New rules cover bookings from November 20 and restrict host contracts
Airbnb has revised its host rules to narrow the tasks guests can be required to perform at a property. The company says hosts generally may not ask guests to strip beds, wash and put away dishes, or take trash offsite because such work requires significant effort or time or would typically be performed by a cleaner.
The updated guidelines let hosts set seven standard house rules and make other requests as long as the requests are reasonable. The new policy applies to all reservations booked on or after November 20. A property’s rules also will appear more prominently and in reservation reminders.
The BBC reported that guests have for years complained about unreasonable tasks they were required to complete before departure, especially as they are required to pay cleaning fees. Airbnb’s restrictions place particular emphasis on work that would normally be handled by a cleaner.
The company’s website defines the threshold as requests that require significant effort or time or would typically be performed by a cleaner. The listed examples are stripping a bed, taking trash offsite, and washing and putting away dishes.
Airbnb said it may grant exceptions in some circumstances. For example, hosts may ask guests to limit shower time if local drought-related water restrictions are in force.
Contracts will be allowed only in limited circumstances, including when required by law or homeowners association rules. Hosts will not be able to impose fines, although Airbnb said hosts remain in control of their house rules and requests.
If a host’s request does not follow Airbnb policy, the issue will be flagged, and the owner can appeal if the owner disagrees.
TikTok videos from Airbnb hosts Cassie and Jon have gone viral recently for their attention to detail. The videos show the couple closely inspecting their rental property in the US state of Georgia after guests leave. One video from the couple accuses guests of “disrespecting the house rules” for leaving a television remote out of place.
Cassie and Jon have been criticised for their strict rules and high standards, and they said in response that their content had been misinterpreted. Their videos have inspired other content creators to parody stringent hosts.
Airbnb told the BBC, “House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we’ve heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage.” The company said, “So, we’ve redesigned them to make them easier to discover and clearer to set, alongside a new policy that keeps requests reasonable, with no surprises.”
Closing briefs
BBC News separately reported that a B&B resisted calls from Airbnb to change its logo.
BBC News also reported that Spain fined Airbnb £56m for advertising unlicensed properties.