Burn holes and cracked ceramic hobs: what the guest pays
What a guest has to pay for damage to the hob and worktop, and how to prove it.
For a new crack in a ceramic hob the guest usually pays only for the glass panel, minus its age, and for a single burn mark the repair. Photograph the hob and worktop before every guest.
What matters?
With kitchen damage there are usually two questions: what exactly is owed, and was the damage already there?
- 1
The panel only
If the electronics and frame are intact, the ceramic panel is owed, not the whole appliance.
- 2
Deduction for age
A new-for-old deduction comes off the price of the new panel.
- 3
Burn mark
For a single burn mark in the worktop, the guest pays for the repair, not a new worktop.
- 4
Separate quote
Have a new panel and a new hob priced separately.
- 5
Cause
A new crack in ceramic glass almost always comes from a knock or a dropped pan.
- 6
Before photo
Hairline cracks can hardly be dated without a photo from before the stay.
Already have damage?
Guest damaged something?
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Which rules apply
Under § 280(1) BGB a guest who breaches a duty and is responsible for it must pay for the damage, and under § 249 BGB that means the amount needed for restoration. The new-for-old deduction comes from the courts' case law.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the guest have to pay for a whole new hob?
Generally not. As long as the electronics and frame are intact, they only pay for a new ceramic panel.
The guest says the crack was already there. Now what?
Only a photo of the hob from before the stay answers that. Without it, hairline cracks can hardly be dated.
How long do I have to report the damage through the platform?
That depends on the platform. On Airbnb you ask the guest to pay within 14 days of checkout; Booking.com's damage program and the Vrbo deposit also have a deadline of 14 days after checkout.
Also in this topic: Host liability: when a guest is injuredInventory list for a holiday flat: making it hold upHandover record for a holiday flat: what applies with no handoverShort-Let Insurance: Covering Guest Damage Properly
Next guest arriving soon?
Scan your place before check-in and after check-out, hob included. Then your claim rests on a comparison of before and after.
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