Airbnb bans hosts from asking guests to strip beds, wash dishes
According to Airbnb’s website, hosts generally cannot require guests to perform tasks that involve significant effort or time or would typically be handled by a cleaner.
Airbnb has introduced new rules limiting the cleaning tasks hosts can ask guests to complete before leaving a property, including stripping beds and washing dishes, reports BBC.
Under the updated guidelines, hosts can set seven standard house rules and make additional "reasonable" requests. The rules state that guests who pay cleaning fees should not be required to perform tasks that typically fall under a cleaner's responsibilities.
The new requirements will apply to all reservations booked on or after 20 November.
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"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," Airbnb told the BBC.
The company said it had redesigned the rules to make them easier to find and understand, alongside a new policy to ensure requests remain reasonable and do not come as a surprise to guests.
According to Airbnb's website, hosts generally cannot require guests to perform tasks that involve significant effort or time or would typically be handled by a cleaner. These include stripping beds, taking rubbish offsite, and washing and putting away dishes.
However, exceptions may apply in certain circumstances. For example, hosts may ask guests to limit shower time where local drought-related water restrictions are in place.
The updated rules will also be displayed more prominently to guests and included in reservation reminders. Contracts will be permitted only in limited circumstances, such as when required by law or homeowners association rules.
Although hosts will retain control over their house rules and requests, they will not be allowed to impose fines. Requests that violate Airbnb's policies will be flagged, and hosts will be able to appeal if they disagree with the decision.
Guests have long complained about unreasonable checkout tasks, particularly when they are already required to pay cleaning fees.
Recently, TikTok videos by Airbnb hosts Cassie and Jon, who operate a rental property in the US state of Georgia, have gone viral for showing them closely inspecting their property after guests leave.
In one video, the couple accused guests of "disrespecting the house rules" for leaving a television remote out of place.
The hosts have faced criticism over their strict rules and high standards but said their content had been misinterpreted. Their videos have also inspired other content creators to parody hosts with stringent checkout requirements.
