STR Insurance · FAQ
Does homeowners insurance cover an Airbnb?
Short answer
Generally no.
Hosting on Airbnb is business use, and most homeowner policies exclude it. Renting your place out nightly is commercial activity — the standard homeowner form is written for your household and social guests, not paying customers. The usual way owners find this out is a denied claim after a guest incident. Occasional hosting may sometimes be added by endorsement, but full-time short-term-rental use almost always needs a policy built for it.
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Estimate your STR insurance cost →The gaps a homeowner policy leaves
Even where a homeowner policy stays in force, these three exposures are the ones it was never designed to cover — and they are exactly where a short-term-rental claim lands:
- Guest injury liability. If a guest is hurt on the property — a fall on the stairs, a burn, a slip by the tub — that is a commercial liability claim. Homeowner liability is written for your household and social guests, not paying customers, so the defense and payout can fall on you.
- Lost booking income. If a covered loss (fire, burst pipe, storm) takes the place offline, a homeowner policy has no reason to replace nightly revenue you were counting on. Short-term-rental policies add business-income / loss-of-rents coverage; a homeowner policy does not.
- Guest-caused contents damage & theft. Damage or theft by a paying guest is usually treated as a business loss, not the ordinary household peril a homeowner policy covers — so a claim for a trashed rental or missing furnishings is a common denial.
Related questions
Will a landlord (DP-3) policy cover it instead?
Not really. A landlord policy assumes one long-term tenant, not a rotating stream of nightly guests. It is not written for the turnover, the guest liability, or the lost-booking income a short-term rental faces.
Doesn't Airbnb's AirCover handle this?
Platform host protection is a backstop with its own conditions and exclusions — it is not a substitute for your own property and liability policy, and it does not cover the property when it sits empty between guests. Treat it as one layer, not the whole stack.
What should I actually be buying?
A short-term-rental policy that puts commercial general liability, business-income / loss-of-rents, and guest-caused contents coverage on one form. Estimate the cost band first, then get a binding quote from a carrier that writes STR.
This is general guidance to set expectations — not legal or insurance advice, not a quote, and not a guarantee of coverage. Policies and exclusions vary by carrier and state; verify your own coverage with your insurer or a licensed agent before relying on it.
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When you want a binding number, these carriers write short-term-rental policies built for hosting:
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Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover Airbnb hosting?
Generally no. Renting your place out to paying guests is treated as business use, and most standard homeowner policies exclude it. Occasional hosting can sometimes be added by endorsement, but regular short-term-rental use almost always needs a policy built for it. Coverage and exclusions vary by carrier and state, so confirm exactly what your own policy allows with your insurer or a licensed agent before you host.
What kind of insurance do I need to host on Airbnb?
Most hosts need a short-term-rental (STR) policy that puts commercial general liability, business-income / loss-of-rents, and guest-caused contents coverage on one form. A standard homeowner policy is written for your household and social guests, not paying customers; a landlord (DP-3) policy assumes one long-term tenant, not a rotating stream of nightly guests. Confirm the right structure for your situation with an insurer that writes STR.
How much does short-term-rental insurance cost?
It depends on your property value, nightly rate, occupancy, location, and amenities, so there is no single answer we can honestly quote. Our estimator turns those inputs into a property-specific annual cost band in about 20 seconds, and it is free with no account. For a binding number, get an actual quote and confirm the premium with each insurer.
Will my homeowners insurer cancel my policy if they find out I am hosting?
It is possible. If you host without disclosing it and the insurer considers your home a business risk, they may non-renew or cancel, and a claim tied to hosting can be denied. The safer path is to tell your insurer what you are doing and let them place the right coverage. Ask your insurer or agent directly how hosting affects your specific policy before you list the property.
Does Airbnb’s AirCover replace having my own insurance?
No. Platform host protection like AirCover is a backstop with its own conditions and exclusions — it is not a substitute for your own property and liability policy, and it does not cover the home when it sits empty between guests. Treat it as one layer in the stack, not the whole thing, and read its terms so you know where it stops.
Can I just add an endorsement to my homeowners policy instead of a separate STR policy?
Sometimes, for occasional or short-term hosting, an insurer will add a home-sharing or short-term-rental endorsement. But full-time or frequent hosting usually exceeds what an endorsement is designed to handle, so a dedicated STR policy is often required. Whether an endorsement is available and enough for your usage is a call only your insurer can make — confirm it with them.
General guidance to set expectations — not legal or insurance advice, not a quote, and not a guarantee of coverage. Verify your own coverage with your insurer or a licensed agent.