Holiday rental insurance: What it is and what options are available

Today we talk about what holiday rental insurance is and what options you have to contract it. The truth is that Airbnb, the main platform for tourist accommodation bookings, included host protection insurance some time ago. In this post, we tell you what Airbnb insurance consists of and what coverages it offers. Finally, we will discuss holiday rental insurance and for which cases it is recommended.

Airbnb host insurance

The host protection insurance offered by Airbnb is a standard civil liability insurance. The amount is 1 million US dollars and protects the holiday home owner in case of claims for personal injury or material damage caused during the guest's stay. Remember! It only covers you during that period and if the booking was made on the platform.

What does Airbnb insurance cover?

The holiday rental insurance offered by the company provides primary coverage of up to 1 million dollars in case of claims by third parties for injuries or property damage. It also covers certain property damage in common areas outside the accommodation –for example, the landing–. Owners and hosts are also covered if a guest sues them for injuries during their stay.For Airbnb insurance to cover the incident, it must occur in locations that have these characteristics:

• Be owned or controlled by the host
• Listed in the Airbnb ad
• Booked and occupied by guests through the platform –where they have accepted the terms of service–.

What does Airbnb insurance not cover?

Some types of property and some damages are excluded from holiday rental insurance:

• Damage related to aircraft, automobiles and mobile equipment not listed as accommodation on the platform
• Injuries or abuse to guests
• Injuries caused by plasterboard manufactured, wholly or in part, in China
• Contagious diseases
• Contractual liability for injuries or damages covered by other insurance policies
• Cybercrime
• Employment-related practices
• Self-harm
• Damage to insulation systems
• Fungal or bacterial contamination

You also have to bear in mind that Airbnb insurance does not cover incidents not caused by guests. Find out more details about what Airbnb's holiday rental insurance covers and what it doesn't on their website.

For example, if your home is flooded and affects one of your neighbours, it would not be covered by Airbnb insurance

Holiday rental insurance

First, it must be taken into account that traditional home insurance –even if it includes civil liability–, only covers the material and/or personal damages of the tenants. For example, it would not cover damages to your guests.For example, if there is a robbery in your holiday home during your guests' stay, this situation would not be covered at all.Undoubtedly, the option of insurance for holiday homes is the option where you reduce the most risk. Normally, these insurance policies cover damage due to fires, floods, and third-party claims, as well as including coverage in case of robberies to guests, electrical damage, or any situation caused by atmospheric phenomena.If you hire maintenance or cleaning staff, you might want to include some employee liability insurance –remember that Airbnb's does not cover it–.Do you have a holiday home and live too far away to manage it yourself? Discover how the Intercom smart lock can help you hand over keys to your guests remotely.