Airbnb stops property hosts from forcing holiday guests to clean up

New Rules

Airbnb has introduced a new rule that stops property hosts from making guests perform too many household chores before they leave. Hosts used to ask visitors to strip bedsheets, take trash offsite, do laundry, sweep floors, or run a dishwashing cycle. Guests complained for years about doing these heavy tasks while also paying high cleaning fees. Airbnb now states that hosts must be reasonable and not treat guests like cleaners. The company noted that hosts cannot ask guests to complete tasks that need a lot of time or effort, like stripping beds, taking out trash, or washing dishes.

Reactions

This update caused a major discussion on social media. Many guests felt happy and shared stories about being forced to wash dishes and do laundry on holiday. On the other hand, many hosts criticized the change. Hosts said guests could stay at hotels or pay higher fees if they did not want to do light cleaning tasks. Some hosts also found the new rule confusing and want more flexibility. One host on a Reddit forum pointed out that they are allowed to ask people to load a dishwasher but cannot ask them to start it. Other users noted that making guests tidy up should not replace professional cleaning services. Airbnb also warned hosts not to block access to any feature advertised in the listing or impose fines on guests.

Context

Online platforms like Airbnb rely on mutual reviews where both guests and hosts rate each other after a stay. Rules on these apps often change to balance the needs of property owners with the expectations of paying travellers.