Airbnb Rentals and Homeowner’s Insurance

Since it’s inception in 2008, Airbnb has grown into one of the largest online vacation rental sites in the world, with more than two-million rentals available in 34,000 cities and 190 countries, according to Airbnb’s website.

In a nutshell, this is how it works: if you have a spare bedroom, apartment or house you can post a free listing on the Airbnb website to rent your space to travelers.

Airbnb makes its money by taking about 3 percent commission. When users sign up to list their property for rental they must sign the Terms of Agreement, which is about 50-pages long. The terms state that Airbnb may not be liable is something goes wrong. It’s also suggested that users review their homeowner insurance policy to see if coverage is provided.

In 2015 this stance was amended when Airbnb decided to provide free liability coverage of up to $1 million per incident to U.S. hosts and sometimes their landlords “if a guest is injured.” This is a secondary liability policy after the homeowner’s insurance kicks in, but Airbnb also notes it may be the only policy for those without homeowner’s insurance.

On top of the liability coverage Airbnb also offers hosts $1 million in coverage for property damage. This is also a secondary policy (and it’s free).

But how reliable are these one-size-fits-all policies if a sharing-economy guest stumbles down a set of stairs and breaks a leg? What if this guest decides to file a lawsuit against the host?

There are many possible scenarios to consider when deciding to rent your property through a vacation rental site such as Airbnb. With popularity of these sites growing, it’s always a good idea to consult your insurance agent about your options to make sure you’re covered should you decide to host in your home.

Find your friendly local Farm Bureau Insurance agent today.