Airbnb guests no longer have to wash dishes or strip beds. Furious hosts are threatening to boycott and raise cleaning fees

Airbnb guests who are fed up with the final tasks of their trip, such as stripping beds and washing dishes, are set to experience some relief. A new policy, announced on October 20, allows Airbnb hosts to no longer request tasks that require significant effort or time from their guests. Examples include bed stripping, disposing of trash, and washing and organizing dishes.

This policy applies to bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, but does not affect existing reservations. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky recognized the frustration with checkout tasks in 2022, stating that they should be reasonable. The new written policy, with enforcement, aims to address guests' complaints about paying cleaning fees only to end up with a chore list.

Hosts now choose from seven standard house rules, covering maximum overnight guests, quiet hours, events, pets, smoking, commercial photography, and locking up at checkout. Anything beyond these guidelines is considered a request, which guests are encouraged to follow but not obligated to. Lighter requests, such as leaving dishes in the sink or sorting trash, are still permitted.

Airbnb suggests that local circumstances may warrant exceptions, such as requiring animal-proof trash bins in bear country or conserving water during droughts.

In addition to the house rules, hosts must disclose all rules and requests in a specific section of the listing before booking. They cannot add new rules or impose fines through messages, signs, or in-person communication. Hosts cannot restrict access to advertised features or charge fees for them separately. Requests that violate the policy will be flagged in the listing editor, and hosts can appeal the decision. Persistent violations may result in warnings, notices on the listing, or reduced visibility in search results.

While guests generally welcome the new rules, some hosts are protesting through a Change.org petition with over 10,000 signatures. They argue that the new restrictions are not professional cleaning duties and call the policy "onerous." Some hosts plan to close their calendars on the policy's effective date or leave the platform entirely.

Others are threatening to raise prices or limit amenities. Airbnb acknowledges that some hosts may face increased costs due to the new rules, but stresses that guests should not leave a listing in a condition that requires excessive cleaning. The company aims to make house rules clearer and easier to manage, addressing community concerns about confusion and difficulty in setting and enforcing rules.