Airbnb hosts will no longer be able to make guests strip beds or wash dishes at checkout

The new rules start on 20 November and cover stays in Australia. Guests can still be asked to put dishes in the sink.

Confirmed

Airbnb guests will soon have fewer chores when they check out. From 20 November, hosts "generally" will not be allowed to ask guests to do jobs that take a lot of time or effort, Guardian Australia reported. These are jobs a cleaner would usually do. They include stripping the sheets off beds, taking rubbish away from the property, and washing and putting away dishes. Hosts can still ask guests to put used dishes in the sink. The new rules apply around the world, including stays in Australia. On its Australian website, Airbnb tells hosts that guests want checkout to be simple. It says asking guests to do a cleaner's work "can negatively affect their stay and your reviews". Airbnb also warns that listings with repeated low ratings from unreasonable requests "may be removed". That means hosts could lose their listing. An Airbnb spokesperson said the company had made house rules easier to find and clearer to set. The spokesperson said the new policy keeps requests "reasonable, with no surprises". If you are booking a stay, check the house rules before you pay.