By RIO YAMAT<\/p>\n
Airbnb<\/a> guests can say goodbye to checkout chores like washing dishes, stripping beds and taking out the trash under a new policy announced this week.<\/p>\n The short-term rental platform\u2019s new rules limit hosts to \u201creasonable\u201d checkout requests beginning on Nov. 20. Guests can still be asked to leave dishes in the sink, gather used towels and sort trash and recycling, but hosts generally cannot require chores typically handled by professional cleaners.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember to think like a guest and keep in mind what you\u2019d find unreasonable,\u201d Airbnb tells hosts in a video announcing the new policy.<\/p>\n Checkout chores have been a recurring point of contention for Airbnb<\/a> guests, particularly when they\u2019re also paying cleaning fees<\/a>. The company has previously acknowledged that those fees can create different expectations between hosts and travelers.<\/p>\n Airbnb said exceptions may apply in certain circumstances, such as requiring guests to put trash in animal-proof containers in areas with bears.<\/p>\n Hosts must now also disclose all house rules and requests in a designated section of their listing before guests book, according to Airbnb. They can no longer add extra requirements through messages, signs inside the property or other sections of a listing.<\/p>\n As part of the changes, Airbnb said it is standardizing house rules into seven categories, covering topics including overnight guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking and whether guests must lock up at checkout.<\/p>\n