MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsinites booking an Airbnb for a getaway may soon have fewer chores standing between them and checkout.
For reservations booked on or after Nov. 20, hosts generally won't be allowed to ask guests to strip beds, wash and put away dishes or take trash off the property.
The vacation rental platform's new policy limits requests for chores that take substantial time or effort or would typically be handled by cleaning staff.
Hosts also won't be able to spring new rules on guests after they book. All house rules and requests must appear in the designated section of the listing beforehand, rather than arriving later in a message or on a sign inside the rental.
The policy generally bars hosts from imposing fines or limiting access to amenities advertised in the listing. Any charges for those features must be included in the price guests see when booking.
Some exceptions may apply. A host in bear country, for example, could reasonably ask guests to put trash in an animal-proof container. Local drought restrictions could justify a request to keep showers short.
Guests still must follow house rules and are encouraged to honor reasonable requests.
Hosts who don't follow the policy could receive warnings or be told to update their listings. Continued violations could bring a notice flagging the issue to prospective guests, less visibility in search results or other enforcement action.
Here is a look at some popular Airbnb in Wisconsin that will be impacted by the new rules.
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