A practical checklist after Airbnb’s announcement on checkout chores
Airbnb has announced a new house rules policy that limits what hosts can ask guests to do before they leave. It applies to bookings made from November 20, 2026. If you own a chalet in the Laurentides and your listing has a checkout list, now is a good time to read it the way a guest would.
This guide covers what is changing, what you can still ask, and what to update before the date.
What Airbnb announced
Hosts generally can no longer ask guests to complete tasks that take significant effort or time, or that a cleaner would normally do. The examples Airbnb gives include stripping the beds, taking the trash offsite, and washing and putting away dishes. Starting a load of laundry falls in the same category.
Simple, everyday requests are still fine: leaving used dishes in the sink, throwing food away, turning things off and locking up, the same things you would do when leaving your own home.
Airbnb has also said requests need to be shown to guests before they book. That means a chore list that only appears in a welcome message or on a sign in the kitchen no longer works. Requests that do not comply will be flagged, and hosts will need to remove them or appeal.
This is not entirely new
Airbnb first said in 2022 that checkout requests should be reasonable and visible before booking. What is different now is that the guidance becomes a formal policy with specific examples and active enforcement. If your checkout list was written years ago, it deserves a second look.
Why your cleaning fee matters more now
The cleaning fee is meant to cover a standard turnover between guests, and hosts cannot charge guests for skipping a task from a checkout list. So if your list was quietly doing part of the cleaning, that cost now has to live in the cleaning fee or the nightly rate, not in guest labor.
Guests are still responsible for not leaving excessive mess or damage, and cleaning fees are not going away. What changes is who does the work.
A checklist for chalet owners
1. Read your current checkout list. Remove anything that asks guests to strip beds, run laundry, wash and put away dishes, vacuum or take garbage offsite.
2. Keep it short and reasonable. Turning off lights, throwing food in the trash, leaving used dishes in the sink and locking the doors are all in line with what Airbnb describes as reasonable.
3. Check the chalet itself. Signs in the kitchen, notes on the fridge and printed guides often carry old chore lists that never made it into the listing. If it is written anywhere a guest will see it, it counts.
4. Review your cleaning fee. Compare it with what a full professional turnover actually costs, including linens and laundry. If there is a gap, address it in the fee or the nightly rate.
5. Look at your winter requests. In the Laurentides, owners often ask guests to close a hot tub cover, adjust the heat or secure a wood stove. These are about safety and protecting the property, not cleaning, but the line between a reasonable request and a chore is still being defined, so check how Airbnb’s tools treat them before November 20.
Other changes in the same policy
Early coverage of the policy also points to limits on separate rental agreements, collecting copies of guest ID and fining guests. Details are still being clarified, so check Airbnb’s own policy page before changing how you handle any of these.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Airbnb’s new house rules policy take effect?
It applies to bookings made from November 20, 2026.
Can I still ask guests to take out the trash?
Taking garbage offsite is listed as something hosts generally cannot require. Asking guests to throw food in the trash is considered reasonable.
Can I charge a fee if a guest skips a checkout task?
No. Hosts cannot charge guests for failing to complete specific checkout tasks.
Do I need to raise my cleaning fee?
It depends on your current setup. The fee should cover a standard turnover, so if guests were doing part of the work, it is worth comparing the fee with the real cost of cleaning.
Does this apply to reservations I already have?
Based on early coverage, the policy applies to bookings made from November 20 onward. Confirm the details in your Airbnb account.
How can a property manager help with this change?
A manager can review your checkout list, house rules and cleaning fee, and make sure the listing matches the new policy. At Chez Nous, professional cleaning is coordinated for every stay, so we never rely on guests to do any part of it.
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Chez Nous Gestion et Hospitalité is a boutique property management company for short-term rentals across the Laurentides, including Mont-Tremblant and La Conception. Founded by an Airbnb Superhost since 2020 with 1,000+ guest reviews.
Not sure what your checkout list should look like after November 20? Our website has more info on how we manage turnovers and listings, if you want to take a look.
