Starting from the end of the following month, individuals staying at an Airbnb accommodation will encounter reduced responsibilities before their departure. The short-term rental platform has introduced updated guidelines limiting the cleaning tasks hosts can assign to guests upon checkout. These new regulations are applicable to reservations made on or after November 20.
The revised policy emphasizes that hosts should exhibit reasonableness across various aspects. Hosts are now prohibited from requesting guests to perform tasks that require significant effort, time, or are typically handled by professional cleaners. Such duties include changing the bedding, transporting trash off-site, or cleaning and storing used dishes. Consequently, the cleaning fee charged by Airbnb should only encompass basic cleaning between guest stays, and hosts are no longer permitted to bill guests if they fail to complete tasks outlined on the checkout list.
The adjustment in Airbnb’s cleaning protocols comes after prolonged debates surrounding cleaning responsibilities. Hosts have shared instances of guests leaving untidy accommodations, while social media platforms like TikTok have featured videos showcasing post-checkout property conditions. Conversely, guests have voiced dissatisfaction over paying cleaning fees and subsequently being burdened with cleaning chores themselves.
Makarand Mody, an associate professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, highlighted the discord between cleaning fees and guest obligations, contrasting the hotel experience where guests are not typically expected to clean up. Airbnb has been approached by CBC News for clarification on the timing of this policy change.
Apart from cleaning-related information, the guidelines stipulate that hosts cannot restrict guests from using advertised amenities or impose fines or penalties, as AirCover already safeguards hosts against damages. House rules and requests must be transparently provided in the listing during booking, and no additional rules can be introduced post-booking. These regulations encompass details concerning check-in/check-out timings, smoking policies, pet regulations, noise restrictions, guest limits, and commercial photography or videography permissions.
Although hosts can include reasonable requests that are subject to updates, Airbnb will evaluate the reasonableness of these requests based on factors such as property type and local context. The policy underscores the uniqueness of each property, allowing for context-specific requests like conserving water during droughts or proper waste disposal in wildlife-inhabited regions.
Mody expressed curiosity about hosts’ reactions to the policy change and how Airbnb will enforce these regulations. He speculated that the open-ended definition of “reasonable” was intentional to provide hosts with some flexibility, considering hosts as essential customers crucial for maintaining a positive hosting experience on Airbnb.