Short-let insurance: covering guest damage properly
Which insurance covers damage caused by guests, and what you need for a claim.
A normal home or contents policy usually does not cover guest damage, because paid short-term letting often counts as commercial use. Tell your insurer about the letting and otherwise choose a policy that clearly includes short-term letting.
What should you check?
Before the first guest arrives, it pays to read the terms of your policy.
- 1
Your current policy
Check whether your home or contents insurance excludes letting to guests.
- 2
Tell your insurer
Let your insurer know that you let the flat to changing guests.
- 3
Clear cover
Otherwise choose a policy that clearly includes short-term letting.
- 4
Every platform
Your own policy also works for Booking.com, Vrbo and direct bookings.
- 5
Airbnb's protection
It only covers Airbnb stays and is not insurance.
- 6
Before-state
Like platforms, insurers need proof that the damage is new.
Which rules apply
Whether your insurer pays is decided by the terms of your policy. According to the Airbnb Help Center, Airbnb's Host Damage Protection is expressly not insurance and only applies to Airbnb stays.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does my normal home or contents insurance cover guest damage?
Usually not, because the flat is then no longer used only privately. Check your terms and tell your insurer about the letting.
Why would an insurer refuse a claim?
Usually because there is no proof that the damage is new, or a deadline was missed. Normal wear is also excluded.
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: Reporting damage on FeWo-direkt and Vrbo: deadline and coverA Guest Damaged My Short-Let. What to DoGuest will not pay for damage: demand, court order, claimHouse rules for a holiday flat: what is actually enforceable
Next guest arriving soon?
Scan the place before check-in and after check-out. Then your claim to the insurer or platform rests on a comparison.
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