Airbnb is updating its policy to restrict the cleaning tasks that hosts can demand from guests before checkout. Starting November 20, hosts will no longer be permitted to require guests to strip beds, wash or put away dishes, start laundry, or remove trash from the rental property.
The company introduced these changes following years of user complaints regarding excessive checkout requirements and cleaning fees. Airbnb noted that in 2023, over 260 000 hosts had already reduced or removed their cleaning fees, and in May 2025, the platform began displaying total prices by default.
The new policy includes specific exceptions. Hosts may still request that guests conserve water during drought conditions or utilize bear-proof trash containers in regions where wildlife presents a safety risk.
The update has met with resistance from some hosts on community forums. Critics argue that basic cleaning tasks are necessary for property maintenance and that the new rules move the platform toward a hotel-like model, potentially discouraging long-term hosts.
