ABC News reported that some Airbnb hosts plan to pause new reservations for a day as the platform prepares to apply tighter checkout chore rules to bookings made from Nov. 20.
Airbnb announced the changes Tuesday, Oct. 20. The cutoff is the reservation date: bookings made on or after Nov. 20 fall under the policy, even if the stay takes place later. Airbnb generally bars hosts from assigning tasks that require significant time or effort or are usually handled by a cleaner. Its examples include stripping beds, taking trash away from the property, and washing and putting away dishes.
Hosts can still ask guests to leave dishes in the sink, collect used towels in one place, or separate trash and recycling for designated indoor bins. Airbnb says local circumstances may justify exceptions, including drought-related water restrictions or a requirement to use an animal-proof container in bear country.
Hosts must put their rules and requests in the listing before a guest books. The company says hosts cannot add new requirements after a reservation is made, whether through a message, a sign or a conversation. Persistent violations may lead to a warning, a notice on the listing, reduced search visibility or other action.
Airbnb says the revised format should help hosts set rules and guests understand them. Its updated listing editor offers seven standard rule categories, and the company says cleaner-type checkout tasks can affect guests’ stays and reviews. EconoTimes previously covered Airbnb’s limits on lengthy checkout cleaning requests.
Some hosts have raised concerns about the added work. In Airbnb’s Community Center, a commenter posting as Rich & Brittany said the change might mean hiring another cleaner and that they would not absorb the added cost. That reflects one host’s expectation.
The reported blackout plan follows the policy announcement. ABC News reported that some hosts were planning to stop taking bookings for one day on Nov. 20 and that online petitions opposed the change; its report gave no participation count. Nov. 20 is also the date from which newly made reservations fall under Airbnb’s revised rules.