Airbnb Checkout Chores: What the New Rules Mean for Hosts
From November 20, 2026, Airbnb limits the checkout chores hosts can ask of guests. See what is still allowed, what to remove, and how to update your listing.
Staysy Team
8 min read
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From November 20, 2026, Airbnb limits the checkout chores hosts can ask guests to do. Guests can still be asked to put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash into indoor bins and turn off the air conditioning. But hosts can no longer ask them to wash dishes, strip beds, start laundry or take trash off the property. The change is part of Airbnb's new Reasonable house rules and requests policy. It applies to every reservation booked on or after November 20, in every country.
If your checkout list was written a few years ago, it probably needs a quick edit. Here is what changed, what you can still ask, and how to update your listing before the deadline.
What changed
Airbnb announced the update to hosts on October 20, 2026. Here are the main changes.
Rules and requests now live in one place
In the listing editor, house rules and checkout instructions now sit together in one “House rules and requests” section. Checkout instructions no longer have their own tab.
Airbnb now splits what you ask of guests into two types:
- House rules are binding. Guests must follow them. If a guest breaks one, you can cancel the reservation without fees.
- Requests are things you would like guests to do, such as instructions during the stay or before checkout. Guests are encouraged to follow them, but they are not required to.
Seven standard house rules
The standard house rules are now:
- Maximum overnight guests (new)
- Quiet hours
- Events
- Pets
- Smoking, including vaping and e-cigarettes
- Commercial photography and filming
- Lock up at checkout, with optional details on where to return keys (new)
Requests must be reasonable
Requests can't involve “significant effort or time”, or tasks a cleaner would usually do. Hosts also can't fine guests, restrict access to amenities they advertise, or add rules after booking through messages, signs in the home or in person.
When it applies
The policy covers reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026. The booking date is what counts, not the stay date. Guests who booked earlier keep the rules that were on your listing when they booked.
Which checkout chores can you still ask for?
Airbnb's guidance gives four clear examples of what is reasonable and what is not.
| Area | You can ask guests to | You can't ask guests to |
|---|---|---|
| Dishes | Put used dishes in the sink | Wash dishes and put them away |
| Laundry | Gather used towels | Strip the beds or start a load of laundry |
| Trash | Sort trash and recycling into the indoor bins | Take trash off the property |
| Air conditioning | Turn it off when they leave | Avoid using it during the stay |
A simple test: if a cleaner would normally do it, or it takes real time and effort, take it off the list. Airbnb's own advice to hosts is to “think like a guest”.
Exceptions for local conditions
Airbnb may allow exceptions when local conditions make a request reasonable. Its two examples are asking guests to limit shower time during drought-related water restrictions, and asking them to use an animal-proof trash container in bear country.
No more fines
Hosts can't fine guests or charge penalties for breaking rules. If something is damaged, it is handled through AirCover. If a community association or local government could fine guests, for example for noise, you can explain that in the designated section of your listing.
What happens if a listing breaks the rules
The listing editor highlights requests that may break the policy. If they stay, Airbnb can email you with tips and a chance to appeal, and then issue warnings. For persistent problems, guests may see an alert on the listing such as “includes cleaning requests”, and the listing can show up less in search.
How to update your listing before November 20
Most hosts can do this in under an hour.
- Open House rules and requests in the Airbnb listing editor. Check anything the editor highlights.
- Set your standard rules, including the two new ones: maximum overnight guests and lock up at checkout.
- Rewrite your checkout requests using the four allowed examples above. Remove anything a cleaner would normally do.
- Move rules out of other places. Rules sent in messages, on signs in the home or written in your listing description don't count. Put them in the House rules and requests section instead.
- Check your other tools. If you use a property management system, make sure a sync does not overwrite your changes. Update your guest guide and welcome book so they match.
- Review your cleaning fee. If guests used to do part of the turnover, your cleaner may now spend longer. Decide whether you need to adjust the fee, and keep it clear in the booking price.
Example checkout requests you can copy
Keep the tone friendly. These examples stay within Airbnb's guidance.
A short checkout list
“Thank you for staying with us! Before you go, please put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels in the bathroom, sort trash and recycling into the bins under the sink, and turn off the air conditioning. Lock the door behind you and leave the keys in the lockbox. Safe travels!”
Before and after: rewriting an old checklist
| Old request | New request |
|---|---|
| Please wash, dry and put away all dishes. | Please put used dishes in the sink. |
| Strip the beds and start the washing machine. | Please gather used towels in the bathroom. |
| Take all trash to the bins at the end of the street. | Please sort trash and recycling into the kitchen bins. |
| Don't run the AC when you're out. | Please turn off the AC when you leave. |
Keep your guest guide in step with your listing
Under the new policy, your Airbnb listing is the official home for your rules and requests. Your guest guide's job is to repeat them clearly at the right moment, using the same wording, so guests are never surprised. Our Airbnb house rules guide covers how to write rules guests are happy to follow.
Staysy makes that easy:
- A checkout checklist on the last morning. It appears on the guest's final day, in the property's time zone, so the short list arrives when it is needed.
- Write it once, reuse it. Start a new property from an existing one and copy your checkout tasks and house rules in one step, then change only what differs.
- Everything else in one link. Check-in steps, WiFi, local tips and emergency contacts sit alongside your rules, in a guide guests open in their browser. See all of it on the Staysy features page.
If you still use a printed or PDF welcome book, check its checkout page too. An old list of chores there can now conflict with your listing.
Frequently asked questions
When do Airbnb's new checkout rules start?
They apply to reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026. Reservations booked before that date keep the rules that were on the listing at the time of booking.
Can Airbnb hosts still ask guests to do chores?
Yes, but only light ones. Hosts can ask guests to put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash into indoor bins and turn off the air conditioning. They can't ask guests to wash dishes, strip beds, start laundry or take trash off the property.
Do guests have to follow checkout requests?
No. Guests must follow house rules, but requests, including checkout tasks, are only encouraged. Only a broken house rule lets you cancel a reservation without fees.
Does the new policy apply outside the US?
Yes. Airbnb's policy is global, with the same November 20, 2026 start date for all listings.
Can I fine guests who don't do the checkout tasks?
No. The policy doesn't allow hosts to fine guests or charge penalties. Damage is handled through AirCover.
What happens if my listing still has old chores?
Airbnb highlights requests that may break the policy in the listing editor and can email you to fix them. If the problem continues, guests may see a notice such as “includes cleaning requests” and the listing can appear less often in search.
Getting started
A short, friendly checkout list is now the standard on Airbnb. Update your listing first, then make sure your guest guide says the same thing. Staysy keeps your checkout checklist, house rules and check-in steps in one link, so every guest leaves on a good note.
