Airbnb Updated Their Nov 20th Changes Slightly

Airbnb Updated Their Nov 20th Changes Slightly

Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Yesterday, Airbnb updated their demands that will take effect on Nov. 20th, I underlined one change:

"Since we announced changes to house rules on October 20, we’ve heard from many hosts. Some of you are concerned about losing control over the rules you set for your home. We understand why. You’re opening your home to guests, and you should be able to expect them to treat it with respect. We also could have done a better job explaining why and how we’re making these changes.

Our goal is to make sure guests know what to expect before they book.

Guests have told us for years that checkout chores and unexpected rules make them hesitant to book on Airbnb. Even when rules are disclosed upfront, a long list of chores can negatively affect their stay. That’s why we’re making house rules easier to find and setting clearer standards for what guests can be required to do. We believe this will help more people feel comfortable booking on Airbnb and coming back again. And the more often guests choose Airbnb, the more opportunities hosts have to earn.

We also know every home is different, and sometimes there are good reasons for having specific house rules. You told us that calling your additional rules “Requests” was confusing, so you’ll see them labeled “Additional rules” in the app over the coming weeks.

We’ve added more details below on what’s changing, what you can still ask guests to do, and how to appeal. The new house rules policy takes effect on November 20, 2026. That’s when we’ll start our initial reviews, which will continue through March 2027. After that, we’ll review listings on an ongoing basis. If you have additional rules on your listing that don’t meet the new policy, we’ll let you know by email and in the app. You’ll have at least 20 days to update them or appeal and explain why a particular rule is needed for your home....."

First of all, I don't care why Airbnb is changing these rules, the end result of restricting or eliminating our rules is unacceptable. Every other platform has our house rules too, so it's not like Airbnb is losing out to other platforms because of this. If someone is so lazy that they can't load a dishwasher before they leave, we don't want them to rent an entire house! And Airbnb is the largest platform in the US, so plenty of people have been booking under these rules for years. It wouldn't be number one if guests were so unhappy about this.

So I guess we'll see in the coming weeks whether these "additional rules" are really a change and enforceable, and they allow more than 2 as it is now. Or if Airbnb is just rewording things to blow smoke up out a**es and mollify us, like the proverbial frog in hot water.

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Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
5d

A lot of words to basically not change anything at all.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5d

    I’m a bit confused . .. were you not allowed to have any additional rules beyond the Big 7, or did you simply have to clearly disclose them?

    For example- were/are pool owners not allowed to say that you can’t use glad around the pool?

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      No, we could not have any rules beyond the 7. They started off allowing us to have 2 additional "requests" which weren't enforceable, just things we would like the guest to follow. And they couldn't require the guest to do any work. But if they allow "additional rules" it should mean they are enforceable because that's what rules are. But I think we'll have to see what happens with that. "No glass around the pool" doesn't require guests to do work, so that should be ok as an additional rule.

  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5d

    A lot of words to basically not change anything at all.

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      Laughable although at least the feedback was acknowledged. I saw a post that an option was to flag the listing on hosts who have cleaning rules. That sounds good to me because I'm fine with people who would leave their dirty dishes passing on my properties. FWIW I don't mark up my cleaning fees, only request they wash the dishes they used and walk their trash outside. And lock doors and windows if that is also considered a "chore".

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      Yes they will flag it, and they say they’ll push the listing down in their algorithm too.

      I’m not changing anything yet, I’ll wait until they tell me I need to change something. I’m still hoping they walk back a lot of this stuff if the complaints keep up.

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      My guess is hosts turning off their service will hold more weight than complaints.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      I agree, money is the big thing. But so many hosts threatening to leave has to be scaring them.

      What I see on the host FB groups is a lot of hosts putting their Airbnb listing on hold or leaving altogether, or upping their price so Airbnb costs more than Vrbo or Booking, and therefore will get fewer bookings. Some hosts are saying they've already had an increase in the number of guests who've left a mess because of the news releases saying Airbnb guests don't have to do chores anymore.

      There is also increased effort by hosts to optimize direct booking with the idea that AI will be the future in this space - guests will not look on the Airbnb site, they will ask AI and it will pick the best listings for them from among all rentals available, not just from the established platforms.

