Airbnb bans hosts from asking guests to wash dishes or take out bins

According to the BBC, Airbnb has introduced new house rules effective from November 20 that forbid hosts from asking guests to perform cleaning tasks such as washing dishes, stripping beds, or taking out rubbish. These tasks are typically handled by professional cleaners.

The updated guidelines allow hosts to set up to seven standard house rules and include other reasonable requests, but explicitly exclude chores usually done by cleaning staff. This change applies globally to all bookings made after the specified date.

Welsh host Lisa Clewes shared her experience of guests leaving her holiday property in a severe mess, including broken glasses and food waste, which required extensive cleaning. She charges a cleaning fee that covers about 75% of the cleaning costs but fears that the new rules might lead to increased cleaning expenses if guests leave more mess.

Clewes noted that her cleaners typically spend around four hours preparing her three-bedroom property for new guests. She is concerned that the inability to ask guests to assist with cleaning could result in higher costs, which might eventually be passed on to guests through increased fees.