Guides for hosts

Airbnb photo evidence: how to prove damage

How your photos show that damage happened during the stay.

BildProof RedaktionUpdated 9/30/20261 min read
In short

Photograph the same spot before check-in and after check-out. Send both photos unedited.

What makes a photo proof?

A single photo only shows that damage is there. These points also show when it happened.

  1. 1

    Before picture

    The same spot, photographed before the guest checks in.

  2. 2

    After picture

    The same spot after checkout, so the two can be compared.

  3. 3

    Unedited

    No retouching and no changes made with AI.

  4. 4

    Time and cause

    Airbnb asks when and how the damage happened.

  5. 5

    File date

    The date on a photo file can be changed and does not prove the time on its own.

  6. 6

    Cost proof

    Receipts and repair estimates belong with the photos.

Already have damage?

Guest damaged something?

Don't just leave the photos in your camera roll. BildProof helps you document the damage, add supporting evidence and create an organised, sealed report for your claim.

Create my damage report · €9.99

One-time purchase · No app download required

Which rules apply

Under Airbnb's Host Damage Protection Terms, evidence must be true and not doctored in any way, including by AI. You ask the guest to pay within 14 days of checkout and file the request to Airbnb within 30 days.

General information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is a photo of the damage enough as proof?

Usually not. A photo shows the damage, but not whether it was already there before the stay.

Does the capture date in the photo metadata count?

Not as independent proof, because the date on a photo file is easy to change. If Airbnb cannot verify a document, it may ask for more documents or a different capture format.

What does Airbnb require of photos as evidence?

Photos must be true and accurate and not doctored or falsified in any way, including by AI. If they cannot be verified, Airbnb may deny the request.

More on this

GuideHow to Prove Short-Let Damage Is NewGuideAirbnb guest disputes the damage: which evidence counts

Also in this topic: Airbnb evidence rules 2026: what now counts as proofBad Airbnb review after a damage claim: what to doAirbnb Security Deposit & Damage: What Protects Hosts

Next guest arriving soon?

Scan the flat before check-in and after check-out. Then a damage claim rests on a before and after comparison.

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