Stockton-Hill Insurance

Airbnb and VRBO Host Insurance

Renting your home on Airbnb or VRBO? Here is what to check

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by. If you rent your home, a second home, a guest house or a spare room on Airbnb or VRBO, one question comes up again and again: "Am I actually covered?" The honest answer is that it depends on your policy, your platform and how you host. At Stockton-Hill Insurance in Kingston, Ohio, we help hosts sort that out in plain English before a guest ever walks in the door.

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Platform host protection vs. your own insurance

Booking sites like Airbnb and VRBO each offer their own host protection programs. Those programs have their own terms, limits and exclusions, and the sites can change them. We do not speak for either platform. Read the current terms on the site you use, and keep a copy of what you read. Then ask an agent how those terms fit with the policy you own. The two are separate, and a gap between them is easy to miss.

Why your homeowners policy may not cover hosting

A homeowners policy is usually written for a home you live in. When paying guests stay, some policies limit coverage, require an endorsement, or exclude certain losses altogether. Rules differ between companies, so there is no one-size answer. The safest move is to ask before you list: "Does my policy allow short-term rental use, and what changes?"

Hosting a spare room, a guest house or your whole home

  • A spare room while you live there. You are on site, but guests still use your home and your belongings.
  • A guest house, in-law suite or ADU. A separate space can change how a policy treats the rental.
  • Your whole home while you are away. Guests are alone in your property, which raises different questions about damage and liability.

Each can be handled differently. Tell your agent which one you do.

Second homes and occasional hosting

If you only list your place for a few weekends a year, or rent a second home during busy seasons, tell your agent. Occasional hosting still changes the risk, and an honest conversation now is far easier than a claim dispute later.

A quick host checklist

Before your next guest checks in, make sure you can answer yes to these:

  1. I told my insurance agent that I host, and how often.
  2. I read the current host protection terms on my booking site.
  3. I know whether my homeowners policy allows rental use.
  4. I know my liability limits and whether they feel high enough for guests.
  5. I have taken photos of the property and my belongings.
  6. Anything guests use outdoors, like a hot tub, pool, fire pit or deck, has been shared with my agent.
  7. I keep booking records for every stay.

Local help in Kingston and across Ross County

We are a Kingston, Ohio agency, and we help Ohio homeowners, including neighbors in Chillicothe and across Ross County, with home and rental questions every day. If you host in another state we serve, we can help there too.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need my own insurance if I host on Airbnb or VRBO?

Most hosts should at least check. Booking sites offer their own host protection, but its terms and limits can change and may not fit your property. A policy in your own name is how you control what is covered. Ask an agent to compare the two for your home.

Does Airbnb host protection replace homeowners insurance?

Not necessarily. Host protection programs from booking sites are separate from your own policy, and each has its own terms, limits and exclusions. Read the current terms on the site you use, then ask us how they fit with your home policy.

Does homeowners insurance cover Airbnb or VRBO guests?

It depends on your policy. Many homeowners policies are written for a home you live in and may limit or exclude coverage when guests pay to stay. Ask your agent to read your policy against your hosting plans before you list.

Can I rent a spare room or guest house and stay covered?

Often you can, but how you host matters. Renting a room while you live there is different from renting a separate guest house or the whole home. Tell your agent which one you do so the policy can be matched to it.

What if I only host a few weekends a year?

Tell your agent anyway. Even occasional hosting can change how a policy treats a claim. We can explain your options so you are not guessing.

What should I tell my insurance agent before I list my home?

Tell us what you plan to rent (a room, a guest house or the whole home), how often, who handles cleaning and check-in, and any extras guests use, like a hot tub, pool or fire pit. Those details shape which coverage fits.

What happens if a guest damages my property?

Whether damage is covered depends on your policy and on what the booking site offers. Take photos before and after each stay, keep your booking records, and contact your agent right away so we can help you sort out next steps.

When does hosting turn into a rental business?

If you add more properties, hire a manager or run several listings, you are likely a business owner. Our short-term rental page covers that case. If you are not sure which one you are, call us and we will help.

Looking for something different?

This page is general information, not a quote or a policy. What a policy covers depends on its terms, limits and exclusions, so ask an agent to review your situation.

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Whether you're requesting a quick personal quote or a detailed commercial review, you'll connect with a real person who listens, explains clearly, and follows through. Sharing your current policy summaries or insurance documents helps us provide faster, more accurate guidance tailored to your needs.

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