No more Airbnb checkout chores from 20 November. What hosts can't ask

Airbnb hosts will no longer be allowed to make guests wash dishes, strip beds or take the rubbish out before they leave. The new house rules policy applies to every reservation booked on or after 20 November 2026, including stays in South Africa (Airbnb policy).

Airbnb announced the change on 20 October 2026 and said hosts should review their listings now (Airbnb).

What can't hosts ask you to do any more?

Under the policy, hosts generally may not ask guests to do tasks that take significant time or effort, or that a cleaner would normally do (Airbnb policy). Airbnb gives these examples (Airbnb):

• Dishes: no washing and packing away, but you can be asked to put used dishes in the sink.
• Laundry: no stripping beds or starting a wash, but you can be asked to gather used towels.
• Rubbish: no taking bags off the property, but you can be asked to sort waste and recycling into the indoor bins provided.
• Utilities: no ban on using a listed amenity such as air conditioning, but you can be asked to switch it off when you leave.

Hosts also can't charge fines or penalties, or block access to anything advertised on the listing. Any fee for an advertised feature must be in the price shown when you book (Airbnb policy).

Can a host add rules after you've booked?

No. All rules and requests must appear in the house rules section of the listing when you book. Hosts may not add new ones afterwards by message, by signs in the home or in person (Airbnb policy).

Are there exceptions?

Yes. Airbnb says it looks at the type of listing and local conditions, and may allow requests that would otherwise break the policy. One example it gives is asking guests to keep showers short because of drought-related water restrictions (Airbnb policy). That is relevant to hosts in water-stressed parts of South Africa.

What happens if a listing still has chore lists?

Requests that break the policy will be highlighted in the host's listing editor, and Airbnb will email the host with tips and a chance to appeal. If it isn't fixed, guests may see an alert such as "includes cleaning requests" on the listing (Airbnb).

Some hosts have objected on Airbnb's forums, saying guests can simply avoid listings with strict rules (The Verge).

What do guests still have to follow?

Seven standard rules remain, covering maximum overnight guests, quiet hours, events, pets, smoking (including vaping), commercial photography and locking up at checkout (Airbnb). Guests must follow these. A host can cancel without penalty if a guest breaks one during the stay, and guests who break Airbnb's policies can be suspended or removed (Airbnb).

Requests, unlike rules, are things guests are encouraged to do rather than required to do (Airbnb policy).