It is recommended that you think about getting insurance specific to short-term lettings such as Airbnb/ holiday lets. This is necessary as it will provide you with a higher level of coverage than a standard home insurance policy. 

A standard home insurance policy may be inadequate as the majority of insurers would not cover short-term lets unless it has been disclosed beforehand. However, many insurance companies do not offer specific coverage for Airbnb hosts. As a result, your insurer may cancel your policy if you have not disclosed it to them beforehand and you may not be able to make a claim.  

The key issues that could arise are that you will not have coverage for the following:   

• Deliberate damage caused by a guest. 
• Accidental damage caused by a guest. 
• Legal liability (e.g., if a guest is injured and holds you responsible). 

Standard Airbnb insurance: is it sufficient? 

Airbnb hosts can obtain two types of protection for free: 

• Airbnb Host Guarantee – covers damage to the property 
• Host Protection Insurance Programme – covers liability claims where the guest or another third party (e.g., a neighbour) brings a claim against the host. 

While it is free of charge, there are some disadvantages of the protection provided by Airbnb. For example: 

• Personal injury claims and loss of earnings are not covered. 
• The Guarantee is not an insurance contract, therefore if there are any disagreements/disputes, you will not be able to discuss it with an Ombudsman. 

The information in this post is valid to the best of our knowledge on the date of posting. It is advised that you seek independent advice based on your individual circumstances. 

T +44 (0)203 488 1488 

E: info@ladybirdliving.co.uk  

W: https://www.ladybirdliving.co.uk/