Starting from the end of next month, individuals staying at an Airbnb will encounter reduced responsibilities prior to their departure. The short-term lodging platform has revised its regulations to limit the extent of cleaning tasks hosts can assign to guests. These updated guidelines will be effective for reservations made on or after November 20.
The new policy emphasizes that hosts should exhibit reasonableness across various aspects. Hosts are now prohibited from requesting guests to perform tasks that require significant effort or time, or tasks typically handled by professional cleaners. Such tasks include changing bed linens, disposing of trash at an offsite location, or washing and storing used dishes.
Consequently, the cleaning fee on Airbnb properties is expected to cover only basic cleaning between guest stays. Hosts are no longer permitted to charge guests for incomplete cleaning tasks listed at checkout.
The adjustment in Airbnb’s cleaning protocol comes after prolonged discussions regarding cleaning duties within the platform. Hosts have recounted instances of guests leaving untidy spaces, while social media posts have highlighted the disparity between cleaning fees charged and the subsequent cleaning expectations for guests. On the other hand, guests have expressed discontent over being charged cleaning fees and then being required to undertake cleaning tasks themselves.
Makarand Mody, an associate professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, highlighted the prevalent dissatisfaction among guests concerning cleaning responsibilities. This change in policy aims to address these grievances and align the guest experience more closely with that of a traditional hotel stay.
Moreover, the guidelines stipulate that hosts cannot impose restrictions on the use of amenities advertised in their listings. They are also prohibited from imposing fines or penalties on guests, as the AirCover protection already safeguards hosts against property damage caused by guests.
House rules and requests must be clearly stated in the listing at the time of booking, and no new rules can be introduced afterward. These rules encompass information about check-in and check-out times, smoking policies, pet regulations, noise restrictions, guest limits, and guidelines for commercial photography or video shoots.
While hosts may introduce reasonable requests that can be updated as needed, Airbnb will evaluate the reasonableness of these requests based on various factors such as property type and local considerations. The open-ended definition of “reasonable” is intended to provide hosts with flexibility while ensuring guest satisfaction.
The implementation of these new rules will prompt observation on how hosts adapt and how Airbnb enforces these regulations. The platform aims to strike a balance between host satisfaction and guest experience, maintaining a customer-centric approach while empowering hosts to retain control over their property.
