Host Protection Insurance

If you’re one of many people who rent out their property on home sharing websites such as Airbnb, it is essential that you have the right insurance in place.

We know that it can sometimes be confusing and difficult to find a policy which will cover you – but we are here to help!

At Discount Insurance, we are able to offer Host Insurance that provides full cover for a permanent home which is part let.

Our cover includes:

• Loss or damage due to fire, smoke damage, lightning, explosion or earthquake
• Loss of metered oil and water
• Subsidence, heave or landslip
• Property Owner's Liability up to £2 million
• 90 days unoccupancy allowed
• 'New for old' replacement of items

Buildings additional options:

• Alternative accommodation – up to 20% of the sum insured
• Damage to locks and replacement of keys up to £500
• Removal of debris and cover of building fees
• Loss or damage to pipes, drains and cables, fixed glass, sanitary ware, gardens, trace and access and emergency access
• Accidental damage – Optional opt-in cover

Although some home sharing platforms do offer a certain level of cover when your property is listed with them such as Airbnb’s ‘Airbnb Insurance’, it is unlikely that these will provide an extensive range of protection.

Your standard home insurance policy may also not provide all the cover that you will need.

Important things you may want to cover include the buildings and contents, accidental damage and home emergency cover.

Buildings & Contents

It is essential to protect your property and its contents when you share your property with people who are most likely to be strangers. Unlike when you let out a property to tenants, you cannot do a background check on the people staying in your home when you use home share sites. That means you can’t be sure whether they are likely to care for your contents or not.

It is also important to remember that certain insurances offered by home share sites such as the Airbnb Guarantee will not cover storm or flood damage to your home.

At Discount Insurance, you can protect either your buildings or contents, or you can choose to cover both.

Accidental Damage

When accidents happen, they can be expensive and leave you out of pocket. It can also be very difficult and frustrating when something irreplaceable is damaged which is why Accidental Damage should be considered. Speak to us today to find out about the different options available.

Home Care Emergency

In the event of an emergency, this cover ensures that you are advised on the actions to take to protect yourself and your home, an authorised service agent or contractor will also visit your home to assess the damage and the cost of emergency assistance will be covered.

We are able to cover up to £500 in the event of an emergency and you will be provided with a 24 hour help line.

Public Liability

You may also want to consider Public Liability protection. Since October 2015, Airbnb has introduced public liability in the form of Host Protection, however this does not cover a liability claim which arises outside of a stay by a guest. It is essential to be protected for periods when a guest is not staying in your property.

Airbnb gives a clear example of when and when not their host protection cover will protect you, for example if a guest breaks their wrist after slipping on a rug in your property, you are covered.

However, you are not covered if a postman trips on a loose step which is not cemented properly whilst on your property and suffers a broken ankle. As the second situation has no relation to your listing on the home sharing website, you will not be covered under their host protection.

If you rent out your property on Airbnb, Wimdu, Onefinestay or Homestay, contact us for a competitive quote on 0800 294 4522 today!