Someone Owns Tuesday · Extra 1
Strip the bed? Airbnb's new checkout rules, and its 15.5% on the cleaning fee
What we read for the Airbnb checkout episode: the new house-rules policy and Airbnb's own pages for hosts on the rules and on its service fee, its 2021 and 2022 newsroom posts, its third-quarter shareholder letter, and the US and EU rules on showing the total price. Two press reports add the hosts' first reactions and a statement Airbnb gave to Euronews.
Sources read 10 Nov 2026 · Watch the episode
In short
- For bookings from 20 November 2026, hosts generally can't ask for a cleaner's work, or add rules after you've booked. 7:25
- Airbnb's service fee is charged on the cleaning fee, too. 7:34
- Our arithmetic. On $100, at the 15.5% most hosts pay, that's $15.50. 7:39
- Our reading. The price of the cleaning was on the screen. The work guests did wasn't. Now that work moves to the paid side of the bill. 7:46
- Not published. How much Airbnb earns from cleaning fees, and whether those fees will rise. 7:54
- The dishes go in the sink. The work goes on the bill. And the bill is where the percentage is. Case open. 8:00
Worth knowing
- The new rules go by the date you book, not the date you stay: they cover reservations made on or after 20 November 2026. A trip booked before then keeps the host's old rules even if it happens later; that part is our reading of Airbnb's wording.
- The 45% of listings with no cleaning fee, and the fee at under 10% of a booking's total, are Airbnb's figures for 2021. They are the latest Airbnb has published that we could find.
- The $15.50 is our own arithmetic on a $100 cleaning fee at the 15.5% most hosts pay; some hosts pay a different rate. The extra $20 is an example, not a forecast: nobody knows yet whether cleaning fees will change.
- The checkout card, the bill, the tickets and the other drawings are illustrations. Text from the documents is the real wording, as we read it on 10 November 2026.
Sources
Airbnb Help Center, “Reasonable house rules” (article 4168)
Also: Airbnb Resource Center, “Important changes to house rules”
Hosts are generally not allowed to ask guests to do work a cleaner would usually do: stripping the bed, taking trash off-site, or washing and putting away dishes.
“For example, hosts are generally not allowed to:” · “Ask guests to complete tasks that require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner, including stripping the bed, taking trash offsite, or washing and putting away dishes.”
The new rules apply by booking date: to reservations booked on or after 20 November 2026.
“This policy applies to all reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026”
Hosts can't restrict a feature the listing advertises, and they can't add new house rules after you've booked or outside the house rules section.
“Restrict access to any feature that’s advertised as part of the listing.” · “Hosts may not communicate new house rules in other sections of their listing page or after booking, including by message, signs in the home, or in person.”
Airbnb's own examples of a reasonable additional rule: shorter showers in a drought, an animal-proof bin in bear country.
“it may be reasonable to ask guests to limit shower time due to local drought-related water restrictions,” … “to dispose of trash in an animal-proof container in bear country”
Hosts generally shouldn't fine guests; fines a local government or a homeowners association could charge can be disclosed.
“Impose fines or other penalties on guests.” · “Hosts generally shouldn’t impose fines or other penalties.”
Hosts can't ask guests to sign a separate contract or hand over an ID, except where the law requires it and in other limited cases (for example insurance needs, homeowners association rules or monthly stays).
“For example, hosts may not ask guests to sign separate contracts or solicit personal information such as a government ID, except where required by law and in other limited circumstances”
Any fee for something the listing advertises has to be in the price shown at booking.
“Any fees for an advertised part of the listing must be included in the price shown to guests at the time of booking.”
If a breach persists, Airbnb may put a notice on the listing, show it lower in search, or take other action.
“If a violation persists, it may result in a notice on the listing page flagging the issue to guests,” … “reduced listing visibility in search, or other action under our Terms of Service.”
Airbnb Newsroom, “Fee transparency on Airbnb” (18 May 2021)
In 2021, 45% of active Airbnb listings charged no cleaning fee; where there was one, it was on average under 10% of the reservation's total. Hosts set the fee. No newer figure from Airbnb was found.
“Hosts set their cleaning fee and nightly rate based on a number of relevant factors” · “among active Airbnb listings globally, 45 percent do not charge a cleaning fee.” · “the fee on average is less than 10 percent of the total reservation cost.”
Airbnb Resource Center, “How much does Airbnb charge hosts?”
Airbnb's page for hosts: its service fee is a single 15.5% paid by hosts (16% for listings in Brazil and Mexico), and it applies to the nightly price and any optional fees the host adds, naming the cleaning fee.
“Is a single 15.5% fee, paid by hosts*” · “Applies to your nightly price and any optional fees you add, like a cleaning or pet fee” · “*Exceptions may apply. For listings in Brazil and Mexico, the service fee is 16%.” · “Airbnb moved from a split fee to a single fee structure in 2026.”
Airbnb Resource Center, “Important changes to house rules”
Dishes: guests can be asked to put used dishes in the sink, but not to wash and put them away.
“You can ask guests to put used dishes in the sink, but they shouldn’t be asked to wash and put away dishes.”
Laundry: guests can be asked to gather used towels, but not to take the sheets off the bed or start a load of laundry.
“You can ask guests to gather used towels, but they shouldn’t be asked to remove sheets from the bed or start a load of laundry.”
Trash: guests can be asked to sort trash and recycling into the indoor bins, but not to take it off-site.
“You can ask guests to separate trash and recycling into designated indoor bins, but they shouldn’t be asked to take garbage off-site.”
Utilities: guests can be asked to turn off the air conditioning when they leave, but not to avoid using an amenity the listing lists.
“You can ask guests to turn off air conditioning when they leave, but they shouldn’t be asked to avoid using a listed amenity.”
