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Airbnb makes huge change following common gripe

A raft of improvements have been made to the accommodation service.

Airbnb has announced a huge change to their checkout procedure in a big win for guests. The new "transparent checkout instructions" feature shows your host's cleaning requirements prior to booking, so you don't discover any surprise chores after you've booked. Because let's face it, there's nothing less romantic than checking in to your Airbnb and being reminded to clean the toilet.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky promises that from now on, all checkout instructions will be available on a listing's page from the get-go. "You said checkout instructions can be a surprise when you get to your Airbnb," Chesky tweeted. "Now all checkout instructions can be viewed on the listing page before you book."

Airbnb screen; guest
Airbnb has announced guest-friendly changes to their checkout procedures. Source: Getty

Excessive chore requests have long been a pain point for guests, with rogue hosts demanding everything from mopped floors to mowed lawns.

Users will also be able to provide ratings on checkout tasks and if the host receives enough negative feedback, their listing will be removed.

"Checking out of Airbnbs can be a pain due to unreasonable checkout tasks," Chesky explained. "Starting today, you can provide feedback on any checkout tasks in the review flow, and we'll remove listings with repeated low checkout ratings."

The new policy is just one of 50 new features and upgrades Airbnb is rolling out in an effort to reimagine its service and reinvigorate the business. Some of the other changes include a renewed focus on room rental, making longer stays cheaper and more accessible, and ambitious customer service goals like two-minute answer times for English speaking customers.

Airbnb says that with travellers looking for more affordable accommodation options, nights stayed in private room listings in Australia last year grew by almost 50 per cent. The average rate of a private room in Australia on Airbnb is $104 per night.

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