Airbnb announced a major update to its platform on October 20, 2026. If you host guests, you must review your Airbnb house rules before the changes take effect on November 20, 2026. The updated guidelines apply to all reservations booked on or after that specific date.
These updates matter because Airbnb standardizes listing expectations into seven core categories and optional guest requests, eliminating chore lists that offload routine turnover tasks onto guests. Whether you handle turnovers yourself or use property management services, understanding what is changing allows you to update your listing easily, keeping your instructions fair and fully visible in the designated section of the platform.
What Is the Airbnb New House Rules Policy?
The official announcement focuses on standardizing how hosts share their property guidelines. Because the separate checkout tab has been retired, you must audit any chores previously hidden in welcome books or post-booking messages and bring allowed requests into the unified listing editor.
Here are the key changes introduced by the update:
- Hosts can select from seven standard house-rule categories.
- Hosts can add reasonable requests for tasks during the stay or before checkout.
- Checkout instructions are incorporated into the house rules and requests area instead of appearing in a separate tab.
- Rules are displayed more prominently on the listing and can also be viewed in guests’ Trips tabs and reservation reminders.
- Requests that do not comply with the new policy may be highlighted in the Listing editor, with guidance from Airbnb on resolving the issue.
Which Airbnb Checkout Chores Are No Longer Allowed?
Managing checkout tasks is a central focus of this platform update, especially in fast-paced short-term rental management. Guests generally should not be asked to complete tasks that require significant time or effort or would typically be performed by a cleaner.
This simple table breaks down the restricted Airbnb checkout chores:
| Checkout task | Policy direction | Practical guidance |
| Washing and putting away dishes | Generally not allowed as a required guest task | Ask guests to leave used dishes in the sink instead |
| Stripping beds and removing sheets | Generally not allowed as a required guest task | Arrange linen removal as part of the turnover process |
| Starting a load of laundry | Do not require this as a checkout chore | Plan laundry as part of cleaning and turnover |
| Taking garbage off-site | Generally not allowed as a required guest task | Provide clear instructions for sorting waste into designated indoor bins |
| Gathering used towels | Can be a reasonable request | Keep the instruction simple and clearly stated |
| Separating trash and recycling | Can be a reasonable request | Identify the correct indoor bins |
| Placing used dishes in the sink | Can be a reasonable request | Make the request clear and proportionate |
What Counts as a Reasonable Airbnb House Rule?
Hosts may still include supplemental requests, but Airbnb evaluates them based on whether they require minimal guest effort rather than shifting professional cleaning duties onto travelers. The platform’s assessment considers factors such as the type of listing, the stay, and relevant local circumstances, like using animal-proof trash containers in bear country or limiting shower time during local droughts.
These principles will help you write better guidelines:
- Make instructions specific and easy to understand.
- Keep requests proportionate to the stay.
- Avoid assigning guests tasks that normally belong to a cleaner.
- Consider the property’s actual safety, environmental, or operational needs.
- Do not use a house rule to contradict Airbnb’s platform requirements.
- Requests about amenities: Do not ask guests to avoid using an amenity advertised in the listing, such as air conditioning. You may ask them to switch it off when they leave, provided the request is reasonable.
Want your listing updated and guest-ready before November 20?
The Seven Standard Airbnb House Rules Hosts Can Set
The platform’s announcement highlights standardized categories for your listing. You can choose rules in the following specific areas to set clear expectations.
Maximum overnight guests
You can set the maximum number of overnight guests permitted in the property. Make this limit clear and consistent with your listing details, applicable occupancy requirements, and your Airbnb guest screening process.
Quiet hours
You can specify the exact hours when noise should be kept to a minimum. Setting clear Airbnb quiet hours helps guests respect building rules, local noise requirements, and neighbors.
Events
You can specify whether events are allowed at your property. However, your house rules must follow Airbnb’s community disturbance policy, which prohibits open-invite parties and disruptive gatherings regardless of size. Also check applicable building rules and local requirements.
Pets
You can specify whether pets are allowed and, if so, how many. Verify the current platform policy and applicable laws where relevant.
Smoking
You can specify whether smoking is permitted on the property. This rule explicitly covers vaping and e-cigarettes as well.
Commercial photography and filming
You can set expectations around commercial photography and filming. State clearly whether commercial equipment, production crews, or monetized shoots are permitted on the premises.
Locking up at checkout
You can indicate whether guests must lock up at checkout. You can also provide optional details about returning keys.
Where Should Hosts Put Their Rules?
