Bonus for Host HQ owners

The Nov 20 Listing Update Kit

Airbnb's updated house rules policy applies to every reservation booked on or after November 20, 2026. This kit walks you through updating one listing in about 15 minutes, with copy-and-paste text for every step. Bookmark this page so you can come back to it for each listing.

What changed, in one minute

Hosts generally can't ask guests to do tasks a cleaner would normally do, like washing dishes, stripping beds or taking trash offsite.
Rules only count if they're in your listing when the guest books. Rules added later by message, on signs or in person don't count.
No fines or penalties for guests. You can give notice of possible HOA or local government fines in the listing's local rules section.
Reservations booked before Nov 20 keep the rules that were on your listing when they booked.

1Read your house rules as a guest

Open the Airbnb listing editor and go to your house rules and requests. Read every line and ask: is this a reasonable request, or a cleaner's job? Mark anything that asks for real cleaning effort, any fine, and any rule that lives only in your messages, signs or guest guide.

2Set your "Before checkout" requests

Requests are things guests are encouraged, not required, to do. Paste this into the "Before checkout" box and edit the details:

Before you leave, please:
• Leave used dishes in the sink
• Leave used towels in the bathroom
• Put trash in the kitchen bins
• Turn off the A/C or heat
• Let us know if anything broke, so we can fix it before the next guest

3Set your "During the stay" requests

Keep these short and give the reason. Reasons get better follow-through than bare rules. Keep only the lines that apply to your home:

During your stay, please:
• Tell us right away if anything breaks or stops working, so we can fix it quickly
• Use the trash and recycling bins in the kitchen
• Remove shoes at the door. We're in a wet area and the floors get muddy fast
• Keep the noise down after [time]. Sound carries to the neighbors here

Don't add requests that limit what guests booked, like asking them to avoid the A/C or the hot tub during the stay. Airbnb's own examples treat that as not allowed.

4Add local rules, if any apply

If an HOA or local government could fine for something, say so in the local rules section, not as your own fine:

Our community association can issue fines for [street parking / noise after 10 pm / trash cans left at the curb]. Please [park in the driveway / keep noise down after 10 pm / use the bins by the garage] so this doesn't happen during your stay.

Reasonable local exceptions can apply, for example animal-proof trash containers in bear country or shorter showers during drought restrictions. Write them into the listing with the reason.

5Move rules out of messages, signs and the guest guide

Go through your scheduled messages, any signs in the home and your guest guide. Every rule you find there must also be in the listing, or it won't count for new bookings. Then turn signs into friendly reminders:

Friendly reminder from our house rules: quiet hours start at [time]. Thank you, and enjoy your stay!

6Update your checkout message

Use Host HQ's updated Checkout reminder and Checkout steps for longer stays messages (Messages tab, Checkout stage). They already match the new policy. Make sure your scheduled message says the same thing as your "Before checkout" requests.

7Talk to your cleaner

Dishes, linens and trash now land fully on the turnover. Send this before your first post-Nov 20 checkout:

Hi [Cleaner name], a quick heads-up: Airbnb's new house rules mean that for bookings made from Nov 20, guests won't be asked to wash dishes, strip beds or take trash out. That work moves to the turnover.

Can we talk about whether you need more time or an updated rate for those stays? I want to make sure it works for you. Thank you!

8Remove fines

Delete any line that charges guests for breaking a rule ("$50 fee if…", "deposit kept if…"). If a guest damages your home, use Airbnb's AirCover process and file within 14 days of checkout. Ask your cleaner for turnover photos every time: same-day photos are your strongest evidence.

Final checklist, per listing House rules read as a guest "Before checkout" requests updated "During the stay" requests updated Local rules notice added (if needed) Rules moved out of messages, signs and guide Checkout message matches the listing Cleaner told about the turnover change All fines removed

This kit summarizes Airbnb's published house rules policy as of October 2026, to help you update your listing. It isn't legal advice, and policy details can change. Check Airbnb's current Help Center article before you update. Questions? Email support@staysmithco.com.