      Airbnb has overplayed their hand this time. This is too much, all at once. Instead of reining in hosts, this is pushing them away, big time. What Airbnb really wants is total control of our properties, without buying them. I expect them to offer full property management service in the future for a large percentage, and then eventually require that to be listed with them.

    • Dan H.Pro Member
      Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
      5d

      >upping their price so Airbnb costs more than Vrbo or Booking, and therefore will get fewer bookings.

      We currently get over 75% of our bookings via Airbnb. So eliminating them as an OTA is not a palatable option. But my units are uniquely named and internet searchable. Anyone can find the unit on VRBO , booking.com, or direct booking via an internet search. Every other platform is at least $20/night cheaper than booking on Airbnb going forward. We did this because of the proposed changes, but even if Airbnb 100% revert the changes, we are keeping this pricing policy. I do not desire one platform (especially one that has been as host unfriendly as Airbnb) to be responsible for over 75% of our bookings.

      if Airbnb was less than 25% of our bookings, I would likely just delist. Unfortunately that is not the case.

      Good luck

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      I got 2 inquiries on Houfy this week. Maybe this will work out for the better once the dust settles. The AI search and matching sounds like a real possibility and we may have AirBNB to thank for ripping the bandaid off rather than slowly evolving.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      Good for you! Many hosts also remember when Airbnb refunded guests in full during the covid pandemic with no questions asked, while Vrbo did not and stuck to hosts' cancellation policies as they should have.

      I used to get the majority of my bookings from Airbnb, but this last year, Vrbo has been the majority. I did put some discounts on Vrbo which make it priced slightly lower than Airbnb. That may be why my numbers flipped, it's the only reason that I can think of. My yearly revenue is up, so the Vrbo discounts didn't hurt that. I'm going to continue like this, and may add more to my cleaning fee on Airbnb if those guests cost me more.

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      If I get desperate and return to AirBNB I will increase what I pay my housekeepers and raise the nightly rate. Although I suspect unless AirBNB does a total retraction and reset to clearly stated rules up front this is a hill I’m ok dying on.

    • Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 718 posts · 648 votes
      4d

      yeah, too many people get too much money from Airbnb to just say they will turn off their listing. Most of my properties and my clients get more than 50% of their revenue from Airbnb. That isnt something we can just turn off. These changes soften the wording but dont really change anything. I'll adjust and work to improve more direct bookings and drive a bit more VRBO bookings. But you cant just turn off 50% of your revenue overnight.

  • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5d

    There is one new thing that I didn’t catch at first. They now allow rental contracts with guests if your insurance company requires it. That was not on their list before.

  • Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 684 posts · 288 votes
    5d

    @Lauren Kormylo I can understand the frustration—there’s a difference between expecting guests to respect a home and handing them a cleaning checklist. Clear rules upfront matter, but I’d also distinguish basic courtesy from chores that leave guests wondering what the cleaning fee covers. Based on the update you shared, the real test is how Airbnb handles property-specific rules and appeals, not whether it calls them “Requests” or “Additional rules.” Concrete examples of what will remain enforceable would be more helpful than another explanation of the reasoning.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      5d

      This is really about control of our own property. For 19 years, hosts have been able to set their own rules on cleaning and contracts on Airbnb. Through it all, Airbnb has grown to be the largest platform in the US, surpassing even Vrbo which started 12 years before them. If our rules were such a problem, Airbnb would not be #1. As long as it's in our description, we should be allowed to require it. Guests have the choice to move on to another property. Airbnb could have check boxes and let guests search for properties without chores or contracts just like they do with other amenities.

      I am not requiring guests do a long list of chores, merely load the dishwasher and take out the trash. But Airbnb won't allow me to even ask guests to do that. They won't allow us to ask guests to do any "work" at all. If a guest thinks those 2 chores mean "cleaning the house", then I don't want them as guests because they are slobs.

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      Agree 100%.

  • Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2026 · 18 posts · 5 votes
    5d

    Good catch on the contract part, that's the piece I'd actually act on. Most of our stays are 30+ nights so the signed agreement matters more to us than the chores stuff. If your insurer requires one, I'd get that from them in writing now, so if Airbnb flags the listing after the 20th you've got something to attach to the appeal instead of arguing about it. Also worth knowing their policy already allowed a separate agreement on 28+ night stays as long as it's on the listing before they book.

