Airbnb is implementing a shift in its platform guidelines regarding guest responsibilities at the end of a stay. Starting November 20, hosts will no longer be permitted to mandate that guests complete specific cleaning chores, such as stripping bed linens, doing laundry, or washing dishes before checking out. The company stated that while hosts can still request that guests leave the property in a generally tidy condition, they cannot impose unreasonable cleaning demands on those who have already paid a cleaning fee.

This policy update aims to standardize the guest experience across the platform. Airbnb noted that the move is intended to address long-standing frustrations from users who felt that paying a cleaning fee while also being expected to perform manual labor was contradictory. The company clarified that hosts are still encouraged to set their own checkout instructions, provided those instructions do not involve intensive cleaning tasks. The new rules apply globally to all reservations made on or after the November 20 effective date.