Airbnb updated its house rules globally from November 20, prohibiting hosts from asking guests to perform cleaning tasks normally done by cleaners, including washing dishes, stripping beds and removing rubbish off-site. Hosts can now set only seven standard house rules and add other "reasonable" requests.

The change has divided the hosting community. Host Lisa Clewes, who runs a Welsh holiday let, says guests left her property "a complete mess" with broken glasses and food debris after a recent stay. She charges a cleaning fee covering 75% of professional cleaning costs and estimates turnarounds take four hours. She fears increased mess will force her to hire additional cleaners, raising costs that may be passed to future guests.

Guest Jessica Newhook says she paid a $250 cleaning fee for an Airbnb in Florida but was still required to wash and fold towels, clean bedding and kitchen, and mop floors. She was warned her behavior could result in eviction. Newhook says the combination of heavy rules and high cleaning fees makes hotels cheaper and more predictable.

Krissi Foskett, who runs a cleaning company and stays in Airbnbs, paid a £35 cleaning fee but was asked to strip beds, run laundry, empty bins and carry rubbish down a long track. She distinguishes between considerate guest behavior and being "expected to prepare the property for the next guests." Foskett says professional cleaning should be a cost of running an Airbnb business, not passed to guests.

Host Anthony Marsh in North Yorkshire says the rule change will reduce his Airbnb listings from five properties to two. He believes asking guests to wash dishes and put out bins is "common decency" and worries that extra mess could leave properties unready for next arrivals.

Laura Lewis, who runs a holiday-let directory, says most of her Airbnb-listing clients are unhappy with the update. She plans to remove her three treehouses from Airbnb and focus on direct bookings following frustration over higher platform commission rates.

Host Matt Prosz, who manages Airbnb properties full-time, believes the update will improve guest experience without changing most people's behavior.