  • Member since 2026 · 79 posts · 28 votes
    4d

    The useful part of this update is the process around it, not the new label. Airbnb will email and notify in the app when a rule does not meet the policy, and hosts get at least 20 days to update or appeal. That window only helps if you are ready for it. Go through each additional rule now and write one plain sentence explaining why that home needs it, whether for safety, damage prevention, or a building requirement. Save that list where you can find it fast. Check how the rules read to a guest in the app, not only on desktop, since that is where most guests see them. If a rule reads like a chore list, shorten it before Airbnb reviews it. Waiting for a flag leaves you rushing, and a calm, documented appeal beats a rushed one.

  • John RacinePro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Casselberry, FL · Member since 2008 · 188 posts · 99 votes
    4d

    @Lauren Kormylo I'm in wait-and-see mode too. Renaming "Requests" to "Additional rules" doesn't mean much until we see what actually gets approved after the 20th, and whether they really allow more than two.

    For me the practical change is small. I never asked guests to do any of the chores Airbnb originally highlighted. The only thing I asked was to load and run the dishwasher, which I didn't think was a big deal. Most of my calendar runs 30+ day stays anyway, so checkout chores were never a big part of how I operate. I'm still hoping the host pushback gets these rules changed.

    What I'm not waiting on is channel mix. Airbnb is almost 90% of my bookings, which is too much of my business sitting with one platform, especially one changing the rules this fast. Booking.com has done very well for me, and this is the push I needed to put real focus on direct bookings.

    Once the reviews start, it'll be worth comparing notes here on which additional rules get approved and which get flagged. That'll tell us more than the announcement did.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      I can see with mid-term stays, your cleaners would have to do a deeper clean anyway, so check out rules may not be as important to you. And I agree, 90% with Airbnb is a scary amount when they can change their rules on a whim.

      I'm going to look into Booking, I've heard problems with it but hosts seem to like it better now than a few years ago.

  • Lender · Boynton Beach, FL · Member since 2026 · 240 posts · 107 votes
    4d

    Lauren, thank you for posting the update. I appreciate you breaking down what actually changed.

    I understand your frustration. When it is your home, you should be able to set the rules for it. No one wants to hand over an entire house and then be told they cannot ask guests to take basic care of it.

    From what I am seeing with the investors I work with, the practical move is not to fight Airbnb on the wording, it is to adjust how we present the rules.

    1. Keep the house rules short and clear. Guests do read them before they book, and a long list of chores is what turns them off.

    2. Move the real work into the cleaning fee instead of the checkout list. If you need the dishwasher loaded and the trash taken out, build it into your turnover cost. It is cleaner and Airbnb will not flag it.

    3. Put the important rules that protect the property - no smoking, no parties, occupancy, pets - in the Additional Rules section and keep them there. Those are the ones that matter if you ever need to file a claim.

    4. For the rest, put it in the listing description and in the check-in message. Guests follow a short message from the host a lot better than a long list in the app.

    I do not think Airbnb is trying to take away control completely, but they are trying to make the guest experience more consistent. The hosts who will do well after November 20th are the ones who simplify the rules and price the cleaning properly.

    Have you already updated your listings to the new Additional Rules format, or are you waiting to see how they enforce it in the first reviews?

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      Their intention was to increase revenue and retention which is how business works but they overlooked the excess supply in a stalling economy and focused on the narrative that guests were leaving for a hotel experience due to check out requests. I’m not interested in contorting my model to remain on a platform that is pandering to people who feel I’m making a fortune off a $200 cleaning fee and doing their dishes or taking out their trash is actually cleaning. This isn’t my target demographic.

    • Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 718 posts · 648 votes
      4d

      Muyees, investors arent looking at it fully then. for #2 as an example, its not so easy to "move the real work into the cleaning fee". For example, i have a 4k+ sq ft house that sleeps 14. If the guest never washed a dish while they were there and I have a same day turnaround for the property, the cleaning team would need to bring an extra person dedicated to washing plates/pots/pans/glasses/etc for almost an hour while the original team did their normal cleaning. But they arent staffed for that.

