Every property listed as a short-term rental comes with its own set of rules. Some don’t allow smoking, others don’t accept pets, and many prohibit parties and gatherings.
For new bookings made from 20 November 2026, Airbnb is changing how house rules are presented and managed. The aim is to bring all of a host’s rules and requests together in one place, so guests can read them before they confirm their booking.
What the rules cover
Airbnb groups house rules into seven main categories. Together they cover the stay itself, how guests should behave and how the property is protected.
Several of them also help guests live alongside the building’s other residents and owners, because they are designed to keep noise and disruption to a minimum:
- Maximum number of overnight guests. Hosts can set the maximum number of people allowed to stay overnight, and guests must stay within that limit.
- Quiet hours. Hosts set the hours when guests should keep noise down out of respect for other residents and owners in the building.
- Events. Hosts can state whether events or gatherings are allowed at the property.
- Commercial photography and filming. Hosts can decide whether professional photo or video shoots may take place at the property.
- Smoking. Hosts can state whether smoking is allowed, including vaping.
- Pets. Hosts say whether pets are welcome and, if so, how many.
- Locking up at check-out. Hosts can ask guests to lock the property when they leave and add specific instructions for returning the keys if needed.
What hosts can ask of guests
The categories above set out the basic rules guests must follow for a smooth stay.
On top of these, Airbnb’s new policy lets hosts make a few additional, reasonable requests. In short, Airbnb is asking guests to treat the property as if it were their own.
- Cleaning. Hosts can ask guests to gather used towels, but they can’t require them to strip the beds or run the washing machine. In the same way, they can ask guests to put used dishes in the sink or dishwasher, but not to wash them. Hosts can also expect the property to be left in a condition that doesn’t need excessive or specialist cleaning, such as soiled carpets or pet stains. The cleaning fee covers routine cleaning between bookings.
- Rubbish. Hosts can ask guests to sort rubbish and recycling into the right bins inside the property. They can’t, however, require guests to take bin bags outside. Exceptions may apply in special cases, such as areas with wildlife where dedicated animal-proof bins are needed.
- Utilities. If air conditioning is listed as an amenity, hosts can’t ask guests not to use it. They can, however, ask guests to switch it off when they go out. Similar exceptions may apply to water use where local restrictions are in place, for example during a prolonged drought.
- Damage. If damage goes beyond normal wear and tear, for example damage caused by pets, the guest must tell the host and work with them to resolve it. The host can submit a reimbursement request through Airbnb’s Resolution Centre.
Rules must be shared before booking
All rules and requests must be added to the dedicated “House Rules and Requests” section of the listing.
Hosts can’t add or announce new rules or requests after a booking has been made, whether by message, verbal instructions or signs inside the property.
Charges and rule breaches
- Hosts may not impose arbitrary fines or other penalties. The exception is fines that may be imposed by local authorities or under building regulations, provided guests have been told about them.
- Hosts can’t charge extra for amenities already included in the listing. Charges for optional extra services are allowed, as long as guests are told about them in advance.
- Guests are still expected to respect the property, follow the rules and avoid causing damage.
- If a guest breaks the rules, the host can contact Airbnb, which may step in depending on the case.
What hosts should do now
Hosts should review their listings’ existing rules in good time, remove any requests that are no longer allowed and make sure all the necessary information appears in the right section of the listing.
Sparrow keeps a close eye on policy changes across short-term rental platforms. We make sure the properties we manage are updated promptly and correctly, so owners can focus on hospitality.
