@Matthew0 Hi there Matthew....yeah I know, I am a bit like the Cobb & Co Coach...I am always late, but, yopu may still be on the look out for help with this topic.
This is a paste of a post I have done a few times before on the forum but we are seeing this question of insurance cropping up again and again so....here it is again!
A lot of posts have given graphic details of the problems associated with trying to avail yourself of this umbrella insurance cover that Airbnb offers. The reality of it is, YOU SHOULD ASSUME THIS COVER DOES NOT EXIST! A damage deposit is possibly a prudent thing to include in your listing details for the odd broken or 'mis-placed' item, but we are now seeing reports of some guests facing bills of thousands of dollars for damage to major fittings that they thought would be covered by with this 'warm and fuzzy' Airbnb protection cover. The terms and conditions of the Airbnb cover have been so cleverly crafted, that, realistically it covers you for three quarters of nine tenths of bugger all.....forget about it, it's a marketing tool!!
In Australia we have an insurer who is part of the largest insurance group in Australia who specialises in the Airbnb and Stayz platforms. You insure only for the times you have guests, and the insurance only covers 'events' that guests are likely to create.
It DOES cover building damage including debris removal in the case of total fire damage, theft, contents damage, both accidental and malitious and has a $10 million au liability cover, but does NOT cover storms, tornados, earthquakes, floods and other acts of God. It also does not cover external rental properties (there are others in that landlord/ tennant market) it purely covers shared property short term rental agreements.
Now, where the difficulty comes in Matthew, this does not replace your existing household insurance it is an adjunct to it that purely covers damage that guests may do whilst on your property so, this cover has to sit comfortably with your general household insurance. But I am sure the Insurance Council in England, or your country would suggest insurers who do work to this arrangement.....It happens here in Australia, and I am certain we are not an island in the intergalactic void of Insurance.
Cover is available immediately on-line and premiums are for individual guests. The whole policy structure has been based around the short term shared accommodation market. I have guests in my cottage for 4 days at present. I set the insurnace in place the day they arrived and am covered until midday the day they leave, I received a specific policy document in PDF form immediately and that cover cost me the princely sum of $15.30 for the 4 days.
Matthew, Vicki, Nancy and others, search out for this, I suggest you do what I did and get onto your Insurance Council. It is so worthwhile for you peace of mind....And forget about the Airbnb potection cover! That's just a cleverly crafted marketing tool!....Cheers.....Rob
Incidentally I didn't mention it before because it's irelevant to hosts outside Australia but, if you want to see the company out of curiosity google Sharecover.com and it should come up, provided Aust specific sites are allowed in your area!!!