Seven standard house rules: maximum overnight guests, pets, smoking, quiet hours, events, commercial photography, and lock up at checkout. Anything else is an additional rule.
“You can choose from these 7 standard house rules.”
Airbnb reviews listings from 20 November 2026 through March 2027, then on an ongoing basis. A flagged host hears by email and in the app, and has at least 20 days to change the rule or appeal, once.
“That’s when we’ll start our initial reviews, which will continue through March 2027.” · “we’ll let you know by email and in the app.” · “You’ll have at least 20 days to update them or appeal” · “you can only submit your appeal once.”
Airbnb's reason for the rules, and its stated goal.
“Guests have told us for years that checkout chores and unexpected rules make them hesitant to book on Airbnb.” · “Our goal is to make sure guests know what to expect before they book.”
Airbnb Newsroom, “Airbnb is introducing total price display and updating guest checkout” (7 Nov 2022)
In 2022 Airbnb gave hosts guidance, not a rule, on similar chores (stripping the beds, laundry, vacuuming), said locking the doors was a reasonable ask, and announced a total-price display.
“We’re providing guidance to Hosts” · “Guests should not have to do unreasonable checkout tasks such as stripping the beds, doing the laundry, or vacuuming” · “But we think it’s reasonable to ask guests to turn off the lights, throw food in the trash, and lock the doors…” · “Total price will include all fees before taxes…”
Federal Trade Commission, “The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: Frequently Asked Questions”
In the US, the FTC's fees rule says a vacation rental's cleaning fee must be in the total price, and it covers stays booked through platforms like Airbnb.
“A vacation rental adds a cleaning fee that consumers must pay in addition to the nightly rate.” … “The cleaning fee must be included in the total price.” · “Home shares and vacation rentals offered through platforms (like Airbnb or VRBO)” · “Effective May 12, 2025, the FTC’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, 16 C.F.R. Part 464, prohibits bait-and-switch pricing”
European Commission, coordinated actions: accommodation booking
In the EU, after the consumer authorities' common position of July 2018, Airbnb changed how it shows prices so that guests see the total with all mandatory fees (European Commission, July 2019).
“the consumer is provided with the total price inclusive of all the applicable mandatory charges and fees.”
Skift, 21 Oct 2026
Skift reported that about a dozen hosts objected on Airbnb's community forum by the next afternoon, mostly over the dishes. It doesn't report the hosts' other reasons.
“About a dozen hosts objected in Airbnb’s community forum by Wednesday afternoon, mostly over the dishes ban”
Euronews Travel, 21 Oct 2026
In a statement to Euronews, Airbnb said it had heard that house rules can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage.
“we’ve heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage.”
Airbnb Help Center, “Airbnb service fees” (article 1857)
Most hosts pay 15.5%; others typically 14% to 16%, and 16% in Brazil and Mexico. Under the split fee that is being phased out, the host usually pays 3% and the guest 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal.
“Most hosts pay 15.5%, remaining hosts typically pay 14%-16%, and hosts pay a 16% fee for listings in Brazil and Mexico.” · “The split-fee structure is being phased out” · “Most hosts pay a 3% service fee, but some pay more.” · “Guests pay a service fee ranging from 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal”
Airbnb, third-quarter 2026 shareholder letter (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1)
Airbnb's gross booking value for the third quarter of 2026 was $27.7 billion, and it includes cleaning fees together with host earnings, service fees and taxes, in one figure.
“$27.7B” · “inclusive of host earnings, service fees, cleaning fees, and taxes”
Our own arithmetic and reading
More than half of active listings charged a cleaning fee in 2021: 100% − 45% = 55%.
How we worked it out: 100% − 45% (listings with no cleaning fee, 2021) = 55%.
A stay booked before 20 November keeps the host's old rules, even if it happens after that date.
Follows from the policy's wording, “reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026”.
A host flagged on 20 November 2026 has at least until 10 December 2026 to change the rule or appeal.
How we worked it out: 20 Nov 2026 + 20 days = 10 Dec 2026.
The price of the cleaning was already shown at booking, in the EU since 2019 and in the US since 2025; the work guests did for free had no price anywhere. The policy moves that work to the paid side.
Our reading of the FTC rule, the European Commission's action and Airbnb's list of what hosts can no longer ask. No source says the work was ever paid before.
If hosts raised a cleaning fee by $20 to cover the work guests used to do, the same 15.5% would take $3.10 more. The rate stays the same; only the dollar amount rises. Whether fees will rise, nobody knows yet.
20 × 15.5% = $3.10 (so $120 × 15.5% = $18.60 against $15.50). No host or press report we read says chores kept cleaning fees down: this is our question.
On a $100 cleaning fee, a host on the single fee keeps $84.50 and $15.50 goes to Airbnb. Under the split fee, the guest pays $14.10 to $16.50 on top and the host usually $3.
How we worked it out: 100 × 15.5% = $15.50; 100 − 15.50 = $84.50. Split fee: 100 × 14.1% = $14.10; 100 × 16.5% = $16.50; 100 × 3% = $3.00.
What we couldn't find
Not published: how much guests pay in cleaning fees on Airbnb, how much Airbnb earns from them, how many listings had checkout chores, and how many rules Airbnb has flagged.
None of the documents we read gives these figures. The shareholder letter's gross booking value includes cleaning fees without splitting them out.
The companies' side
Airbnb hasn't responded to this episode. Its side is in its own words in the sources below: it says guests have told it for years that checkout chores make them hesitant to book, that the goal is for guests to know what to expect before they book, and that hosts, not Airbnb, set cleaning fees.
Corrections
None so far. If we get something wrong, the correction goes here with its date.