Does Your Homeowners Insurance Cover Airbnb? What You Need to Know BEFORE You Host
Homeowners FridaysIf you own a home, you likely
understand the importance of homeowners insurance. You might not understand
exactly what it covers, however. Exclusions in the policy could leave you on
the hook for major expenses, especially if you’re renting out your home using
Airbnb or a similar service.
The Rise of Peer-to-Peer
House Rentals
Airbnb is not the only
company to provide peer-to-peer house rentals, but it is probably the best
known. Competitors include Flipkey and HomeAway.
An alternative to traditional
hotels, Airbnb started in San Francisco in 2008. Since then, the company has
expanded globally. People can sign up to be hosts. They list their home on the
website and app, along with the price, date of availability and other rules.
Then others can book the home as guests.
It’s become a convenient way
for property owners to make a side income, but this does not mean it’s without
risk
Hosting Gone Wrong
Hosts are allowed to
establish rules for their properties, but this doesn’t guarantee the guests
will always obey. Although some guests are well-behaved, others take advantage
of the situation and throw wild parties. An Airbnb host in Ohio was left with
expensive property damage after a party turned violent and a shooting took
place at her property.
Other guests are actually
thieves looking for easy access to their next target. A couple in Georgia
experienced this firsthand when an Airbnb guest stole their television and
other belongings.
Even
guests with good intentions could cause major damage. They could accidentally leave
the stove on and start a fire, for example. There’s also a risk that guests
will injure themselves – for example, by tripping over a loose tile or hitting
a sharp counter – and sue you for medical expenses.
Insurance
Matters
Airbnb
hosts face considerable risks, so they need good insurance. However, regular
homeowners insurance policies may not provide coverage.
Standard
homeowners policies are designed to cover the normal risks experienced by
regular homeowners. These policies are not designed to cover commercial
activities, which tend to have much higher risks associated with them. For this
reason, homeowners policies often exclude commercial activities, including
short-term rentals using peer-to-peer property sharing sites.
However,
the rise of Airbnb and its competitors has necessitated some changes. Some
insurers have responded to the new demand by creating policies with coverage
for short-term rentals. But don’t just assume that you’re covered. Talk to an
insurer about your Airbnb activity and make sure your policy includes coverage.
Also, because the risks are higher, you should expect to pay more.
Some
peer-to-peer rental sites offer their own insurance coverage, as well. According
to the official website, Airbnb provides some insurance coverage, which
includes $1,000,000 in property damage protection and $1,000,000 in coverage
against accidents. Some other peer-to-peer rental companies may offer similar
coverage, but it’s important to read the details and to make sure you
understand the requirements and exclusions.
Also,
you still need to maintain your own homeowners policy. The insurance that
Airbnb provides only covers specific risks related to your Airbnb rentals. It
does not replace your primary homeowners insurance policy.
Some insurers are more
willing to work with Airbnb hosts than others, so you may need to shop around
for a good fit. Do not try to keep your hosting activity from your insurer, as
this could result in the cancellation of your policy and the denial of any
claims.
When was the last time you
reviewed your homeowners insurance? If it’s been more than six months, contact
an agent at Insurance Line One for a homeowners
insurance quote and
coverage review.
Sources: