Host liability: when you are liable for guests
When you are liable if a guest is hurt in your holiday flat, and which insurance fits.
You are liable only if you failed to take reasonable precautions, not for every accident. Check the hazards at every guest change and get liability cover that includes short-term letting.
What decides liability?
What matters is whether you kept the place safe to use and whether you can show it.
- 1
Stairs and banisters
A loose banister or a broken step are typical liability cases.
- 2
Floors
A slippery floor belongs on your check at every guest change.
- 3
Appliances
Check and replace a faulty appliance before the next guest arrives.
- 4
Fix it now
Remove every hazard you find before the next check-in.
- 5
The right policy
Private liability insurance usually does not cover short-term letting.
- 6
Get it in writing
Have your insurer confirm that your policy includes letting to changing guests.
Which rules apply
Whether you are liable is decided by the duty to keep premises safe under §§ 823 and 280 BGB. You are liable if you failed to take reasonable precautions, not for every accident.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is my private liability insurance enough?
Usually not, because private policies often exclude letting to changing guests. Get it confirmed in writing and extend the policy if needed.
Am I liable for every accident in the flat?
No. If a guest trips over their own suitcase, you are not liable. If a banister that has been loose for months gives way, you are.
Which general rules apply to hosts in 2026?
Since 20 May 2026, Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 applies directly in every EU country: where a country, region or city has a registration scheme, you get a registration number online, and platforms must collect it before your listing goes live and show it in the listing. In Germany, cities such as Berlin and Hamburg also require an approval or a registration under their Zweckentfremdungsverbot rules. Check your city's rules before your first listing.
Also in this topic: Inventory list for a holiday flat: making it hold upHandover record for a holiday flat: what applies with no handoverReporting damage on FeWo-direkt and Vrbo: deadline and cover
Next guest arriving soon?
Scan the place before check-in and after check-out, including stairs, floors and appliances. Then a comparison shows the condition of the flat at every stay.
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