Airbnb guests freed from chores involving ‘significant effort’ under new global rules
Airbnb will prohibit hosts from asking guests to complete chores requiring significant effort, such as stripping beds or washing dishes, under new global rules taking effect November 20.
The changes apply to Airbnb reservations covered by the platform's global policy, including bookings in Australia. Since April 2025, cleaning fees have not been shown to guests separately, as hosts have been allowed to incorporate cleaning costs into the total price of the stay.
Specific chores banned
Airbnb explicitly prohibits tasks that require significant effort or time or would typically be performed by a cleaner. Examples include stripping beds of linen, taking rubbish offsite, and washing and putting away dishes. However, guests can still be asked to put used dishes in the sink.
House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we've heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage.
Standard house rules
Hosts can now set seven standard house rules that must be displayed in full at the time of booking. These include check-in and check-out times, guest limits, smoking restrictions, quiet hours, and pet policies. Additional reasonable requests are permitted based on relevant local considerations.
For example, hosts may ask guests to limit shower time due to local water restrictions or to dispose of rubbish in an animal-proof container. The policy aims to eliminate surprises and provide clearer expectations for both hosts and guests.
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