Beginning late next month, individuals using Airbnb will find their checkout responsibilities reduced significantly.
The short-term rental platform has revised its policies to limit the extent of cleaning chores that hosts can require from their guests prior to departure.
Here’s what you need to know about the updated regulations, which are effective for bookings made on or after November 20.
What are the new cleaning requirements?
The revised guidelines essentially urge hosts to “be reasonable” in various aspects.
In terms of tidying up, hosts can no longer require guests to undertake tasks that would demand “significant effort or time, or that would normally be done by a cleaner.”
Such tasks include stripping beds, transporting trash to an offsite location, or washing and putting away used dishes.
With this new policy, Airbnb’s cleaning fee is meant to cover only a basic clean-up between guests — and hosts cannot charge guests if they leave any cleaning tasks unfinished on the checkout list.
Why implement these changes now?
The responsibilities surrounding cleaning on Airbnb have been a longstanding topic of discussion.
Hosts have shared experiences regarding the messes left by guests, while some have posted TikTok videos showcasing the condition of their properties post-checkout. Conversely, guests have voiced their frustrations for years about cleaning fees, especially when they are left with cleaning tasks of their own to complete.
Makarand Mody, an associate professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, noted, “The main complaint from guests typically revolves around cleaning responsibilities.”
He added, “There has been a disconnect between hosts charging cleaning fees while still expecting guests to adhere to house rules that require them to clean, which differs from the typical hotel experience for travelers.”
CBC News has reached out to Airbnb for clarification on the timing of this policy update.
What additional details are included in the policy?
Besides the cleaning requirements, the guidelines state that hosts cannot restrict access to amenities listed in their property description. Additionally, they cannot impose fines or penalties on guests, as AirCover already offers protection for hosts in rare instances of damage caused by guests.
House rules and requests must be displayed on the property listing during the booking process, and no new rules can be added later. These house rules encompass check-in and check-out times, smoking policies, pet regulations, quiet hours, approved guest limits, and restrictions on commercial photography or videography.
However, hosts are permitted to introduce “reasonable” requests that can be updated at any time. The policy indicates that Airbnb will evaluate whether a request qualifies as “reasonable” based on various factors, such as the type of listing and the local context.
“We recognize that each home is distinct,” the policy states. “For instance, it may be reasonable to request guests to limit shower durations due to local water restrictions caused by drought, or to use bear-proof containers for trash disposal in areas with bear activity.”
Mody expressed his curiosity about how hosts will react to this new policy and how Airbnb will enforce these updated rules. He believes the company intentionally left the term “reasonable” somewhat ambiguous to allow hosts flexibility.
“Hosts are also their clients. They want to ensure that hosts have a positive experience, wish to continue listing on Airbnb, and feel a sense of control over their properties,” the professor remarked. “This indicates that Airbnb is not entirely shifting to a guest-centric approach.”