Damages

[Michael4654]

Hi Host family,

I am a new host to Airbnb. I had an unfortunate incident where a guest damaged my apartment. Check out was 29 December 2019. I found out about about these damages when another guest had checked in a few days later. I then reported to Airbnb on 7 January 2020 ( 9days later). After requesting the guest to pay for damages to no success. Airbnb declined my claim under the host guarantee sighting I  did not qualify because I reported when guest had checked in. I am confused as to why the claim has been declined because my understanding is that you can claim within the 14day period or before another guest check-in. I use a self check in mechanism so most of the time u only know of damages through the next guest who raises complaints about something. I still have not got a solid explanation from support on why claim was declined. Can someone please advise cause I listed my new apartment via Airbnb because I believed it protects me as a host in such incidents

Regards

Michael (South Africa)

[Lisa723]

@Michael4654 you said "I found out about about these damages when another guest had checked in." The policy is that you must initiate your claim within 14 days or before the next guest checks in, whichever is first. Even then, you should not count on Airbnb to compensate you. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't.

You are running a risky business if you do not have anyone inspect your place whenever anyone checks out, not to mention that using your next guests as defacto home inspectors is not a recipe for happy guests.

[Anonymous]

@Michael4654  The next guest checking in stops the clock on that 14 day period, hence those crucial words that you left out, "whichever occurs first."

I don't understand why having self check-in would preclude you from finding damage before the next guest arrives. If you or a designated co-host are not cleaning and inspecting the property after each checkout, how can you possibly vouch for the condition that you're delivering it in to the next guest?