If you rent your property on Airbnb or Booking.com, you need insurance designed for you. Traditional home insurance does not protect you when you receive guests. Find out here what options you have and how to protect your accommodation and your peace of mind.
Why a special insurance for hosts?
When you decide to rent out your home – whether it’s your primary residence, a second property or an annex – you assume risks that your home insurance doesn’t cover. From property damage to accident claims, unforeseen events do exist. And when you rent for commercial purposes, your insurance is no longer valid.
👉 More than 90% of residential insurances exclude tourist or temporary use. If something happens during a stay, you can be left unprotected.
Real risks faced by hosts
- 🔹 A guest slips out of the shower and sues you.
- 🔹 An unexpected party ends in damage to furniture or appliances.
- 🔹 The guest causes an accidental fire in the kitchen.
- 🔹 You suffer a theft during a tenant’s stay.
In all these cases, without adequate insurance, the cost is at your expense.
What is covered by a specific insurance for tourist accommodations?
| Coverage | What does it include? |
|---|---|
| ✅ Property damage | Repair or replacement of furniture, appliances, real estate, etc. |
| ✅ Liability | Protection against guest accident claims |
| ✅ Theft and vandalism | Coverage in case of theft committed by tenants |
| ✅ Loss of income | Compensation if you are unable to rent due to covered damage |
| ✅ Legal defense | Legal assistance in case of claims |
Are you covered by Airbnb or Booking?
🛡️ Airbnb: Host Protection Insurance
Airbnb offers a program called Host Protection Insurance, active in more than 15 countries. Includes:
- Coverage up to 1 million dollars for civil liability.
- Applies if a guest is injured or damages the property of others.
- It acts as primary coverage, but is not a substitute for comprehensive insurance.
💡 Important: it does not cover damage to your own personal property. For that there is a separate program, the AirCover.
❌ Booking.com: no direct insurance
Booking does not provide its own coverage. It is up to you to take out adequate insurance if you rent through this platform.
Private alternatives: companies offering insurance for hosts
If you are looking for more complete coverage, these insurers have specific products:
🏢 Admiral (United Kingdom)
Includes accidental and malicious damages, in addition to classic coverages (fire, plumbing). Ideal if you rent on a regular basis.
🏢 Towergate Insurance (Europe)
Coverage in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and more. Suitable for chalets, apartments, villas or rural accommodations.
🏢 IAG (Australia / New Zealand)
ShareCover product, covers theft, damage, liability and identity theft.
📌 Tip: make sure your insurance does not exclude tourist leasing. Many general products do.
What type of insurance do you need?
| Type of host | Recommended insurance |
|---|---|
| Occasional owner (1-2 per year) | Complement with AirCover from Airbnb + basic insurance |
| Active host (all year round) | Specific insurance for tourist rentals |
| Manager with several properties | Multi-risk insurance + extended liability insurance |
How to get the right insurance (checklist)
- ✅ Verify that civil liability is included
- ✅ Check exclusions: does it cover damages caused by guests?
- ✅ Make sure it covers all your channels (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, etc.).
- ✅ Confirms whether it is required to declare reserves
- ✅ Ask about coverage in case of activity cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doesn’t my homeowner’s insurance cover vacation rentals?
No. Most policies exclude tourist use. You are only covered as long as you use the home as your primary residence.
Can I rely on Airbnb insurance alone?
Not quite. AirCover is not a contractual insurance and does not include many assumptions. It is an aid, not a legal guarantee.
What if I have several properties?
The ideal is to take out a flexible or multi-risk policy, which allows you to include several addresses and adapt coverages.
Where do I buy specialized insurance?
You can go to insurers such as Admiral, Towergate or IAG, or contact your usual broker to compare options.
Conclusion: protect your housing and your peace of mind
Good insurance is not an expense, but an investment. If you rent on Airbnb or Booking.com, you need coverage that really backs you up. Cheap can be very expensive if an accident happens.
👉 At ListingOK, we help hosts like you to professionalize their operations. If you need guidance, contact us here.
📅 Next update
Revise this article in April 2026 to include new Airbnb policies, changes in insurers or local regulations.
