Airbnb's new house rules policy: what hosts need to know
Airbnb has changed how house rules work, and a new house rules policy takes effect on November 20, 2026. If you host on Airbnb, you have a few weeks to check your listing. Some of the instructions you give guests today may no longer be allowed.
What changed
On October 20, 2026, Airbnb announced three main updates to house rules:
- One place for everything. House rules and requests now live together in the Listing editor. Checkout instructions no longer have their own tab.
- Guests see the rules more often. Before they book, in their trip details and again in booking reminders.
- A new policy on what you can ask. From November 20, every request has to be "reasonable". In short: guests should not be doing your cleaner's job.
The 7 standard house rules
You now pick from seven standard rules. Two of them are new: maximum overnight guests and lock up at checkout.
| Rule | What you set |
|---|---|
| Maximum overnight guests (new) | How many people can sleep in your place |
| Quiet hours | The hours when guests need to keep it down |
| Events | Allowed or not |
| Pets | Allowed or not, and how many |
| Smoking | Allowed or not (vapes count too) |
| Commercial photography | Filming and commercial photos allowed or not |
| Lock up at checkout (new) | Yes or no, with a note on what to do with the keys |
These are rules, not requests. Guests have to follow them, and breaking one gives you grounds to act (more on that below).
Requests: what you can and can't ask
Anything beyond the seven rules goes under Requests, including checkout instructions. The test is simple: would a guest see it as a fair ask, or as a chore they paid to avoid?
| Area | Not OK anymore | Still OK |
|---|---|---|
| Dishes | Doing the washing up and putting everything back in cupboards | Leaving dirty plates in the sink |
| Laundry | Taking the bedding off or running the washing machine | Leaving used towels in one pile |
| Trash | Carrying bags to an outdoor container or dump | Using the right indoor bin for recycling |
| Utilities | Limiting an amenity you advertise, like AC | Switching the AC off at checkout |
There is some room for local context. Airbnb judges each request against the kind of stay and the area, so exceptions are possible. A cabin in wildlife territory can ask for a special bin, and a home in a region with water restrictions can ask for shorter showers.
A good rule of thumb: if your cleaner is paid to do it, don't ask the guest to do it.
How this affects your listing
If a request breaks the policy.
You'll find out fast: the request gets marked in the Listing editor and you get an email with a suggested fix. If you think it's fair for your area, you can appeal. Ignore it, and your listing may carry a warning for guests, such as "includes cleaning requests". That label alone can cost you bookings.
Rules only in one place.
A rule mentioned in your description, a welcome message or a note on the fridge no longer counts. Everything goes into the House rules and requests section.
Contracts are limited.
A signed agreement is now the exception, for example when local law or building rules require it, for stays of a month or longer, or when a guest rents an optional extra. If you need one, upload it in your listing settings. Keep in mind Airbnb won't enforce it for you.
Enforcement got clearer.
House rules are binding. If a guest breaks one, or makes it clear before arrival that they will (say, by announcing a party), you can cancel the booking at no cost to you. Requests are softer: Airbnb asks guests to respect them, but doesn't require it.
What to do before November 20
- Open the Listing editor and read your house rules and requests as a guest would.
- Set the two new rules: maximum overnight guests and lock up at checkout.
- Rewrite checkout instructions that ask for cleaning: dishes, laundry, taking out trash.
- Remove rules from your listing description, saved messages and signs, and move them into House rules.
- Check if you really need a contract, and if so, upload it under Contracts.
- Talk to your cleaner. If guests do less, turnovers may take a bit longer.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new policy start?
November 20, 2026. The new layout and the two new rules are already live.
Can I still ask guests to load the dishwasher?
Probably not. Cleaning up the kitchen counts as a cleaner's job under the new policy. Asking guests to leave dirty dishes in the sink is fine.
Can I ask guests to take out the trash?
You can ask them to use the right bins inside the home. Sending them out with the bags is off the table, unless a local reason makes it necessary.
What's the difference between a rule and a request?
Rules are the seven standard options, and guests must follow them. Requests are your extra instructions. Guests are encouraged to follow them. The option to cancel without penalties is tied to broken house rules.
What happens if I don't change anything?
Airbnb will flag requests that break the policy and email you. If they stay unresolved, guests may see a warning like "includes cleaning requests" on your listing.
Can I keep my house rules in a printed guide in the apartment?
You can keep practical info there, like Wi-Fi or how the heating works. Rules themselves should live only in your listing's House rules and requests section.
I disagree with a flag. What can I do?
Appeal it from the Listing editor and explain the local reason behind the request.
Does this apply to Booking.com or my direct bookings?
No. This is an Airbnb policy. But guests compare, so it's worth keeping your rules consistent across all channels.
One set of rules for every channel
Most hosts don't list on Airbnb alone. When Airbnb changes its rules, it's easy to end up with one version there, another on Booking.com and a third on your own website. If you're adding more platforms, our list of OTAs worth knowing is a good starting point.
Areca keeps your properties, calendars and bookings in one place. Its channel manager connects to Airbnb, Booking.com and other channels, and the booking engine takes direct reservations on your own website. Fewer places to update, fewer things to forget.
New to managing several channels? Start with our beginner's guide to OTA channel management.
Read next
- The beginner's guide to channel management: syncing OTAs in 2026
- What is overbooking and double booking? How it happens and how to prevent it
- The ultimate guide to hotel direct bookings in 2026
Sources
- Important changes to house rules, Airbnb Resource Center, October 20, 2026
- Airbnb house rules policy