Airbnb now requires all house rules and requests to live directly in the designated House rules and requests section so guests can review them before booking. You should not introduce additional rules elsewhere in the listing, in messages, or on signs inside the home.
You or your Airbnb co-host can use this practical checklist to update your listing:
- Review the current guidelines in the Listing editor.
- Move applicable checkout instructions into the designated requests area.
- Remove or revise requests that conflict with the new policy.
- Check that guest limits, quiet hours, smoking rules, pet rules, and event policies are clear.
- Make sure the listing and guest communications do not contain conflicting instructions.
- Recheck the final version before accepting reservations under the updated policy.
Airbnb House Rules Template: Examples Hosts Can Adapt
Having a structured framework makes updating your listing much easier. You can use an Airbnb house rules template to guide your wording, but you must customize these examples to comply with the platform’s policy and local requirements.
Keep in mind that these are editorial suggestions, not official platform wording. Here are some Airbnb house rules examples you can adapt:
Quiet hours
“Please keep noise to a minimum between [start time] and [end time] out of consideration for neighbours and other residents.”
Maximum overnight guests
“The maximum number of overnight guests permitted at the property is [number]. Please ensure your reservation reflects the correct number of guests.”
Smoking
“Smoking and vaping are [permitted/not permitted] in the following areas: [specify applicable areas]. Please follow the property instructions and applicable building rules.”
Pets
“Pets are [permitted/not permitted] under the conditions described in this listing. Please review the stated requirements before booking.”
Events
“Events and gatherings are [permitted/not permitted]. Please follow the stated occupancy limits and any applicable building or local requirements.”
Checkout and locking up
“Before leaving, please [state applicable reasonable requests, such as gathering used towels or separating recycling into the designated indoor bins]. If required, please lock the doors and return the keys to [specified location].”
How the Policy Affects Cleaning Fees and Property Turnover
The new policy changes what you can reasonably require from your guests. Because of this, you may need to review your turnover procedures and adjust your Airbnb cleaning rules.
Consider these practical points when updating your operations:
- Routine cleaning and laundry should be planned as part of the property’s turnover process.
- You should not depend on guests completing prohibited cleaning chores before the next arrival.
- Reasonable tidying requests can help guests leave the property in an orderly condition, but should not replace normal cleaning.
- Cleaning fees, service costs, and operating budgets should be evaluated separately from the question of what tasks guests can be required to complete.
- Communicate any reasonable requests clearly before booking.
Make turnover days hassle-free under the new chore restrictions.
Contracts, Penalties, and Policy Enforcement
The official announcement also covers restrictions on outside contracts. Contracts are allowed only in specified circumstances, including certain legal requirements, homeowners association rules, rental agreements for monthly stays, Airbnb Luxe listings, and coverage for optional amenities such as golf carts.
If a contract is allowed, you must upload it in the designated Contracts area of the listing settings. Do not rely on separate contracts, messages, or signs to introduce rules that should be disclosed directly in the listing, and do not use them as a workaround to impose your own fines or penalties for prohibited checkout chores. Guests are required to follow house rules as part of the platform’s guest ground rules. If you encounter a violation, contact Airbnb for guidance on appropriate next steps.
How Professional Short-Term Rental Management Can Help
Transitioning banned checkout chores to your turnover schedule requires dependable cleaning and scheduling workflows. Reviewing your operational processes is highly recommended when platform requirements evolve.
Working with the best Airbnb management companies can provide valuable support. Professional teams assist by reviewing listing information, keeping checkout requests aligned with current platform requirements, and coordinating cleaning between reservations. They also handle consistent guest communication and routine maintenance coordination.
Professional operational support helps keep daily turnovers organized, whether you host weekend getaways or longer monthly stays. Some owners choose to delegate individual tasks like turnover coordination, while others rely on a broader management framework to oversee day-to-day operations. This ongoing oversight typically covers guest communication, scheduling, and listing optimization.
Review Your Airbnb House Rules Before November 20
The updated platform policy requires you to review both the wording of your expectations and the specific tasks you ask guests to complete before departure. You must check your standard settings, remove unreasonable chores, and ensure your cleaning procedures do not depend on prohibited tasks.
By setting clear Airbnb house rules for guests in the designated listing section, you can reduce confusion and help create a better stay experience. If keeping up with platform changes and daily turnovers becomes too time-consuming, Guestable offers operational support to help manage your property smoothly. Review your listing today to ensure everything is ready before the new policy takes effect.
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