Airbnb bans making guests do dishes and take out the trash
Published
What's this about?
Checking out of your next Airbnb might be less of a hassle now that the company is banning hosts from including time-consuming chores in their house rules. Airbnb's updated house rules policy, which starts with reservations booked on or after November 20th, says hosts can't ask guests to "complete t
The one-panel cartoon
Read the cartoon's script
A meticulously clean and organized Airbnb living room with a stack of unused plates and glasses on the coffee table, a trash can overflowing by the door.
Caption: Airbnb: Now with less 'host-pleasing' activities
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theverge.com.
Editor's note
This move by Airbnb addresses a long-standing friction point between hosts and guests, streamlining the checkout process and setting clearer expectations. However, it also raises questions about how such policies might shift the invisible labor and responsibilities within the home-sharing economy, potentially increasing the burden on hosts.
Rate this comic
Read the script
Panel 1
(a) What the subject of this story actually is and does: Airbnb is a platform that connects travelers with hosts who rent out their homes or apartments. It's known for providing a wide range of accommodations, from cozy apartments to luxurious homes, and often includes detailed house rules that guests must follow. (b) The ONE real irony or absurdity in the news: The irony lies in Airbnb's role as a facilitator for accommodations that now actively discourages hosts from imposing basic housekeeping duties on guests, which might seem like a reasonable expectation for temporary stays. (c) The single funniest observation that becomes the highlight: The highlight is the absurdity of a service that connects people for short-term rentals now having to explicitly forbid hosts from asking guests to do dishes or take out the trash. It highlights the nanny-state nature of such policies.
Panel 2
*Setting: A cozy living room in an Airbnb apartment. A host, a middle-aged woman, is looking at her laptop, while a guest, a young man in casual clothes, is sitting on the couch, holding a cup of coffee.* Host (Looking worried)
Host: Oh no, Airbnb just updated their house rules. No more chores for guests starting next week.
Panel 3
*Setting: The kitchen of the same Airbnb apartment. The host is standing by the sink, looking at a stack of dirty dishes. The guest is washing his hands.* Host (Shaking her head) Guest (Looking confused)
Host: I can't ask them to do the dishes now. I might get reported!
Guest: Wait, what? You mean I don't have to do the dishes?
Panel 4
*Setting: The same living room, but now both the host and the guest are in a heated discussion. The host has a stern expression, while the guest looks relieved.* Host (Firmly) Guest (Smiling) Host (Sighing) *Highlight: The guest’s relief at not having to do chores, while the host’s frustration at having to hire someone to clean, encapsulates the absurdity of the situation.*
Host: No more chores! It’s all about making your stay easy and stress-free.
Guest: Well, that’s a relief. I always hated cleaning up after myself.
Host: But it’s a hassle now. I need to hire a cleaning service!
Comments