When staying at Airbnb, it is common courtesy to keep places clean and tidy before leaving the premises. However, there are some reports claiming that guests are required to do more than necessary.
There were reported instances where hosts demanded guests to perform extra chores such as removing bedsheets and pillowcases, perform laundry, cleaning or mopping the floor. And this is despite paying a cleaning fee in the booking.
To tackle this issue, Airbnb announced a new policy to protect guests from these unfair expectations.
New rule for hosts apply from 22 November 2026
A newly updated policy published on the Airbnb Help Centre outlines clear restrictions on what hosts can request when a guest checks out.
The framework applies globally, which means properties in Malaysia as well as overseas rentals must follow the new standard for reservations booked on or after 20 November 2026.
Things that your host can no longer force you to do
Under the updated rules, hosts can no longer expect guests to take on duties typically reserved for professional housekeeping staff. Guests are completely off the hook when it comes to stripping bedsheets, pulling off pillowcases or stripping down duvet covers, as all bed turnaround falls strictly on the host.
You are also not obliged to wash, dry or put away dirty dishes, nor can hosts demand that you start laundry cycles or run the washing machine before you walk out the door.
Furthermore, intensive cleaning tasks such as vacuuming floors, mopping surfaces or hauling rubbish bags to offsite municipal dumpsters are strictly forbidden. Most importantly, hosts are banned from penalising guests with checkout fines or surprise surcharges if they refuse to perform any of these chores.
Things that your host can ask you to do
On the other hand, Airbnb still allows hosts to request simple and practical checkout actions that keep the accommodation secure and safe. Hosts can reasonably instruct guests to switch off air conditioning units, turn off lights, shut open taps or ensure fans are powered down to avoid wasting electricity and prevent fire risks.
You can also be asked to lock the doors, latch open windows and leave house keys or access cards inside a lockbox or with building reception. While you do not need to wash up pots and pans, hosts may still ask you to place dirty cups or plates neatly in the sink rather than leaving them scattered around the living space.
Similarly, gathering damp towels into a single pile inside the bathroom or dropping everyday rubbish bags into the building refuse chute are considered completely acceptable.
Clear upfront terms with zero penalty fines
To prevent unpleasant surprises, all checkout requirements must appear in designated listing fields prior to booking. Hosts cannot add surprise cleaning tasks through WhatsApp messages, notices inside the property or verbal requests.
Furthermore, hosts are prohibited from charging penalty fees to guests who do not complete checkout chores.
Ultimately, while Airbnb is stepping in to protect holidaymakers from unreasonable demands, respect remains a two-way street. Being excused from domestic chores does not give guests free rein to mistreat a property.
Hosts frequently deal with trashed rooms, stained furniture and broken fixtures left behind by irresponsible travellers. Such destructive behaviour creates massive headaches for property owners and ruins the experience for the next guests checking in, who are often left stranded or forced to wait while emergency cleaning and repairs take place.
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