Airbnb has announced changes to how hosts define and present their house rules.
Listings can now include seven standardised categories: maximum number of guests, quiet hours, events, pets, smoking, commercial filming and locking up on departure.
© Diego
These rules will be grouped in a single section so guests can review them more easily before and during their stay.
The platform is also setting boundaries for “reasonable requests” made of guests.
A host may ask guests to put dirty dishes in the sink, gather used towels or sort their rubbish.
In general, they may not ask them to wash and put away dishes, remove sheets or take the bins out of the property.
The reform also covers contracts.
Contracts will only be allowed in certain situations, notably when required by law or a homeowners’ association, for stays of a month or more, Airbnb Luxe listings or some optional amenities.
The new provisions also govern the collection of copies of identity documents, personal contact details, financial information or background data.
A visual identity check on arrival remains possible if it is disclosed before booking, but the host may not normally keep a copy of the document.
Airbnb says the changes are intended to avoid nasty surprises.
The platform believes guests should not discover after booking a long list of chores, a separate contract to sign or a requirement to download an app to access the property.
“That is overreach. Hosts remain responsible for the property, the neighbours and the smooth running of the stay when something goes wrong.”
For Humphrey Bowles, chief executive of Truvi, a verification platform designed to help short-term rental operators, a rental agreement sets clear expectations and offers recourse in the event of damage, nuisance or rule breaches.
“Short-term rental depends on trust,” explains Bowles. “Every booking asks an owner to hand their keys to a guest they have never met.”
“Platforms can change their terms and conditions with one month’s notice, and trust has to hold whichever channel the booking came from.”
The company also highlights personal data protection. Airbnb verifies guests’ identities itself and believes hosts should not systematically duplicate these checks or redirect customers to third‑party services.
“Airbnb has decided that it is no longer necessary to know precisely who is staying in their homes.”
This rationale can also be seen as a reduction in the means available to managers to know who is entering their properties, without reducing the risks they face.
“Airbnb has removed several ways for hosts to verify the identity of their guests, leaving them entirely responsible,” says Bowles.
“That is overreach. Hosts remain responsible for the property, the neighbours and the smooth running of the stay when something goes wrong.”
“Airbnb has decided that it is no longer necessary to know precisely who is staying in their homes.”
Bowles’ final remark also points to another possible concern for hosts who, even when no issue arises, are deprived of information that could be useful for marketing and may, potentially, become more dependent on a platform such as Airbnb.