Airbnb is changing its rules to prevent hosts from requiring guests to complete certain household chores before checking out of a rental, ending a practice that has frustrated travelers who already pay cleaning fees.

Under the updated policy, hosts will no longer be allowed to require guests to strip beds, wash and put away dishes, do laundry, or take garbage offsite before leaving a property. The rules also prohibit hosts from imposing their own fines on guests for failing to complete checkout tasks.

The policy applies to reservations booked on or after November 20. Airbnb said the changes are intended to establish clearer expectations for guests and prevent hosts from imposing unreasonable cleaning responsibilities at the end of a stay.

Although many hosts provide checkout instructions as part of their rental agreements, the new rules draw a distinction between reasonable requests and chores that guests cannot be required to perform. Hosts may still ask guests to leave properties in reasonable condition, but they cannot make the prohibited tasks a condition of checkout.

Hosts who violate the policy could face warnings, flagged listings, and reduced visibility in Airbnb search results, potentially making their properties harder for prospective guests to find.

The change could create additional work for some hosts, who will need to handle tasks previously assigned to departing guests or arrange for cleaners to complete them. Some hosts have expressed frustration over the new requirements, particularly those who already manage cleaning costs and property turnover between reservations.

For travelers, the policy addresses a common complaint about short-term rentals: being charged cleaning fees while also being expected to complete extensive chores before departure.

The new rules represent a shift in how Airbnb handles checkout expectations, placing greater responsibility on hosts to manage routine cleaning rather than requiring guests to perform household tasks before leaving.