbnb has been contacted for further insights into the timing of these policy changes.
In addition to cleaning regulations, the new guidelines stipulate that hosts cannot restrict guests from using advertised amenities or impose fines or penalties as AirCover already safeguards hosts against property damage by guests. House rules and requests must be transparently presented in the listing at the time of booking, with no post-booking additions permitted. These rules encompass check-in/out times, smoking policies, pet regulations, noise restrictions, guest limits, and photography/video permissions.
While hosts can introduce reasonable requests that can be updated at any time, Airbnb will assess the reasonableness based on various factors, such as property type and local context. The open-ended definition of “reasonable” is intended to provide hosts with some flexibility while maintaining guest satisfaction and property control. The response of hosts to the new policies and Airbnb’s enforcement methods remain subjects of interest for Mody, who believes Airbnb aims to balance host and guest interests to ensure a positive hosting experience.