An airbnb short term rental can produce steady income. However, a single unmanaged incident can wipe out months of earnings in one day. For example, a guest injury, smoke damage, or vehicle damage can trigger repair costs, canceled bookings, and legal exposure if no protection applies at the moment it matters most.
Now consider a common situation. A guest accidentally causes smoke damage while cooking. As a result, the odor spreads through the property, furniture absorbs it, and upcoming bookings must be canceled. The guest denies responsibility and leaves. Without platform protection, the host pays for deep cleaning, repairs, and lost income. Airbnb created AirCover to reduce this exact risk.
Why hosting without protection creates financial risk
Short term hosting introduces variables that long-term leasing does not. Guests rotate frequently. In addition, properties experience heavier usage. As a result, incidents occur without warning.
For any airbnb short term rental, financial exposure increases when hosts depend only on personal insurance or guest cooperation.
Common situations that lead to loss
Airbnb identifies repeated host challenges across its platform. These situations appear across different markets and property types.
- Accidental damage to furniture and fixtures
- Pet-related destruction
- Smoke odors requiring specialized cleaning
- Booking cancellations after guest damage
- Guest injuries during a stay
Therefore, each event can lead to direct financial loss if it remains unresolved.
Why personal insurance often does not apply
Many homeowners policies exclude commercial activity. Consequently, hosting guests, even occasionally, may fall outside coverage terms. When a claim occurs, hosts often discover this limitation after damage already exists.
How Airbnb protects hosts automatically
AirCover activates with every booking at no cost. As a result, hosts do not need to enroll or upgrade coverage.
For each airbnb short term rental reservation, Airbnb applies prevention tools, financial protection, and safety support from check-in through checkout.
Always included and always free
Airbnb includes AirCover automatically with every stay. Therefore, coverage applies regardless of host status or booking frequency. AirCover is not an add-on and does not require payment.
Where protection applies
AirCover damage protection and host liability insurance apply in all countries where Airbnb operates, except Japan, which uses a separate protection program. Meanwhile, guest identity verification and reservation screening operate subject to availability and legal requirements.
How Airbnb helps prevent high-risk bookings
Prevention reduces incidents before they happen. For that reason, Airbnb uses tools to help identify higher-risk reservations. However, these tools are not insurance policies and do not guarantee that incidents will not occur.
Each Airbnb short term rental booking may pass through identity checks and reservation screening technology, depending on location and regulatory requirements.
Guest identity verification
Airbnb uses guest identity verification to help confirm guest information such as name, address, and government-issued identification. However, government ID may not be collected in all cases. In addition, guest identity verification is required only for guests traveling to certain countries and regions.
Reservation screening technology
Airbnb uses machine learning to analyze reservation data. As a result, the system helps redirect bookings that show a higher risk of parties or property damage. Currently, reservation screening operates in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Over time, Airbnb plans to expand this feature where feasible and legally permissible.
What Happens When the Airbnb Short Term Rental Property Gets Damaged
Sometimes, prevention does not stop every incident. When guests cause damage and do not pay, Airbnb may reimburse the host for certain losses.
This protection applies directly to an Airbnb short term rental and covers eligible damage to the home and belongings, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions.
What property damage may qualify
Hosts may receive reimbursement for damage to:
- Homes and structural elements
- Furniture and appliances
- Personal belongings
However, host damage protection is not an insurance policy. Airbnb reimburses eligible damage only if the guest does not pay.
Additional covered categories
AirCover may also reimburse damage to:
- Artwork, antiques, and valuables
- Cars and automobiles parked at the property
- Boats and watercraft stored on site
- Pet-related damage
- Lost income from canceled bookings caused by guest damage
- Deep cleaning required for smoke odors and stains
These protections apply within defined limits and exclusions common to an Airbnb short term rental environment. Likewise, it is also important to know more about pets in short term rentals to properly understand pets-related damage.
When a guest gets hurt or loses belongings
Some incidents involve people rather than property. In those cases, Airbnb includes host liability insurance to protect hosts if they are found legally responsible for a guest injury or for damage or theft of a guest’s belongings during a stay.
This coverage applies during an Airbnb short term rental stay and is underwritten by third-party insurers.
How this protection differs from property reimbursement
One form of protection focuses on reimbursing hosts for certain guest-caused damage to their property. Another form responds when a host is legally responsible for guest injury or personal property loss. Together, these protections address different types of hosting risk.
What is not included
Even with broad protection, AirCover does not cover every situation.
For example, excluded items include:
- Normal wear and tear
- Acts of nature such as earthquakes or hurricanes
- Loss of currency
- Routine checkout cleaning
- Vehicle use beyond parked or stored status
In addition, vehicle and boat protection applies only when they remain parked or stored at the property.
How reimbursement requests work
When damage occurs, Airbnb provides a structured process to resolve claims. Therefore, hosts should act quickly and document issues clearly.
For any Airbnb short term rental incident, hosts must document damage and submit requests promptly.
AirCover Claim submission checklist
To improve outcomes, hosts should:
- Photograph or record damage
- Collect estimates or receipts
- Submit a request through the Resolution Center
- Allow the guest 24 hours to respond
If the guest does not pay, Airbnb may review the request.
Payment timelines
In most cases, reimbursement requests resolve within approximately two weeks. Additionally, Superhosts outside Washington state receive priority routing and dedicated support access.
Host Damage Protection in Washington State
For listings located in Washington state, Airbnb’s contractual obligations related to host damage protection are covered by an insurance policy purchased by Airbnb. However, this arrangement does not change the contractual responsibilities of hosts or guests under the Host Damage Protection Terms, Airbnb Terms of Service, or Airbnb Payments Terms of Service.
How platform protection and personal insurance work together
AirCover protects hosts during Airbnb stays. However, it does not replace personal insurance. Hosts may still need personal property or auto insurance based on local laws and individual circumstances.
Therefore, every Airbnb short term rental host should confirm how personal insurance overlaps with hosting activity.
Frequently asked questions
Is AirCover free for hosts?
Yes. Airbnb includes AirCover for Hosts at no additional cost with every booking.
Does Airbnb protect guests too?
Yes. Guests receive support for serious issues such as cancellations, access problems, or listings that differ significantly from what was advertised.
How long does reimbursement take?
Most reimbursement requests resolve within about two weeks after submission.
How professional support can add another layer
AirCover provides platform-level protection. At the same time, hosts still manage operations, documentation, and guest communication. For this reason, some hosts choose professional short term rental companies for added operational support.
Beenstay supports hosts by offering damage protection up to $1,500 in standard plans and damage protection up to $3,000 in premium plans. In addition, Beenstay assists with guest communication, documentation, and operational oversight. As a result, hosts can respond faster and reduce disruption during an airbnb short term rental stay.