Airbnb is changing what hosts can ask of guests on the way out. For reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026, hosts can't require checkout tasks that take significant effort or time, or that a cleaner would normally do. If you've ever dreaded a list of chores taped to the fridge, this is aimed at you.
What Hosts Can No Longer Require
Airbnb's updated rule says house rules and requests have to be reasonable. Tasks that don't qualify include stripping the beds, taking trash off the property and washing dishes. Those are jobs a cleaner would typically do.
What Hosts Can Still Ask
Hosts can still set house rules and requests as long as they're reasonable, and you're expected to follow the house rules. Airbnb says it looks at the listing's context and may make exceptions, like asking guests to limit shower time during local drought restrictions or to use an animal-proof trash container in bear country.
What Hosts Have to Disclose
Hosts have to post their house rules and requests in the listing's house rules section at the time of booking, and they can't add new ones after you book, whether by message, a sign in the home or in person. Fees for anything advertised as part of the listing have to be in the price shown when you book.
When a rule or request breaks the policy, Airbnb says it may educate the host, ask them to update the listing or issue a warning. If the problem continues, the listing can get a notice flagging the issue to guests or show up less in search.
What It Means for Your Next Stay
Read the house rules on a listing before you pay, since that's where any checkout requests will show up. If you're planning how to cover a stay, our guide to paying for Airbnb with credit card points walks through the options.
