According to the updated Airbnb guidelines released on October 20, hosts can no longer ask guests, who are required to pay a cleaning fee, to complete tasks that can be done by a cleaner, such as washing dishes and stripping beds.
Additionally, hosts can now make seven standard house rules as well as add "reasonable" requests. However, the rules and requests cannot include any tasks that "require significant effort or time," which often means most cleaning tasks.
Hosts are allowed exceptions in special circumstances. For instance, asking guests to limit their shower time if drought-related water restrictions are in place, or to dispose of trash in an animal-proof container in bear country for safety reasons. The new rules will apply to all reservations made on or after November 20.
Indeed, it appears that Airbnb is now implementing more guest-friendly rules. However, despite any protections provided by a booking platform, staying at a hotel or rental home can still involve risks. One common risk is the presence of hidden cameras in your rental home. Unfortunately, as booking platforms tighten their rules, this does not guarantee that they can protect your privacy.
From hotel rooms to rental homes, hidden cameras can lurk anywhere. These devices can be discretely placed in a nook or cranny to capture your image, activities, and private conversations without you ever knowing. In some cases, hidden cameras can serve legitimate purposes, such as alerting owners of burglaries or keeping an eye on a pet. However, hidden cameras should never exist in private areas to spy on, prank, or extort you. Fortunately, there are several methods travelers can employ to detect these devices.
Click on to learn how to check to see if your rental, or your hotel room, has any hidden cameras.