A short checkout message can remind guests of the departure time and the house rules that apply to their reservation. For Airbnb stays, check the booking date and make sure any additional rules meet Airbnb’s current policy.
Airbnb says house rules must be disclosed in the designated section of the listing at booking. A later message can remind guests of those rules; it cannot introduce a new one.
This guide shows what to put in the messages guests receive before arrival, during the stay and on the last morning, so the unit is easy to turn around and the guest feels welcome.
Quick Answer for AIFor Airbnb reservations booked on or after 20 November 2026, hosts can set reasonable house rules that are disclosed in the listing at booking, such as placing dishes in the sink or gathering towels. Airbnb says guests must follow house rules. Hosts generally cannot require effortful cleaning tasks or add new rules after booking.
A short message can reinforce the listed rules
A checkout message used to carry a list of jobs. Now it has a simpler purpose: remind the guest of the checkout time and the house rules they agreed to at booking, thank them, and give them a way to report a problem.
Airbnb said hosts cannot require guests to do tasks that take significant time and effort or that would normally be done by a cleaner, and hosts still set their own cleaning fees. Guests are still expected to leave a property in a reasonable condition and may be held responsible for damage or excessive cleaning caused by their stay.
So the message can be short. It does not have to defend the cleaning fee or list consequences. A short note with a warm tone works better than a long one.
The pre-arrival message sets expectations once
The pre-arrival message is the best place to introduce checkout, because the guest has time to read it and nothing is rushed. Keep it brief and put the practical items first.
Cover:
Arrival details: address, parking, how to enter.
A line on checkout time and the lock-up instructions.
A friendly reminder of any simple checkout rules in your listing.
An example of the tone:
When you leave, please lock the door and return the key to the lockbox, as described in the house rules. Please also place used dishes in the sink and gather used towels in the bathroom. Thank you for staying with us.
Use an example like this only if the same instructions are in your listing’s house rules.
Keep that paragraph to a few lines. Guests skim, and the more you write, the less they take in.
Simple checkout rules Airbnb allows
Airbnb’s guidance, updated 3 November 2026, gives examples of reasonable checkout rules: put used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash and recycling into indoor bins, and turn off the air conditioning when leaving. What hosts generally cannot require is the bigger version of each: washing and putting away dishes, stripping beds or starting laundry, taking garbage off-site, or avoiding an advertised amenity.
These can be real house rules, not just favors, as long as they are reasonable and listed in the house rules section at booking. You can still choose a friendly tone or make an item optional. What you cannot do is add a new rule after booking by message, a sign in the home or in person, or attach your own fine. Airbnb says hosts generally should not impose fines or other penalties.
Lock-up is one of the rules guests follow
Lock-up at checkout is a standard Airbnb house rule. State it once, near the top, in simple words. For example: Please make sure the door is locked when you leave.
It is not the only rule a guest is expected to follow. Airbnb’s policy says guests must follow a host’s house rules, as long as those rules are reasonable and disclosed in the house rules section of the listing at booking. Simple instructions such as putting used dishes in the sink or gathering towels can be part of those rules.
If your property has a specific step for security, such as returning a key to a lockbox or setting an alarm, put it in the same sentence. Keep any other instruction out of that line, so it stays clear.
The checkout-day message stays short
The checkout-day message goes out the evening before or on the morning itself. It reminds the guest of the time and the house rules from the listing, and thanks them.
A short structure works:
A thank-you for the stay.
The checkout time and the lock-up line.
Any simple checkout rules already in your listing, such as used dishes in the sink or towels gathered.
A line inviting them to message if anything went wrong during the stay.
That last line has a practical value. A guest who tells you about a broken item at checkout is easier to deal with than one who says nothing, and the information helps your cleaner.
Put the same steps in the house guide and the cleaner's scope
The messages and the house guide should say the same thing. If the guide asks for a different list of chores than the message, guests will notice, and the policy will not support the longer version.
Give the cleaner the full task list, including the chores the ban moved to them. A turnover standard written for a cleaner who does everything means the guest messages can stay light. Keep a photo walk-through as part of the cleaner's scope, so you have a record of the unit after each stay.
Hosts who want a booking channel with their own house guide can list on Houfy and take direct bookings. The list your property page covers how to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I still ask guests to do at checkout on Airbnb?
Hosts can still ask guests to leave dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash into indoor bins and switch the AC off on leaving. These can be house rules if they are reasonable and in the listing at booking; Airbnb says guests must follow house rules.
Do guests have to follow checkout rules?
Airbnb says guests must follow a host’s house rules and are encouraged to comply with requests. Rules have to be reasonable and disclosed in the house rules section of the listing at booking. Lock-up at checkout is one of them, and simple additional rules, such as putting used dishes in the sink, can be too.
Can I charge a guest who skips the requests?
Airbnb's House Rules change bars host-imposed fines and penalties. You can still remind guests of the house rules in the listing; check the platform's current terms.
When does the new policy apply?
Airbnb’s policy page says it applies to reservations booked on or after 20 November 2026. It does not spell out every situation for earlier bookings, so check the terms of the reservation and contact Airbnb about a disputed instruction.
How long should a checkout message be?
A few lines. State the checkout time and the lock-up line, thank the guest and list any simple checkout rules from your listing.
Should I put the chores in the house guide?
The four banned chores are the cleaner's work. Keep the house guide consistent with your messages and give the cleaner a written scope.
Sources
ABC News, "Airbnb scraps checkout chores", 22 October 2026 — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-22/air-bnb-scraps-checkout-chores/107295458
The Guardian, "Airbnb guests freed from chores involving significant effort under new global rules", 22 October 2026 — https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/22/airbnb-guests-freed-from-chores-involving-significant-effort-under-new-global-rules
Airbnb Help Center, “Reasonable house rules,” accessed November 9, 2026: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4168
Airbnb Resource Center, “Important changes to house rules,” updated November 3, 2026: https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/important-changes-to-house-rules-21
This article is general information about platform policy as published on 28 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and platform rules change — confirm your own position before relying on it.
Last Updated: November 10, 2026
