Check when the reservation was booked
Airbnb's new house-rules policy applies to reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026. That is a booking-date cutoff, not simply the date a guest checks out. Airbnb announced the changes on October 20; the policy is not already in effect for all stays.
The platform is also reorganizing its listing editor around seven standard rules and a section for reasonable requests. Checkout instructions no longer sit in a separate tab, according to Airbnb's announcement.
Which checkout requests are changing?
Hosts generally cannot ask guests to strip beds, start laundry, wash and put away dishes, or take garbage off-site. The policy targets tasks that take significant time or effort or would normally be done by a cleaner.
Simpler requests can remain: put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash and recycling into designated indoor bins, or turn off air conditioning when leaving. Airbnb may grant context-specific exceptions, including animal-proof trash containers in bear country and water restrictions during a local drought.
Where to look before booking
The policy requires all house rules and requests to appear in the designated listing section when a reservation is booked. Hosts cannot introduce new ones afterward through messages, signs in the home or an in-person instruction.
Airbnb says guests can also find the rules and requests in the Trips tab and reservation reminders. Review that section before confirming a booking. The changes do not mean every instruction is optional: guests must follow house rules, while the policy encourages compliance with reasonable host requests.
