What the new rules forbid
Guests booking through Airbnb will no longer be expected to strip beds of their linen, carry rubbish off the property or wash dishes and put them away, according to the company's updated community policy. The platform said hosts would generally be barred from assigning tasks that demand considerable effort or time, or that a cleaner would normally handle. The rules cover reservations under its global policy, Australian bookings among them, and take effect on 20 November.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
The company has faced sustained criticism from travellers who were charged cleaning fees, sometimes running to hundreds of dollars, and were still handed a chore list by their host. Since April 2025 those fees have not been displayed to guests; instead, hosts may fold cleaning costs into the overall price of a stay. Under the revised guidance, guests may still be asked to place used dishes in the sink, even though washing and storing them is no longer permitted.[S1]
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House rules hosts may still set
Hosts can now establish seven standard house rules, which must be shown in full when a booking is made, and may add further requests judged reasonable. The standard rules cover arrival and departure times, the maximum number of people allowed at the property, smoking, quiet hours and whether pets are welcome. What counts as reasonable depends on local circumstances: limiting shower time because of water restrictions, or requiring rubbish to go in an animal-proof container, are given as examples.[S1]
Why the platform acted
An Airbnb spokesperson said house rules exist to show guests what a host expects, but that feedback from the community described them as confusing, burdensome and difficult to administer. The redesign, the spokesperson said, makes the rules simpler to find and clearer to set, and is paired with a policy intended to keep requests sensible and free of surprises.[S1]
