Airbnb to Limit Checkout Chores for New Reservations

Airbnb will generally prohibit hosts from requiring guests to perform substantial checkout chores, including stripping beds, washing and putting away dishes, starting laundry or taking rubbish offsite, under a policy that applies to reservations booked from November 20, 2026. The company says the restrictions cover tasks that take significant time or effort or would typically be done by a cleaner. Hosts may still ask guests to leave used dishes in the sink, gather towels or sort rubbish into indoor bins. The policy does not remove basic house rules or expectations that guests leave a property in reasonable condition. Airbnb also requires hosts to disclose house rules and requests in designated sections of a listing before a reservation is made. Hosts cannot add new requirements afterward through messages, signs in a home or in-person instructions. The company is standardizing house rules across seven categories, including limits on overnight guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking, events and locking up at checkout. The policy allows for exceptions based on a listing and local circumstances. Airbnb says a host in an area with drought-related water restrictions may ask guests to...