I’ve stayed in plenty of vacation rentals over the years, including a wonderful Airbnb on the Italian island of Ischia, where we had plenty of space for our family of four and paid around $150 a night. I love the flexibility vacation rentals offer, but there’s a big difference between being a respectful guest and being expected to do the work of a professional cleaner.
I’ve stayed in plenty of vacation rentals over the years, including with my wife and our two kids, and while I completely understand leaving a place tidy, there’s a big difference between being a respectful guest and being expected to do the work of a professional cleaner.
Apparently, enough travelers have complained about lengthy checkout chore lists that Airbnb is finally doing something about it.
Beginning November 20, 2026, Airbnb is introducing new rules that limit what hosts can require guests to do before checking out. And some of the changes are long overdue.
What Airbnb hosts can no longer require guests to do
Under the new policy, hosts will no longer be allowed to require guests to perform cleaning tasks that should reasonably be handled by a professional cleaner.
Examples include:
- Stripping beds or starting laundry
- Washing, drying and putting away dishes
- Taking garbage to an off-site location
- Performing excessive or time-consuming cleaning tasks
In other words, guests shouldn’t have to spend their final morning of vacation washing sheets, scrubbing dishes or completing a lengthy cleaning checklist. Which I’ve done!
Airbnb’s official policy is available here: Reasonable house rules and requests.
What hosts can still ask guests to do
This doesn’t mean travelers can leave a vacation rental looking like a disaster zone. Airbnb still allows hosts to make reasonable requests, including gathering used towels, placing dirty dishes in the sink, sorting trash into designated bins, locking doors and turning off lights or air conditioning when leaving.
And frankly, I don’t have a problem with any of those things. They’re common courtesy, and they’re the kinds of things we already do when staying in someone’s property. The important distinction is that Airbnb separates mandatory house rules from requests that guests are encouraged, but not required, to follow.
No more surprise checkout chores
Another welcome change is that Airbnb is making house rules more transparent during the booking process. Instead of discovering a long list of requirements taped to the refrigerator or buried in a checkout message the night before departure, guests should be able to review applicable rules before making a reservation.
Travelers deserve to know what they’re agreeing to before handing over their credit card information. Hosts who repeatedly violate Airbnb’s policies could face enforcement measures, including warnings or reduced visibility in search results.
What about Airbnb cleaning fees?
The new policy doesn’t eliminate cleaning fees. Hosts can still charge cleaning fees, and travelers should continue to pay attention to the total price before booking. Personally, I think it’s especially frustrating when a property charges a substantial cleaning fee and then expects guests to handle a long list of chores. After all, what exactly is that cleaning fee covering? The good news is that Airbnb’s new rules should make those excessive checkout demands less common.
When do the new Airbnb rules take effect?
The policy takes effect November 20, 2026, and applies to reservations booked on or after that date. If you booked an Airbnb before November 20 for a stay taking place afterward, don’t automatically assume the new requirements apply to your reservation. You can read Airbnb’s official announcement about the changes to house rules.
My advice for Airbnb guests
Before booking, I recommend reading recent guest reviews, checking the house rules and comparing the total price, including cleaning fees. Airbnb has also introduced tools to help travelers find better-rated properties through its Guest Favorites feature, which can make choosing a reliable rental easier.
If a host sends you a lengthy checkout checklist, compare it with Airbnb’s published policy. If something seems unreasonable, communicate through Airbnb’s messaging system so there’s a record of the conversation. If necessary, contact Airbnb support.
I also recommend taking a quick video of the property on arrival and before leaving, especially if you’re concerned about potential damage claims or disputes. It only takes a minute and could save you a lot of headaches later.
At the end of the day, vacation rentals can be a fantastic option, especially for families who need extra space, a kitchen and separate bedrooms. But travelers shouldn’t have to spend the last hours of their vacation doing someone else’s cleaning job.
One other important tip: Don’t overlook safety when booking a vacation rental. Before our family trip to Italy, Airbnb actually recommended that we bring our own carbon monoxide detector because the property didn’t report having one installed. It’s a small precaution that can make a big difference.
What do you think? Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb that required an unreasonable amount of cleaning before checkout? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
