Proving short-let damage is new: how it works
How to show damage happened during one particular stay.
You prove new damage with the condition before and after the stay. Record the condition before every stay and send the before and after together.
What does the evidence need?
A single photo shows the damage, but not when it happened. Only the comparison shows what is new.
- 1
Condition before
Without it, any damage “might have been there already”.
- 2
Condition after
The same rooms and items after checkout, before the next guest arrives.
- 3
The comparison
What was not there before and is visible after appeared during the stay.
- 4
Unaltered
Airbnb requires evidence that is not doctored in any way, including by AI.
- 5
Proof of cost
Receipts and repair estimates show what the damage costs.
- 6
Mind the deadline
On Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo you report damage within 14 days of checkout.
Already have damage?
Guest damaged something?
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Which rules apply
Whoever claims damages under § 280(1) BGB must prove the damage and that it arose during the stay. Under the Airbnb Host Damage Protection Terms evidence must be true, accurate and unaltered; if Airbnb cannot verify it, it may ask for more documents or deny the request.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show damage happened during a specific stay?
Scan the place before and after the stay. What is missing before and visible after appeared during that time.
Does this kind of evidence count on Booking.com or Vrbo too?
Yes, it shows the condition at a point in time, which helps on every platform. Booking.com does not guarantee payment and does not allow security camera footage of guests or chat screenshots as evidence; on Vrbo a claim is limited to the deposit amount.
By when must I report damage?
On Airbnb you ask the guest to pay within 14 days of checkout and file the request with Airbnb within 30 days. On Booking.com (damage program) and on Vrbo you also have 14 days after checkout.
Also in this topic: Damage found later: what can you still do?Calculating compensation: new price or depreciated value?Guest lost the key: who pays for the locking system?Floor scratches and stains from guests: what can you recover?
Next guest arriving soon?
Scan the flat before check-in and after check-out. That way your evidence rests on a comparison of before and after.
See BildProof for hosts