Airbnb guests will soon have fewer cleaning responsibilities upon check-out starting next month. The company has revised its policies to limit the cleaning tasks hosts can assign to guests. The updated rules will apply to bookings made on or after November 20.
Under the new guidelines, hosts are required to be reasonable in their cleaning expectations. Guests will no longer be asked to perform tasks that require significant effort, time, or are typically done by a professional cleaner. These tasks include changing the bed linens, disposing of garbage offsite, and washing dishes. The cleaning fee charged by Airbnb should now only cover basic cleaning between guests, and hosts cannot impose additional charges if guests do not complete all cleaning tasks.
Cleaning responsibilities at Airbnb properties have been a contentious issue for a long time. Hosts have shared stories about guests leaving messy accommodations, while guests have complained about being charged a cleaning fee despite being tasked with cleaning themselves. Makarand Mody, an associate professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, highlighted the discord between cleaning fees and guests’ cleaning obligations, which differs from the hotel experience.
In addition to cleaning regulations, hosts are prohibited from restricting guests’ use of advertised amenities and imposing fines or penalties. House rules and requests must be transparent to guests at the time of booking, with no new rules added after booking. However, hosts can include reasonable requests that may be updated as needed, subject to Airbnb’s assessment of their appropriateness based on various factors.
The open-ended definition of “reasonable” in the policy allows hosts some flexibility, aiming to maintain a positive host experience while balancing guest needs. It remains to be seen how hosts will adapt to these changes and how Airbnb will enforce the new rules to ensure a fair and balanced experience for both hosts and guests.