Airbnb Damage Compensation Guide - Be Confident, You Are Protected!

[Oksana127]

⚠️ Important: Requests must be submitted within 14 days of noticing damages or missing items.

Imagine this: guests accidentally ruined your bed linen, broke a door lock, smashed the sink, or even your entire dinnerware set 

Don’t worry! You are protected. Serious damage can be compensated if you follow the right steps. Minor accidents happen - a mug falls, a spoon breaks - and if the guest is reasonable, they may even offer to compensate on their own.

 ⚠️Important: Airbnb’s Host Damage Protection is not an insurance policy. It covers certain damages caused by guests during their stay, but not all types of damage. Compensation is possible if your property or belongings are damaged and the guest does not pay for repairs.

This may also include extra cleaning costs caused by guests, their companions, or pets (e.g., removing stains, smoke odors).

What it covers:

-Damage to your home, furniture, valuables, or belongings caused by guests (or their companions)
-Damage to parked vehicles, boats, or other property caused by guests
-Unexpected cleaning costs or additional expenses due to guests, their companions, or pets
-Lost income if confirmed bookings are canceled due to guest-caused damage

What it doesn’t cover:

-Normal wear and tear
-Cash loss
-Natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.)
-Guest or third-party injuries or damage to their property
-Standard cleaning after checkout (laundry, dishwashing, trash removal)
-Other specific exclusions

 💡Tip: Cleaning and pet fees are meant to cover expected costs, while Host Damage Protection helps with unforeseen damages or extra cleaning (e.g., replacing a sofa damaged by a dog or removing persistent odors).

But for real damage - like a broken TV, door, or sink etc. - you have a clear, step-by-step path to get what is owed.

Step 1: Find the Guest and Reservation
-Open the specific guest’s reservation.
- Under the guest reservation profile , click “Send or Request Money”.

Step 2: Choose Your Action
-Airbnb will ask: “Send money or Request money?”
-Click “Request money”.

Step 3: Select the Type of Request
Two options appear:
-Additional Services → for late check-out, early check-in, etc.
-Damages or Missing Items → for broken lock, TV, dinnerware, etc.
*Always choose “Damages or Missing Items”.

Step 4: Fill Out the Request
-Click “Next” and follow Airbnb’s instructions.

Step 5: Gather Evidence
-Photos and videos of the damage (clear, with date/time).
-Screenshots of guest communication.
-Receipts, invoices, or links to the exact item online.
-Previous guest reviews showing the apartment was in perfect condition.

 ⚠️Reminder: Requests must be submitted within 14 days of noticing damages or missing items.

Step 6: Try to Settle with the Guest
-Sometimes, a friendly message works first. Show your evidence politely.
-The guest sees the request first and can accept or decline.
-If they accept → great! Compensation will be sent directly to the account you have registered with Airbnb from the guest’s card (bank account) registered with Airbnb.

Step 7: If No Agreement — Airbnb AirCover
-AirCover evaluates your evidence and helps secure compensation.
-Your strength = photos, videos, chats, receipts/links, prior reviews.
-Airbnb decides based on evidence, not emotions. You are fully protected! 💪
-Read Airbnb's help article here : Getting protected through AirCover for Hosts 

-Extra safety net: If AirCover doesn’t resolve the issue, escalate via Airbnb Support’s Dispute Resolution for additional help.

💡 Tips for Hosts
1.Document everything from the start. Walk through the apartment and take photos/videos before the first guest ever arrives.
2.Regular checks and photos between guests: Ideally after each guest, or at least once a month or every 2 months. This keeps your evidence base solid.
3.Keep clear photos, videos, chats, receipts/links, and prior reviews - this is your strongest protection.
4.Be fair and reasonable — ask for compensation only for real, serious damages.
5.You are protected. Airbnb and AirCover back you up if your evidence is clear.

✔️ Do’s & Don’ts

Do:

-Keep photos, videos, and receipts for proof.
-Walk through and document the apartment before the first guest.
-Take screenshots of chats.
-Be reasonable — ask for compensation only for serious damage.
-Try to resolve issues politely before submitting a formal request.

Don’t:

-Don’t ask for compensation for minor accidents (e.g., a single mug).
-Don’t let emotions guide your request — rely on evidence.
-Don’t miss the 14-day deadline.
-Don’t ignore small damages that could later accumulate into bigger problems.

 💡Remember: You are strong, prepared, and fully supported. If something is stolen or broken - follow these steps, present clear evidence, and Airbnb will help you get compensated. You’ve got this! 🏠

PS. Whenever something gets broken or goes missing, I like to imagine two scenarios: either the guest did it on purpose (which would require quite a lot of planning ), or it was simply an accident. Just picture it: the guest staying up all night, plotting to get up at 8 a.m., walk to the kitchen, and deliberately smash your coffee mug. Absurd, right? Almost funny.

So, when you’re thinking about requesting compensation, take a deep breath, imagine the scene, and ask yourself: was it intentional… or just one of those things that happens? Either way, a little humor helps keep things in perspective.

[Serena672]

@Oksana127 io non ho mai richiesto il rimborso 

---

  I never requested a refund 

[Google translation added by OCM]

[Oksana127]

@Serena672 Now you know exactly how it works — and there is nothing to be afraid of. The process is actually quite simple, and it is there to protect hosts when real damage happens.

Hopefully you’ll never need it, but if you do, you now have a clear step-by-step guide to follow 💪

[Lenka146]

and  how are guests protected again fake damage reports? or is this a business idea to ripp of your guests?

[Oksana127]

@Lenka146 

Great question — and a very important one.

Guests are absolutely protected as well. Airbnb does not make decisions based on a host’s words or emotions. Every claim must be supported by clear evidence: photos, videos, communication history, timestamps, receipts, and the condition of the apartment before and after the stay.

Without proof, a host’s request will simply be declined.

Airbnb evaluates facts, not accusations. That’s exactly why proper documentation is essential — for both sides.

This is not about “ripping off guests.” It’s about protecting honest hosts from real damage, while Airbnb’s system protects guests from unfair claims at the same time.

Fair process. Evidence-based decisions. Protection for both parties.