Airbnb Damage Claim

If a tenant has caused damage to your property, such as breaking a glass backsplash in the kitchen, while staying at your Airbnb, you should first try to resolve the issue directly with the guest. If the guest is unresponsive or unhelpful, Airbnb's AirCover for Hosts may provide protection for your situation.

AirCover for Hosts includes $1 million in damage protection and $1 million in liability insurance. It's designed to protect hosts against damages to their property or belongings caused by a guest. To be eligible for compensation under AirCover, hosts must report the damage within 14 days of the guest’s checkout date or before the next guest checks in, whichever is earlier.

Here's what you should do:

1. **Document the Damage**: Take clear photos or videos of the damage as soon as you notice it.

   

2. **Attempt to Contact the Guest**: Even though you mentioned the guest is unresponsive, make sure you have documented attempts to contact them through the Airbnb platform. This is important for Airbnb to see that you've tried to resolve the issue directly.

3. **Contact Airbnb Support**: If the guest does not respond or refuses to pay for the damage, you should contact Airbnb support to report the incident. You'll need to provide evidence of the damage, documentation of your attempts to resolve the issue with the guest, and any relevant communication.

4. **Request an AirCover Payment**: Through the Resolution Center on Airbnb, you can request payment for the damages. Airbnb will then review your claim, which may include getting additional information from both you and the guest.

Airbnb aims to ensure that hosts are not left out of pocket for damages caused by guests, but it's important to follow their procedures closely to ensure your claim is valid. This includes reporting the damage in a timely manner and providing all required documentation.

It's certainly better to contact Airbnb support and file a claim under AirCover if the guest is unresponsive. While Airbnb encourages hosts and guests to resolve disputes amicably, they provide AirCover as a safety net for situations where that's not possible.