A Swansea AirBnB host has shared images showing the state of their rental property after a guest left it in a mess, amid controversy over new rules limiting the cleaning tasks hosts can ask guests to complete.
The photographs show food left out on tables, cluttered kitchen surfaces and rubbish scattered across the property. The images were shared following the announcement of updated AirBnB guidelines, which set out what hosts can reasonably ask guests to do before checking out of their accommodation. Under the changes, hosts will be able to set seven standard house rules, alongside additional requests considered reasonable.
New Cleaning Rules
AirBnB has stated that guests who pay a cleaning fee should not be expected to carry out tasks normally completed by a professional cleaner, including washing dishes and stripping beds. AirBnB also pointed out that hosts remain in control of their house rules and requests, and can update them anytime. The new rules will apply to all reservations booked on or after November 20.
In light of the rule change, a host from the Swansea area shared photographs of an incident they described as a "one-off", which took place in 2022. The images show meat left inside the fridge, while plates and dishes containing uneaten food can be seen on the dining table. Kitchen counters are heavily cluttered, with cans, tissues, crisp packets and orange peels scattered across floors and coffee tables. What appears to be smashed glass can also be seen in the sink, while a thin layer of grime covers the hob.
Host's Reaction
Although the incident happened several years ago, the host said they had decided to share the photographs now because of the debate surrounding AirBnB's updated cleaning rules. The host added that the incident was unusual and praised the vast majority of guests who had stayed at the property.
They said: "This was a one off (hopefully) in 2022 but I posted it now as there is much controversy and panic about AirBnB telling hosts that they can't ask guests to load the dishwasher amongst many other things. Our guests have all been fantastic apart from this one booking. Many of them become regular return guests too."
However, the host also highlighted the challenges of preparing a holiday rental for incoming guests, particularly during busy periods when bookings often run back-to-back. They referenced the 182-day limit on short-term holiday letting in Wales, explaining that making the most of available nights is important for their business, particularly during peak season and school holidays.
Impact on Business
They said: "We cannot afford not to have same day changeovers (every night's stay is vital especially in peak season and school holiday) and the window of cleaning gets smaller and smaller as nearly every guest requests earlier check in and/or later check out."
The host added that the possibility of guests leaving additional mess could make it more difficult to maintain the property's standards within the time available between bookings. "With potentially extra cleaning now as guests may consider it acceptable to leave a mess it is a bit concerning how standards can remain high," they said.
They suggested that employing additional cleaning staff could become necessary, potentially increasing operating costs. The host also stressed that their AirBnB is a small family-run business rather than a hotel with a dedicated housekeeping team. They explained that guests currently pay only 75% of the actual cost of cleaning the property, meaning the business already absorbs part of the expense.
They said: "Consequently the only option may be to have extra cleaning staff in at extra cost. We currently only charge guests 75% contribution of what cleaning actually costs us. We are not a hotel that has a full time cleaning team. We are a small family business who provide jobs and generate income for the local economy from our visitors."
A spokesperson from AirBnB stated: "House rules help guests understand what hosts expect, but we've heard from our community that they can be confusing, onerous and hard to manage. So we've redesigned them to make them easier to discover and clearer to set, alongside a new policy that keeps requests reasonable, with no surprises."
