Airbnb Outlaws Long Chore Checklists and Surprise Fees in a Massive Blow to Host Margins

Following a wave of social media complaints from guests about excessive checkout chores, like washing dishes and taking trash off-site despite paying cleaning fees, Airbnb has introduced new rules.

As of Nov. 20, 2026, the short-term rental company will allow hosts to require only simpler tasks such as placing dirty dishes in the sink and gathering used towels. And they must disclose their house rules and checkout requirements before guests book.

The policy also prohibits hosts from imposing their own fines for violations.

"I am not surprised by the policies. Airbnb has shown time and again with its policies that its focus is on guests, not hosts. The new policies regarding guest checkout tasks are well intentioned but can also make it difficult for hosts to protect their business," says Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder in Austin, TX.

If you rent properties through Airbnb, you’ll need to adapt your listings, determine how to streamline management without overburdening guests, and protect your revenue margins as the new rules take effect. 

How the new rules affect property management 

By protecting guests from excessive checkout demands, Airbnb could help hosts increase booking conversion rates. 

“A long list of chores becomes a reason to book the place down the street instead. Listings that drop the chore list should see a lift,” says Humberto Marquez, founder of Surge, a short-term rental management company based in Houston.

The new regulations may also improve guest satisfaction and, in turn, lead to more positive reviews. 

“Checkout is the last thing a guest experiences before writing the review. If that last morning means a stressful chore list, it colors the whole stay. Dropping the list protects ratings, and ratings drive search placement and bookings,” Marquez explains. 

The new policies also level the playing field. 

“Professionally run homes have always worked this way. Hosts who kept their cleaning fee low by pushing the labor onto guests lose that edge, so now everyone has to compete on the quality of the stay,” says Marquez.

And the cleaning fee gets easier to defend, because guests pay for cleaning and they get cleaning.

Of course, there are drawbacks to these new rules, too.

Joy Cutrone, founder of Mindful Rental Pros in Portland, ME, explains that Airbnb now lists "remove sheets from bed and start laundry" as an unreasonable request and that could really disrupt the cleaning schedule and add pressure to an already tight turnover. 

“In a two-person studio I run, each turnover means two loads of laundry, and each one adds more than an hour, washed and dried. When a guest doesn't start that first load, our cleaner can’t finish within the turnover window,” says Cutrone.

Cutrone points out that in any active market, cleaners juggle several turnovers a day and hosts struggle to keep reliable staff. 

“When Airbnb's listing editor flags a request, its message tells hosts to ‘make sure you or your cleaners take care of this between stays.’ That assumes a cleaner has time to spare. Most simply don't,” Cutrone adds.

While Cutrone agrees with Airbnb’s intent of listening to guests, she disagrees with how it’s being carried out. 

“Two-way feedback between hosts and guests is one of the ways that Airbnb changed the industry, and it keeps both sides fair. But one universal baseline for every stay, in every market, misses that mark,” Cutrone explains. 

When Cutrone began renting out properties on Airbnb, they were called "self-catering” because that’s exactly what they were. And they still are. They aren't hotels, and cleaners aren't wait staff. Nobody comes to do your daily laundry or bus your dishes. 

“The expectation is that you leave it ‘broom clean.’ Stripping the bed and starting a load of linens is a courtesy to the people who make these stays possible. Leaving a sink full of dirty dishes is just gross,” Cutrone says.

Cutrone explains that if guests want hotel service, they can stay at a hotel. 

“If Airbnb wants self-catering stays to deliver hotel-level service, it will take more than shifting tasks onto hosts and calling that a guest benefit,” adds Cutrone.

Tips for adapting as an Airbnb host

If you use Airbnb to rent out properties, these tips can help you adjust to the new regulations, manage costs, and keep your guests happy. 

Audit every place your checkout instructions live

Check your listing’s rules against Airbnb’s new policies before Nov. 20 and make corrections as needed. Checkout instructions should be short, sweet, to the point, and consistent across all platforms. 

“Old ‘strip the beds’ messages have a habit of sticking around long after the listing is fixed. They may appear in automated checkout messages, digital guidebooks, even a laminated note on the fridge,” Marquez explains.

Be upfront about pricing

“If your cleaners cost more per turnover, build it into the cleaning fee or nightly rate and make sure guests see it before they book,” says Marquez.

Think about the actual amount of work and time involved in cleaning the property. 

Simplify turnovers 

A property that is easy to clean and already contains basic supplies can make turnovers more efficient. Technology can help as well. 

“We ensure every turnover gets tracked to a completed status in our property management system, and we follow up with the crew if anything is missed,” Marquez explains. 

Let your cleaning crew strip the beds

“A cleaner who pulls the sheets catches stains or damage right away, instead of finding them hours later in a pile of laundry,” says Marquez.

This helps prevent delays and maintain quality control. 

Explain your 'why' 

For requests Airbnb still allows, add a friendly reason. 

"This helps the person preparing the place for the next family, like they did for you" is more personable than a plain rule.

Diversify into new channels

Depending on your situation and goals, it might make sense to diversify into new channels to limit your dependence on Airbnb.

"Explore new listing platforms and rental strategies, and invest in your own website for repeat and referral business," says Hurst.