Airbnb bans hosts from setting cleaning chores for guests

Airbnb is banning hosts from asking guests to do tasks that normally belong to a professional cleaner. Hosts may no longer ask guests to do the dishes or take out the rubbish. The updated guidelines apply to all bookings made from 20 November.

Why it matters

• Guests who pay a cleaning fee can no longer be asked to do a cleaner's work before leaving, for bookings made from 20 November.
• Hosts can no longer make guests sign a separate contract, unless the law or the rules of a homeowners' association (vve) require it.
• Hosts can no longer impose fines themselves.

Hosts can choose from seven standard house rules and add extra requests if they wish. Those requests must be "reasonable". Hosts keep control over their own house rules.

Airbnb can make exceptions in special cases. For example, a host may ask guests to shower for a shorter time where drought has caused a water shortage.

Airbnb will also give house rules a more prominent place on the platform. Guests will see the rules of their stay more prominently, including in the reminders about their booking.

If a host does not follow the new policy, Airbnb will intervene. A request that breaks the rules is flagged, after which the host can possibly object.