Airbnb bans hosts from making guests do chores from November 2026

Airbnb is introducing new policies that mean hosts can no longer require guests to carry out certain tasks from November 20, 2026. Hosts will no longer be able to ask guests to strip beds, take rubbish offsite or wash and put away dishes. Airbnb hosts must also be transparent about all house rules before booking.

Rules must be reasonable and visible before booking

From November, Airbnb hosts can only ask guests to follow reasonable house rules and requests. Rules for hosts include not asking guests to do chores that take significant effort, or tasks a cleaner would do.

Based on Airbnb’s new requirements, guests should not be required to:

• Strip the bed, take rubbish offsite, wash and put away dishes, or do any other task a cleaner would do
• Accept restricted access to anything advertised in the listing, or pay extra for it, as fees for advertised features must be included in the price shown upon booking
• Pay fines or other penalties to the host
• Deal with new house rules or requests added after booking, whether it is in person or via written messages
• Sign separate contracts or hand over personal information such as a government ID, except if it is a legal requirement under certain circumstances

Hosts who break the rules will receive a warning and be asked to update their listing. If violations continue, Airbnb will escalate in stages. 

First, Airbnb will add a notice to the listing page alerting guests to cleaning requests, then reduce the listing's visibility in search, and ultimately take further action under its terms of service. This can include cancelling bookings, removing "superhost" status, or suspending the host's account.

New policy won't apply in all local areas

Airbnb has considered that the stricter policy may not be reasonable in all contexts and regions. The company will assess each listing based on its circumstances, including the type of stay and any relevant local considerations. 

Airbnb can grant exceptions to general guidelines if, for example, it is reasonable to ask guests to limit water use because of local drought restrictions. It may also be acceptable to ask guests to dispose of rubbish in an animal-proof container in a country known to have bears. In both cases, the request reflects local conditions rather than the host’s preference.

Exceptions for listing are not automatically granted to all hosts. Airbnb stresses they “may” grant hosts exceptions to the new policy, and that all rules are to be disclosed in the listing before any bookings are made.

What this means for guests and hosts in Switzerland

Rules on the use of Airbnb in Switzerland vary across cantons, cities and municipalities, with some, such as Lucerne, limiting the number of days in a year that a host can rent out a property.

Regardless, for those who use Airbnb in Switzerland, local norms and customs are taken seriously, from waste disposal to quiet hours. Hosts can, therefore, argue that their requests, such as sorting rubbish, reflect local rules.

Switzerland also observes quiet hours (Ruhezeit) after 10pm every day, and all day on Sundays and public holidays. Airbnb has not yet said whether it will consider these local rules.

Hosts who want guests to follow the local rules are to make it clear in their listings by November 20. Hosts must explain house rules and necessary chores, and both parties must agree to them.

This article originally featured on IamExpat Germany.