Airbnb is facing a growing backlash from holiday rental hosts over new rules that will generally prevent them from requiring guests to wash dishes, strip beds or carry out other cleaning tasks before leaving.
The changes, announced on 20 October, apply to reservations booked on or after 20 November 2026. Airbnb says checkout requests should be reasonable and clearly disclosed before guests book. Critics argue the new approach goes too far by treating washing up after using a self-catering kitchen as a cleaning service.
What Airbnb’s new rules actually say
Under Airbnb’s Reasonable house rules and requests policy, hosts are generally barred from making guests complete tasks requiring significant time or effort, or work normally undertaken by a cleaner. Airbnb gives specific examples in its guidance for hosts:
- Guests may be asked to leave used dishes in the sink, but generally should not be required to wash and put them away.
- Guests may be asked to gather used towels, but generally should not have to strip beds or start laundry.
- Guests may be asked to separate rubbish and recycling into indoor bins, but generally should not have to take rubbish off-site.
- Hosts may still ask guests to turn off lights or air conditioning when leaving and can require them to lock up at checkout.
The policy allows exceptions where the circumstances justify them. For example, Airbnb says an animal-proof rubbish container may be reasonable in areas with bears. Rules and requests must be visible in the designated listing section before booking. Hosts cannot introduce additional requirements later through messages or signs in the property.
Airbnb can ask hosts to amend requirements it considers unreasonable and may issue warnings or affect how listings appear in search if problems persist. This is not a blanket prohibition on every checkout request.
British petition passes 24,000 signatures
British host Harry Newington launched a Change.org petition on 21 October asking Airbnb to reconsider the restriction on washing up. The petition page displayed more than 24,000 verified signatures when checked on 2 November.
Newington’s campaign accepts that guests should not be made to perform professional cleaning work. Its argument is narrower: that people using a self-catering kitchen should be capable of washing their own cookware and dishes. The petition also asks for clearer allowances on household waste and more consultation with hosts.
In a campaign update dated 30 October, Newington reported more than 23,000 signatures and said he had yet to receive a substantive response to his request for a policy review. That is the organiser’s account, not an independently verified statement about Airbnb’s internal discussions.
Are hosts actually boycotting Airbnb?
There have been boycott threats and proposals for coordinated action, but there is no evidence yet of a platform-wide host boycott. ABC News reported that some Australian hosts were planning a one-day booking blackout for 20 November, the date the new policy takes effect.
Some hosts have also discussed increasing prices or moving listings to alternative platforms. These are reactions and stated intentions, not proof that large numbers of properties have already left Airbnb. Claims that the policy will add several hours to every property’s cleaning time are likewise not supported by reliable figures.
Does this mean guests can leave a mess?
No. Airbnb’s separate ground rules for guests still require guests to treat homes respectfully and avoid leaving properties needing excessive or deep cleaning. Its guidance specifically mentions problems such as mouldy dishes and pet-related stains. Guests can still be held responsible for damage and unexpected cleaning costs.
Hosts may continue to charge cleaning fees for normal turnaround cleaning. However, Airbnb says they must not impose a penalty simply because a guest failed to complete a particular checkout or cleaning task. Cleaning fees remain part of the booking price.
Why the dispute matters to guests and hosts
The change comes after complaints from travellers who have faced lengthy checkout lists while also paying cleaning fees. For guests, it promises clearer expectations. For hosts, particularly those operating self-catering properties without a separate cleaning charge, the uncertainty is whether a reasonable expectation to tidy up after cooking can still be enforced.
The practical distinction is between leaving a home reasonably tidy and undertaking work that belongs in the property’s normal cleaning schedule. Airbnb has set its general position, but the backlash shows that agreement over where to draw that line is far from universal.
What happens next: The new rules apply to bookings made from 20 November. The UK petition is continuing, while the proposed Australian booking blackout has not yet taken place.
