New Airbnb rules

[Blundellshook]

Just read an article on sky news about Airbnb hosts no longer being allowed to demand that guests do any ‘chores’ during their stay.
no dishes, no stripping the bed before they leave, not putting a load of washing on(towels and bedding) before they leave or having to take out the rubbish
just curious what peoples views are on this

That's great! And now we know it includes all cleaning, so we can compare on a like for like basis. Presumably hosts can still add the cleaning costs behind the scenes, which cost loads the short breaks as previously explained, so it's win/win all round.

What is it about these new rules hosts are objecting to? Anyone who wasn't previously charging a cleaning fee and was expecting their guests to clean instead can simply add in the cleaning fee behind the scenes, no?

I think it's as simple as people think if they don't have a 'house rule' to wash dishes then guests won't wash dishes! I've only had one guest in 10 years leave dirty dishes. I don't have any cleaning rules at all but people are mostly respectful. They think people are going to sit surrounded by rubbish because they're not allowed to ask them to put the rubbish out. I can't really see that happening either.

I agree the dishes one is a bit ridiculous. I certainly won't be leaving unwashed dishes laying around (although it will be nice not to have to wait for the dishwasher to finish it's cycle).

Thanks! That makes perfect sense, (unlike the weird AI example further up the thread!).

It's a bit of a minefield but as another poster said, as long we just get quoted the full fee from the offset so we know where we are, that's the main thing. What we don't want is a RyanAir scenario where your flight starts off as £30 and ends up as £300 when you've added in extra fees for luggage/a seat/air. 🤣

Goodness, I had no idea so many hosts disliked guests stripping the beds!

The quality of air bnbs overall is pretty low in my experience.

We have stayed in some nice ones, they are the exception rather than the rule though. One of the nice ones wanted bedlinen washed, bathroom cleaned, floors cleaned and washed, rubbish out, windowns cleaned inside and out, outside area swept and tidied, fridge and oven cleaned thoroughly - the list was extensive and ridiculous. I was glad to have the option of paying a cleaning fee because I could have spent five hours trying to clean to their standards and I feel they would have still said it wasn;t clean enough.

Between the prices now being too high, the standard of cleanliness too varied and the risk of scams, I know very few people who go to air bnbs now. Previously it was the first port of call when looking for accommodation.

Honestly, I think some people use a different Airbnb to the one I know!
I have stayed in many over about 12 years, and have never experienced one that wanted bedlinen washed, bathroom and floors cleaned, windows cleaned, outside area swept and tidied or fridge and oven cleaned.
Rubbish taken out, sure, but I don't have a problem with that.

I've also never been scammed.

The only bad thing I can think of is that in one place there was some slightly smelly food (like a left-over takeaway) in the fridge.

I don't use expensive ones either, precisely because I want to spend less than I would on a hotel.

I learned that on here! Thought I was being helpful bed stripping but it seems not.

No, leaving the sheets on makes it easy for cleaners to spot any stains or anything that needs special treatment.
I've never actually been asked to strip the bed in an Airbnb, personally.

But surely any serious stains would soak through to the white mattress protector?

I do strip the beds, I find it odd that some people wash the bedding and put back on though. I would imagine a lot of hosts use a laundrette facility, and even if they don't they'll need to use their own detergent and temperatures, as well as ensuring it hasn't been slept in for even a night. I don't think that is helpful for them.

But surely any serious stains would soak through to the white mattress protector?
People on here who run Airbnbs etc have said before that they don't want the beds stripped for this reason. I'm going by that. Maybe they just mean lighter stains, but ones that do need spot treatment.

Yes, that's what we mean! It's rare the mattress protector is stained, but you get bits of makeup, blood, food etc I try not to think about the etc!

In fact I find most stains when I'm ironing because they're so small you don't see them.

I don't care what people do though. Some strip the bed, some leave the bed all mussed up, some actually make it properly like they have never slept in it.

I don't understand why people think most hosts use a launderette. I'm sure some do but it's much more convenient to just do it at home. When I had a cleaner she took it home with her. £18 per bed set.

Fair enough, I usually go away for 2-3 weeks in the heat. I always strip the bed and bag the bedding, as it feels abit grim leaving somebody else to do deal with sweaty sheets. I haven't any stains though, so I can understand that isn't guaranteed from some guests. I did however noticed blood on a mattress protector when I stripped one of the beds on my last holiday, and was so scared they would think it was us, but it was already there!
I know one place I stayed at would have had to use a laundrette as it was a small washer and the huge sofa throw wouldn't have fitted it properly. Maybe this is why there was sand on the underside, and suncream stains, they didn't evidently know the correct way to wash it.