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Free tool · Guest Experience

Checkout Instructions Builder

Airbnb’s new house rules policy, effective November 20, 2026, limits what hosts can ask guests to do at checkout: put dishes in the sink, yes; wash them, generally no. Pick the checkout requests you need and this builder writes them as short, guest-friendly lines for your listing, plus a checkout-morning reminder. Chores that Airbnb’s guidance says shouldn’t be asked are flagged before you use them.

  • Policy-aware requests
  • Flags unreasonable chores
  • Listing text + reminder message

Build your checkout requests

Keep the list short. Guests follow three or four clear requests far better than ten.

Basics
Generally reasonable requests
Chores Airbnb says shouldn’t be asked
Exceptions can apply for local factors, for example animal-proof trash containers in bear country. Use the house rules builder for those.

Your checkout text

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Platform information verified: October 2026 · Airbnb’s new house rules policy takes effect November 20, 2026 · Source: Airbnb Resource Center – Important changes to house rules

How it works

Each request is sorted into one of two groups using the examples Airbnb published with its new house rules policy (announced October 20, 2026, effective November 20, 2026):

  • Generally reasonable: put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, separate trash and recycling into indoor bins, turn off the AC when leaving, lock up.
  • Generally not allowed: washing and putting away dishes, stripping beds or starting laundry, taking garbage off-site, and similar cleaner tasks.

Airbnb says it considers the type of stay and local factors and may grant exceptions. It also says house rules and requests should all live in the listing’s House rules and requests section, not in extra signs or messages.

Writing checkout requests guests follow

  • Lead with the checkout time. It’s the one thing every guest needs.
  • Ask for outcomes, not effort. “Gather used towels in the bathroom” is easy and saves your cleaner time; “do a load of towels” isn’t allowed and annoys guests.
  • Let cleaning fees pay for cleaning. If guests pay a cleaning fee and get a chore list, reviews tend to mention it.

Read Thrive Hosts’ summary of the November 2026 house rules update.

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House rules and checkout updated for the new policy?

Thrive Hosts reviews listings against platform rule changes like this one and updates rules, requests and guest messages for the properties we co-host.

Get help updating your listing

Platform policies can change, and Airbnb decides what is reasonable for each listing. Verify current terms for your listing and market. This is not legal advice.

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