Airbnb bans hosts from making guests wash up or take out bins from 20 November 2026

Airbnb is changing its rules for hosts. The new policy was announced on 20 October 2026 and takes effect on 20 November 2026. It will apply to bookings made from that date. The change has sparked debate on social media: some guests welcome it, while some hosts are unhappy.

What hosts will no longer be able to require

According to Polish outlets that covered the changes, a host may not require guests to do any of the following before checkout:

• wash dishes and put them away,
• strip the beds,
• run the washing machine,
• take bins out of the property.

The platform wants to draw a clearer line between guests' basic responsibilities and work that should be done by whoever is responsible for cleaning. Guests have long complained about extensive lists of chores, even though they had paid a cleaning fee.

What is still allowed

This does not release guests from keeping the place tidy. A host may still ask guests to leave dirty dishes in the sink, gather used towels or sort rubbish into bins inside the property. Guests are expected to leave the property in reasonable order.

There are also exceptions based on local conditions. Where bears live nearby, guests can be asked to put rubbish in a secure, animal-proof bin. Requests to save water during a drought are also allowed.

Rules must be known before booking

The rules for a given property must be set out before a booking is made. Hosts will not be able to add new requirements once a booking is confirmed, for example in messages, on notes left in the property or in conversation with guests. According to Rzeczpospolita, the restrictions also cover additional agreements and the collection of data from ID documents.

A dispute over the changes

Some hosts criticise the new rules. According to Rzeczpospolita, some are threatening to raise prices. Online commenters argue that washing up or changing the bedding takes only a moment and that a guest could do it out of courtesy. Others point out that they have already paid for cleaning.

Airbnb said in 2023 that more than 260,000 hosts had lowered their cleaning fees or scrapped them altogether.

What this means for you

The change affects anyone who books accommodation through Airbnb, including on trips around the UK or to Poland. For bookings made from 20 November 2026, it is worth checking the listing: the rules should be stated there before you book. Hosts, including Poles letting out their properties, will have to adjust their house rules.