Airbnb’s updated house rules prohibiting hosts from requiring guests to perform cleaning chores have sparked a divide between property owners and travelers. The new guidelines, which take effect globally for bookings made from November 20, limit hosts to setting seven standard house rules and reasonable requests.
The Host Perspective
Property owners have expressed varying levels of concern over the platform’s policy shift. Lisa Clewes, who manages a Welsh holiday let, described finding her property in a complete mess with broken glasses and food-filled pans after a recent group stay, noting that additional cleaning requirements could force her to increase prices. Similarly, Anthony Marsh, co-owner of a North Yorkshire cabin retreat, reduced his Airbnb listings from five to two following the update. He stated that the platform has given visitors permission to leave properties in a poor state, worrying that tight turnaround times will be compromised. Laura Lewis, who runs a holiday-let marketing directory, reported widespread unhappiness among her clients and plans to remove her own treehouse listings from Airbnb entirely, choosing to focus on direct bookings instead.
Not all hosts view the changes negatively, however. Matt Prosz, a full-time Airbnb host and property manager in south-west London, believes the update will enhance guest experiences without altering normal behavior. He relies on Airbnb’s mutual review system to encourage reasonable conduct from both parties, noting that he does not expect guests to handle major chores.
The Guest and Industry Views
Travelers have largely welcomed the policy updates as a relief from extensive checkout lists, particularly when paying substantial cleaning fees. Jessica Newhook recalled facing a $250 cleaning fee for a family reunion in Florida alongside a lengthy checklist that included washing and folding towels and cleaning bedding and the kitchen. She noted that such rules diminish the appeal of vacation rentals compared to traditional hotels.
Krissi Foskett, who operates a cleaning company in Glasgow and frequently stays in short-term rentals, sympathizes with both sides of the issue. While she understands the pressures of tight turnarounds, she argues that professional cleaning remains a fundamental business cost for operators. Data from AirROI indicates that 63.2% of Airbnb listings currently charge an average cleaning fee of £55.
The policy update follows growing friction among owners following previous commission rate increases, prompting many to invest in independent websites and social media to secure direct bookings.
