Month: November 2017

There are more than 150M Airbnb users around the world. They are housed by 640,000 hosts who share opportunities on 4M listings. The company value of Airbnb is around $31B.

Airbnb is a big business and growing more each day. Regardless of whether you’re already a host or thinking about getting started, there are a few things you need to know about liability insurance coverage.

Initial Questions

Understanding that the average income from an Airbnb rental is about $14K/year, you may want to think twice before dipping your toe into the Airbnb sandbox. When weighing the risks of liability exposure with the benefits of generating income, here are some things you should keep in mind.

Several initial questions include:

What will happen if someone is seriously injured on your Airbnb property?

What if a criminal act takes place on your Airbnb property?

The answers to these questions and more are shared below.

What You Need to Know About Host Protection Insurance (HPI)

Airbnb now offers hosts (you) insurance. It wasn’t always that way.

In the United States, you are covered with up to $1M in liability insurance if a guest is injured on your Airbnb property. This may also cover accidental loss to surrounding property (a guest lets the bathtub overflow causing water damage to the wood floors in the apartment below). The HPI is applicable in the US but also applies to a Airbnb properties in several other countries.

What’s Not Covered and Exclusions

Often the Airbnb HPI coverage will not cover losses caused or experienced by people who arrive early or depart late. Your own personal liability insurance will apply, if you have it.

Pro Tip: Check with your insurance provider to make sure your homeowner or umbrella coverage will cover you if the Airbnb does not.

Continue reading “Legal Tips for Airbnb Hosts”