Airbnb Guest Damage: The Complete Host Guide (2026)
Airbnb Guest Damage: The Complete Host Guide
Almost never on the cover limit, but on not being able to prove the condition before the stay.
AirCover is a reimbursement programme run by Airbnb, not insurance. It applies only to Airbnb bookings and reimburses guest damage up to USD 3m where the guest does not pay.
Airbnb Help Center, Host damage protection (AirCover)In 60 seconds
AirCover for Hosts is a reimbursement programme run by Airbnb, not insurance; it applies only to Airbnb bookings.
Excluded are normal wear and tear and consumables, cash and valuables in certain cases, and lost income and damage to the building structure.
The commonest grounds for refusal, insufficient documentation, "normal wear and tear" and "pre-existing damage", all come to the same thing: you cannot prove the condition before the stay.
A photo after checkout shows that damage exists, not when it arose. Only the comparison with a before-state makes it provable.
Sound evidence has four properties: a condition before the stay, one after, an independent timestamp and a seal against later editing.
Hosts letting through several platforms or directly usually combine AirCover with their own short-term letting policy. See Alternatives to AirCover. Why claims are refused is in When AirCover does not pay; why loose photos fail is in Photos as damage evidence; how the proof is produced is in Proving damage in a holiday let.
The full reporting process is in Reporting damage to AirCover, the deadline logic in Airbnb damage deadlines. What to do first in the moment is in A guest damaged the place.
Common mistakes
It is almost never the problem. The evidence is.
It applies to Airbnb bookings only; hosts letting through several channels usually combine it with their own policy.
The before-state is then missing, and all three commonest grounds for refusal come down to it.
What to do next
Record the condition before you clean or repair. Do it with BildProof, about two minutes a room →
File a reimbursement request in the Resolution Center: within 14 days of checkout or before the next check-in.
On refusal, escalate to Host damage protection.
For the future: scan the empty place at every changeover, so every stay sits between two sealed states.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for damage an Airbnb guest causes?
First you request reimbursement from the guest through the Airbnb Resolution Center. If they don't pay, Host damage protection under AirCover covers up to $3M. It requires on-time, verifiable documentation and proof the damage occurred during the stay. Booking.com and Vrbo have their own, usually weaker, rules.
Does AirCover cover every kind of guest damage?
No. AirCover isn't insurance. It's an Airbnb reimbursement program that only applies to Airbnb bookings. It excludes normal wear and tear, consumables, cash and lost income. Hosts who use several platforms or take direct bookings usually combine AirCover with short-term-rental insurance.
How do I prove damage is new?
Only with a before-and-after comparison. You need a documented condition before the stay and one after, each with an independent timestamp. If a finding isn't visible before and is after, it appeared during the stay. Without the before state, it's one word against another.
What is the deadline for damage claims on Airbnb?
14 days after the responsible guest's checkout or before the next guest checks in, whichever comes first. A missed deadline is the most common reason claims are denied.
What's the best way to avoid disputes over guest damage?
Consistent documentation of the condition before every stay. Then each stay sits between two recorded states, and new damage can be tied to a single booking. That's the common basis of every reimbursement, whether through AirCover, insurance or directly.
This page gives general information as at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice on an individual case.