Airbnb Hosts Are Furious They Can No Longer Make Guests Do Their Chores

Key Points:

• Airbnb has introduced a new policy, effective November 20, banning hosts from requiring guests to perform cleaning tasks typically done by professional cleaners, such as stripping beds, taking out trash, or washing dishes.
• The policy change has sparked significant backlash from hosts who feel it limits their ability to protect their properties, with some threatening to reduce amenities or organize strikes against Airbnb.
• Guests have generally welcomed the change, as many have long complained about paying high cleaning fees while being expected to complete chores before checkout.
• Airbnb maintains that hosts can still make reasonable requests, like placing dirty dishes in the sink, but cannot enforce additional cleaning duties or require separate contracts except in limited legal or special-amenity cases.
• The platform’s existing protections, including the AirCover program, continue to cover property damage and additional cleaning costs, while hosts cannot charge fees for guests failing to perform specific cleaning tasks but may leave cleanliness-based reviews.