After 18 years, Airbnb has finally learned the true definition of being on a holiday. Announcing on October 21, the accommodation platform has after many years of guest-complaints finally relieved them of chores.
According to its updated global policy, Airbnb has barred hosts from requiring guests to complete time-consuming chores before checkout. The policy takes effect on 20 November 2026 and covers tasks typically handled by professional cleaners.
What this means for guests who have booked a holiday stay at a beautiful Airbnb is that they no longer have to bat their eyes at the pile of dishes waiting to be attended in the sink or add taking the trash out to their to-do list while on a vacation.
Hosts will generally no longer be allowed to require guests to strip beds, wash and put away dishes or take trash offsite. The policy also targets tasks such as laundry and vacuuming. Airbnb's test is whether a task needs significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner. However, simple requests are still permitted.
Hosts can still ask guests to place used dishes in the sink. Airbnb says exceptions may be made for unusual situations, such as asking guests to limit shower time during a drought.
Hosts can also keep charging cleaning fees, but Airbnb's existing policy bars extra charges when guests skip specific checkout chores. The new rules also prohibit hosts from imposing their own fines on guests.
The policy applies to reservations booked on or after 20 November, and the guidelines are global. Existing bookings are not covered.
Airbnb has also changed how house rules work. A new house rules editor has been live since 20 October, with seven standard rules. Everything else is treated as a request, and guests must follow rules but are only encouraged to follow requests. All rules and requests must be visible on the listing at booking, and none can be added afterwards.
On enforcement, Airbnb will flag requests that do not comply, and hosts must remove them or appeal. Repeat violators could face warnings, flagged listings, or reduced visibility in search results.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. It has been met with scrutiny from both hosts and guests on Reddit. Moreover, some commentators have also raised the concern that hosts may respond with higher cleaning fees, the change in house rules answers a long-running guest complaint. Guests have complained of being given chores at checkout despite paying a cleaning fee. CEO Brian Chesky acknowledged the issue in 2022, saying requests should be reasonable.