Can you charge €50 because the guest didn’t take out the trash? Airbnb distinguishes between a task and extraordinary cleaning
Charging a fixed penalty for not taking out the trash does not align with Airbnb's rules. A different matter is a real and documented extraordinary cleaning.
You have a simple rule: before leaving, the trash must go in the bin. The guest leaves, doesn’t take it out, and the bag stays in the kitchen. Can you claim €50 from them?
In Airbnb, a failed checkout task and an extraordinary cleaning cost are not the same.
Airbnb's rules state that hosts should not charge guests a fee simply for not performing a specific cleaning or checkout task. The host can reflect the behavior in the cleaning rating. Guests are also expected to dispose of trash in the designated places and avoid leaving excessive waste.
So, €50 for not taking out a bag?
As an automatic penalty for failing to complete that task, this is not the correct approach. The cleaning fee already covers the normal work associated with preparing the accommodation for the next guest.
The situation changes if we are not talking about a normal bag, but about dirt or waste that generates real additional work: several bags, leftovers that cause odors, stains, pests, special treatment, or extra cleaning hours.
The practical difference
| Situation | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Did not take out a bag of trash | Do not turn it into a fixed penalty for a task |
| Left excessive trash requiring extra hours | Document the real extraordinary cost |
| There is damage, a stain, or special treatment | Document photos, invoice, and relation to the stay |
GATAVIA CALCULATION
After a checkout, 3 additional hours of cleaning are needed at €30/hour and an extraordinary treatment of €60.
3 × €30 + €60 = €150.
This calculation does not mean that Airbnb will automatically pay €150. It means that if there is an extraordinary expense attributable to the guest, the claim should be based on a real and documented cost, not on a made-up fine afterwards.
What to keep if the cleaning was extraordinary
- dated photographs taken at the end of the stay;
- messages with the guest within the platform;
- invoice or proof of the additional service;
- details of the extra hours;
- clear separation between ordinary cleaning and extraordinary work.
Do not charge €50 because “they didn’t take out the trash.” If the only thing that happened was failing to complete a checkout task, assess the cleaning and improve communication. If they left an extraordinary problem with a real cost, document that cost and process it through the appropriate channel.
Sources
Airbnb Help Center: basic rules for guests and responsibility for damages and extraordinary costs.