On November 3rd, Airbnb revised its new house rules policy and said it “could have done a better job explaining” the changes.
Hosts can now use a guest contract when their insurance provider requires one, and Airbnb spelled out how to appeal flagged rules. The policy still applies to reservations booked on or after November 20th, 2026.
Can Airbnb Hosts Use a Contract Their Insurer Requires?
Yes. Airbnb now allows a separate contract when it’s required by law, HOA or building rules, “or by the host’s insurance provider.” The October 20th version didn’t have an insurance exception.
When the policy was announced, THR noted that many operators have insurance requirements tied to rental agreements, and that a pool waiver likely wouldn’t qualify unless a law or HOA required it. Now, a waiver the host’s insurer requires can.
An insurer-required contract still has to follow Airbnb’s rules for contracts. Hosts upload it to the Contracts section of their listing, where anyone viewing the listing can read it, and Airbnb may ask for proof that the insurer requires it. Getting guests to sign is up to the host. Airbnb doesn’t require guests to sign host contracts and won’t help enforce them. To get a contract signed, hosts can ask guests for information or use a separate signing site, but only for what the contract needs. They also have to say what they’ll collect, and why, in the listing’s additional rules.
What Changed on the November 3rd update, and What Didn’t
The right to appeal and Airbnb’s example exceptions (animal-proof trash containers in bear country, shower limits during droughts) were already in the initial October 20th announcement. In the November 3rd update, Airbnb added additional context on the timeline: They will start reviewing listings November 20th, and initial reviews will run through March 2027.
Hosts with rules that don’t comply will get an email and an in-app notice, plus at least 20 days to update the rule or appeal. An appeal can only be submitted once, with supporting files like a local ordinance or HOA rule. If Airbnb denies it and the host keeps the rule, guests may see a notice on the listing, and violations that persist may reduce search visibility.
Airbnb is also renaming “Requests” to “Additional rules,” and the policy no longer says guests are only “encouraged” to follow them. But its ground rules for guests still list additional rules separately, and Airbnb hasn’t said whether breaking one lets a host cancel without penalty, as it allows for house rules.
Everything else stands. Hosts generally still can’t require guests to wash dishes, strip beds or take trash off-site, or charge fines. Outside limited exceptions, they can’t collect copies of guest IDs or ask for contact information (which Airbnb first limited in May 2025). New rules still can’t be added after booking by message or signs in the home.
What Hosts Should Do Before November 20th
The insurance exception only helps operators whose carrier actually requires a signed guest agreement. If that’s you, get the requirement in writing from your carrier or broker before uploading the contract. It only applies to reservations booked after it’s added.
For every additional rule, write down why it exists and the document behind it. With one appeal and as few as 20 days to respond, that file should be ready before Airbnb’s email arrives, which could be months after November 20th.
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