Checking out of your next Airbnb may be less of a hassle, as the company is banning hosts from including time-consuming chores in their house rules. Airbnb's updated house rules policy, which starts with reservations booked on or after November 20th, says hosts can't ask guests to "complete tasks that require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner."
According to Airbnb, guests shouldn't be asked to wash and put away dishes, though hosts can ask them to put used dishes in the sink. Guests also shouldn't be asked to remove sheets from the bed or start a load of laundry, but hosts can ask them to gather used towels. For trash, guests shouldn't be asked to take garbage off-site, but they can be asked to separate trash and recycling into designated indoor bins. Hosts also can't require guests to avoid using a listed amenity like air conditioning, though they can ask guests to turn it off when they leave.
Airbnb is now displaying hosts' requests more prominently in a new "rules and requests" section on listings. Guests may see an "includes cleaning requests" warning if a host leaves chore requests in their listing after the new policy takes effect. Hosts are also barred from sneaking extra rules into messages or on signs around their property.
Some hosts have pushed back on the restrictions in Airbnb's forums, arguing they pose health risks and that guests can simply choose not to stay at listings with overly strict rules. Airbnb says exceptions are possible, such as asking guests to "dispose of trash in an animal-proof container in bear country."
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing