Whats the point of a host putting a security deposit????

[Matthew191]

Recently we had a guest who did a fair bit of damage to our house (broken TV, stained couches, etc).  I will not bore you with all the details, but we put in a request for about 2k worth of damages (our security deposit is 1k).  I am still in the process of going through the resolution center, but it is a painful, archaic process.  Customer service asks for heavily detaled invoices, receipts, etc - then when provided they ask for more information which was not asked for initially.  In the end they have denied the majority of my claim for not enough details (although I gave them literally everything they asked for), and part of my claim has not been responded to claiming it is another department (still waiting to hear from them!).  They also refuse to get on the phone to go over the requirments, further delaying, dragging out and confusing the process.

So in the end (thus far), I have gotten back money less than what my security deposit is.  It seems that the security deposit does not help or protect hosts more than it does Airbnb itself.

What am I missing?  Any advice otherwise?

Thanks - a frustrated host.

Matt

[Marzena4]

To answer the question from the topic - to make it seem secure for the host and to encourage him/her to share his/her space so that Airbnb is able to claim their service fees. Following what other hosts have written here in the forum about damage done to their properties makes my hair stand on end, yet at the same time I feel so grateful I have not encountered any of that. Most host have issues with claiming the deposit so you are correct... @Matthew191

[Jody7]

Hi Matthew:

I am now in this rental game for around 7 years.  When I first started, I had no security deposit requirement because I would force all renters to purchase separate insurance from CSA.  Here is the link.

http://www.propertydamageprotection.com/

I found I was putting in claims regularly and realized it was because guests had no skin in the game.  Once I had the guests also put up a security deposit in addition to the CSA insurance, I can tell you my claims have dropped big time.

What I like about CSA is that they are an insurance carrier and getting paid on all claims were no issue at all.  I would tell my guests that after I get paid from CSA for damages, I would then return their security deposit.  They too want to see receipts but if you cant find them pictures and websites with pricing of a similar item works with them.

If you want that extra protection having insurance, you may want to take a look.  I do not pay for this, my guests do.  

[Matthew191]

Thanks Jody.

The site seems to partner with VRBO only however.  You have used this with your Airbnb hosts as well?  How?

[Ally34]

Also curious if you've used this insurance option outside of VRBO?

[Sofia-and-Ed0]

I have the same problem.  Lucky for me it was only $120.  Airbnb seems to care more about the GUEST than the Host who is getting their stuff stolen and/or destroyed.  I don’t understand.