Airbnb Is About to Ban Hosts From Making You Wash the Dishes

Airbnb is tightening what hosts can demand of guests at checkout. Under a new policy taking effect November 20, hosts generally may not require guests to strip beds, start laundry, wash and put away dishes, or carry garbage off the property. The rules apply to reservations booked on or after that date, regardless of when the stay happens.

Some requests remain allowed. Hosts can still ask guests to put used dishes in the sink, gather dirty towels, sort trash and recycling, and turn off appliances or air conditioning. Hosts must also disclose every house rule and request before a reservation is confirmed, and cannot add new requirements later through messages, signs or in-person conversations.

The changes also limit hosts from requiring separate rental agreements or collecting copies of guests’ government ID. One thing does not change: hosts can still charge cleaning fees, so the policy will not necessarily make stays cheaper, only less chore-heavy.

The announcement lands alongside a separate Airbnb partnership with American Express, announced October 22, which puts more than one million listings on Amex Travel. Platinum cardholders earn five Membership Rewards points per dollar on prepaid Airbnb bookings made through the portal, while most other eligible cards earn two.

Sources: AFAR