It's clearly not in the interests of Airbnb to be making payments to hosts, it hits their bottom line and Airbnb is, after all, a business. Unfortunately, Airbnb hasn't quite got the courage to remove the damage assurances it gives to hosts for fear they may go elsewhere and leave Airbnb with no accommodation on their listing.
There's not really an easy answer to this I suppose, but as a host, I don't expect to receive anything from Airbnb if there's an "event" with a guest. It's hard but better temper the expectation.
However, what is happening is that I become more discerning with the reservations I choose to accept, because I do choose each one carefully now, a couple of years ago I accepted most on the basis that Airbnb would step in if there was a problem, I don't think that is the case any longer.
I also don't tolerate any infringements of the house these days. In the event of a problem, I evict the guests. Harsh as it may seem, I too have a business to run and if Airbnb isn't going to stand behind its claims to stand by the hosts where unfortunate events occur, then I have a responsibility to the incoming guest to still be in business and able to provide what I advertised and if the incumbant guest puts this at risk, out they go.
I suppose the other option would be to charge hotel rates and absorb the costs that way.