      And not being able to fine guests for things. So a guest decides they dont care and smoke inside. Now you have to scramble to get an ozone machine, possibly have to replace items that reek of smoke, and then hope either the guest agrees to pay thru Airbnb payments or Airbnb takes it from them (expect bad review). Or the guest knows you cant fine them, so they dont leave at 10 am when your cleaning crew is ready, they slow walk it out and dont leave until 1130, because they know you cant fine them or keep any security deposit. And your cleaning crew charges you an extra $50-100 because they are sitting there waiting around for over an hour, or they go to another property to clean and come back and have to race to finish your place before the next guest arrives.

      It really feels like the changes were made by "business people" that have never run a STR and dont fully understand the operational impacts.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      I fully agree with you. The number of hosts who are fine and dandy with these changes boggles my mind. They think we should just accept any new rule with no pushback, that Airbnb is justified because they just want to turn our very individual houses into a commodity like a hotel room that we have almost zero control over. And they think that loading our cleaners with more work is no big deal.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      4d

      Muyees, it doesn't sound like you've actually read Airbnb's new rules. First, Airbnb only has 7 rules that you can implement, we can't pick different ones. Second, we only get 2 additional rules, and the ones you listed above for that are already in Airbnb's 7 main rules. We are also forbidden from adding other rules in our description and check in message that aren't on those lists or that require the guest to do any kind of work. They also forbid having signs in the house with additional requests, even though Airbnb is not the only platform that I list on. I resent them controlling what signs I can put up in my own house. My Vrbo guests will still be expected to load the dishwasher and take out trash.

      Re the dishwasher - I want the guests to load and start the dishwasher because it takes a long time to complete a cycle, 2-3 hours is the normal time. This means that by the time my cleaners arrive, the dishes are done, or almost. My cleaning crew of 3 is at my house for an average of 1.5 hours. They don't have the time to load the dishwasher themselves and wait for it to be done, and then take the dishes out, dry them, and put them away. This new rule will mean they will be washing and drying the dishes by hand, adding at least a half hour or more of labor for one person. Cleaning costs in my area are high, and I am not charging the full cost to the guest now. But I certainly will have to increase it on Airbnb now.

      We can't merely present our current check out rules in a different way to appease Airbnb. This is absolutely a game changer in how much control we have over our own properties. Every large host that I see is now determined to increase direct bookings to cut reliance on Airbnb.

    • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      3d

      I wonder if since AirBNB guests don't have to do dishes, put trash out or pick up after their dog will the other platform guests follow suit? It seems only fair if no one else is doing these tasks. Ugh hopefully this isn't the new culture of guest expectations.

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      3d

      I don't think Vrbo will follow suit anytime soon. They have acknowledged the uproar from this. If you google Vrbo, the first link for them is titled "We Respect Homeowner Policies".

      Vrbo still gives us the guests' phone numbers and emails, they haven't followed Airbnb on that either. They didn't follow Airbnb during Covid when Airbnb refunded everyone who asked, whether they had covid or not - Vrbo stuck to the hosts' cancellation policies. Vrbo allows hosts to require a security deposit, and they allow rental agreements, without the government or HOA requirements of Airbnb. I don't know about other platforms, but I sure hope they don't follow suit on all of Airbnb's changes.

  • Technology · Vancouver, BC · Member since 2026 · 201 posts · 46 votes
    3d

    Hi @Lauren Kormylo,

    Your dishwasher example explains the real cost better than any of the announcements have. A two or three hour cycle either finishes before your crew arrives, or it lands in the middle of a 1.5 hour turnover, and that's a scheduling problem as much as a guest behavior one.

    One thing I'd do before raising the cleaning fee on Airbnb is ask your crew to jot down the extra minutes on each turnover for the first few weeks after the 20th, along with which platform the guest booked through. Then the new fee is based on what Airbnb stays actually cost you compared with your Vrbo stays, and if anyone ever questions it, you've got the numbers sitting right there.

    Thanks,
    Lee

    • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      3d

      I will do all of that, good idea.

  • Member since 2026 · 9 posts · 4 votes
    3d

    Changing the wording from "Requests" to "Additional rules" doesn't necessarily solve the underlying problem. What matters is whether hosts actually retain the ability to set reasonable conditions for their properties. Otherwise, it's just corporate wordsmithing with a nicer label.

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