Guides for hosts

Inventory list for a holiday flat: making it hold up

How to build an inventory list that actually helps you when items go missing.

BildProof EditorialUpdated 9/28/20262 min read
In short

Build the list room by room, with quantity, year of purchase and rough value. Check it at every guest change and show with photos what was really there.

What belongs on the inventory list?

Everything that can go missing or break, sorted by room. Leave consumables off.

  1. 1

    Kitchen

    Crockery, glasses and cutlery with quantities, plus pots, pans and appliances.

  2. 2

    Bedroom

    Duvets, pillows, bed linen in sets, mattress protectors and hangers.

  3. 3

    Bathroom

    Towels with quantities, hair dryer and bath mats.

  4. 4

    Living room

    TV and remote, lamps, decor and small furniture.

  5. 5

    Quantity and value

    Note quantity, year of purchase and rough value, which you need later for the current value.

  6. 6

    Photos

    Show with photos that the items were really there before the stay.

Which rules apply

Airbnb's Host Damage Protection Terms ask for evidence including an inventory with purchase date and condition, photos and receipts. Against the guest directly, too, you have to show the items, the loss and the amount (§§ 280, 249 BGB).

General information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What belongs on an inventory list?

Room by room, everything that can go missing or break: crockery and glasses with quantities, textiles, appliances, small furniture and keys. Leave consumables off.

How often must I update the list?

Only when your items change, meaning when you buy, replace or throw out something. You check the list at every guest change.

What evidence does Airbnb ask for when items are missing or broken?

Under Airbnb's Host Damage Protection Terms, it includes an inventory with purchase date and condition, photos, receipts and proof of ownership. The documents must be true and must not be doctored or falsified in any way, including by AI.

More on this

GuideInventory missing after a stay: what you can recoverGuideHow to Prove Short-Let Damage Is New

Also in this topic: Handover record for a holiday flat: what applies with no handoverShort-Let Insurance: Covering Guest Damage ProperlyReporting damage on FeWo-direkt and Vrbo: deadline and coverA Guest Damaged My Short-Let. What to Do

Next guest arriving soon?

Scan the place before check-in and after check-out, including crockery, textiles and appliances. Then your claim rests on a comparison, not on a list alone.

See BildProof for hosts