Airbnb, VRBO, and vacation rental hosts
Short-term rental insurance for Airbnb and VRBO hosts
If you rent a home by the night or week on Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar site, your regular homeowners policy may not cover it. Kaufman Insurance Group compares short-term rental coverage from multiple companies so your home, furnishings, and liability are insured for how you actually rent.
- Options for a home you live in or a dedicated rental
- Coverage choices for the building, contents, rental income, and liability
- Help sorting out what booking site host protections do and do not cover
Personal & Commercial · Quick Quotes – Good Rates · Great Companies
As an independent agency, we compare short-term rental insurance from the companies we work with. The companies that can quote your rental depend on the property, how often it is rented, where it is, and each company’s own rules.
These logos show some of the insurance companies Kaufman Insurance Group may be able to quote as an independent agency. Showing a logo does not mean the company endorses us. Which companies can offer you coverage depends on the type of insurance, where you live, and each company’s own rules.
The basics
Why a regular homeowners policy often falls short
A homeowners policy is written for a home you live in. Renting it to paying guests adds risks the policy was not built for, such as a steady stream of people you have not met, furnishings and supplies you provide, and guests using the pool, hot tub, or dock.
Many homeowners policies exclude or limit coverage for rental activity, and some treat regular hosting as a business. If you rent without telling your insurance company, a claim could be denied. That can include damage to the home and claims from a guest who is hurt.
Booking sites offer host protection programs, but those programs have their own terms and limits and are not a policy you own. It makes sense to review them, and not to rely on them as your only coverage.
A home you live in
Renting a room, a basement suite, or the whole home while you travel.
A dedicated rental
A second home, cabin, or investment property rented to guests most of the year.
Know what you are choosing
Ways to insure a short-term rental
The right choice depends on whether you live in the home, how often it is rented, and how many properties you own. Availability depends on the company and the state.
Dwelling policy with a short-term rental endorsement
A dwelling policy covers a home that is not your main residence. Some companies add an endorsement for nightly or weekly rentals.
Short-term rental policy
A policy built for homes rented to guests, often packaging the building, contents, rental income, and liability.
Home-sharing endorsement
Some homeowners policies offer an add-on for occasional hosting in the home you live in. Limits and rules vary.
Coverage to compare
What short-term rental insurance can include
Short-term rental policies vary a lot from company to company. These are the main parts to look at.
Dwelling coverage
Helps repair or rebuild the home after covered causes of loss.
Contents and furnishings
Helps with the furniture, linens, electronics, and supplies you provide for guests.
Loss of rental income
Helps replace income you lose while the home is repaired after a covered loss.
Liability
Helps pay if a guest is hurt at the property and you are found responsible, including legal defense.
Guest damage
Some policies offer options for damage or theft caused by guests. Ask what each policy includes.
Other structures
Helps with detached garages, sheds, fences, and similar structures on the property.
Is it right for you
Hosts we can help
If paying guests stay in a home you own, your policy should reflect it.
Part-time hosts
You rent your home, a room, or a suite on weekends or while you are away.
Vacation home owners
You own a lake house, beach house, or cabin and rent it out when you are not using it.
Short-term rental investors
You own one or more homes that you run as nightly or weekly rentals.
Landlords switching to short-term
You are moving a long-term rental to nightly or weekly guests, so your policy needs to change too.
Compare with landlord insuranceHosting on Airbnb or VRBO under a homeowners policy? An agent can help you check what is covered.
How Kaufman helps
How we help you insure your short-term rental
We look at how the property is actually used and match it with the right policy form.
Tell us about the rental
Share the address, whether you live there, how often it is rented, where you list it, and amenities such as a pool, hot tub, or dock.
We compare companies
An agent reviews short-term rental options from the companies we work with and explains how each policy form treats rental activity.
Choose your coverage
Pick the coverage that fits. We can also review flood and umbrella coverage, since rentals can add risk.
We focus on Ohio and North Carolina, and we can also help hosts in most other states. Local rules, HOA rules, and your lender may have their own requirements for short-term rentals, so check those as well.
Common questions
Short-term rental insurance questions
Does my homeowners policy cover Airbnb or VRBO guests?
Often it does not. Many homeowners policies exclude or limit coverage when you rent your home to paying guests, especially on a regular basis. Some companies offer an endorsement for occasional home sharing, and others do not. Read your policy and tell your insurance company before you start hosting.
Is the host protection from the booking site enough?
Booking site host protection programs are not the same as an insurance policy you own. They have their own terms, limits, and exclusions, and they can change. Many hosts carry their own short-term rental coverage and treat the platform program as a backup.
What is the difference between a landlord policy and a short-term rental policy?
A landlord policy is usually written for a home rented to a long-term tenant on a lease. A short-term rental policy, or a dwelling policy with a short-term rental endorsement, is built for homes rented to a series of guests by the night or week, often furnished.
Can I get coverage for lost bookings after a covered loss?
Many short-term rental policies offer loss of rental income coverage, which can help replace income you lose while the home is being repaired after a covered loss. Terms vary by company.
Do I need flood insurance for my vacation rental?
Most property policies do not cover flooding. If your rental is near water or in an area that floods, ask us about flood insurance for the building and contents.
Can you insure more than one short-term rental?
Yes, we can help hosts with one property or multiple. Tell us about each property and how it is rented, and we can look at options that fit how you run your rentals.
Related coverage
Coverage that pairs well with short-term rental insurance
Landlord insurance
Coverage for single-family homes, duplexes, and small multi-family buildings rented to long-term tenants.
Explore landlord insuranceFlood insurance
Protection from rising water, which most property policies do not cover.
Explore flood insurancePersonal umbrella insurance
Extra liability protection above your home, auto, and rental policies, where the company allows it.
Explore umbrella insuranceCommercial insurance hub
See all the business insurance we can help with, from liability and property to vehicles and rentals.
Explore commercial insuranceReady to protect your short-term rental?
Start a short-term rental insurance quote online, or contact us with questions. An agent will help you compare your options.
Prefer to talk? Call (330) 486-8404.