Stockton-Hill Insurance

Short-Term Rental (STR) Insurance

Insurance for short-term rental owners and operators

If you rent out one property or a whole portfolio to vacationers, you are running a small business, and your insurance should be built for it. At Stockton-Hill Insurance in Kingston, Ohio, we help short-term rental (STR) owners and vacation rental operators put the right protection in place. We start by listening to how you actually run your rentals, then compare options from several insurance companies. As an independent agency, we work for you, not for one company.

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Why a standard homeowners or landlord policy may not fit rental use

A homeowners policy is written for a home someone lives in. A traditional landlord policy is written for a tenant who signs a lease and stays for months. A short-term rental is different: new guests every few days, strangers using your property, hot tubs and fire pits, and income that stops when the property is closed for repairs. Some policies limit or exclude coverage when a home is rented to guests, and the rules differ from company to company. That is why it pays to tell your agent exactly how you rent before something happens, not after.

What STR coverage can include

Every policy is different, and we explain the terms in plain English. Short-term rental coverage can include:

  • The building and your belongings in it, such as furniture, appliances and linens you provide for guests.
  • Guest liability, which can help if a guest or visitor is hurt and says the property was at fault.
  • Lost rental income, which can help replace booking income while a covered loss keeps the property closed.
  • Higher liability limits through an umbrella policy, which sits on top of your other liability coverage.
  • Equipment and outdoor features, such as hot tubs, decks and fire pits, which are worth raising with your agent up front.

Not every policy includes every item, and some items cost extra. We help you see what each option does and does not cover.

Running more than one property

Many owners start with one cabin or one condo and add more. When you own several properties, you may have to think about LLC ownership, property managers, different locations and different kinds of buildings. We can look at the whole picture so the policies fit together, with fewer gaps and one team to call. If you add a property, tell us before the first guest arrives.

Luxury and coastal rentals

Do you own a higher-value vacation home, or a rental near the coast? Those properties bring their own questions. High-value homes may need higher limits and careful replacement-cost numbers. Wind, named-storm and flood coverage are often handled differently from the main policy, and flood is usually a separate policy altogether. We write coverage for owners in the areas we serve, which include coastal states such as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine. If you rent out a luxury or coastal property, call us and we will walk through your options with you.

Questions to review at renewal

A renewal is a good time to check that your policy still matches how you rent. Bring these questions to your agent:

  1. Have I added or sold any properties since last year?
  2. Has the property's value or rebuild cost gone up?
  3. Do I use a property manager or a cleaning company, and does the policy say anything about that?
  4. Have I added a hot tub, fire pit, deck, pool or other feature guests use?
  5. Do I rent through more than one platform, or directly to guests?
  6. Are my liability limits still enough for how many guests I host?

How we work with STR owners

Josh Dille and Clay Edler work with short-term rental and vacation rental owners every day. We review your properties, explain your options in plain language, and stay involved at renewal and when claims happen. If something changes, call or email us. We will help you adjust.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need special insurance for a short-term rental?

In most cases, yes, or at least a policy that clearly allows rental use. A regular homeowners policy may limit or exclude coverage when guests pay to stay. Tell your agent how you rent so the policy can be matched to it.

Does homeowners insurance cover a short-term rental?

Sometimes only in part, and sometimes not at all. Many homeowners policies are written for a home you live in. Policies differ, so ask your agent to read yours with your rental plans in mind before you list the property.

What is the difference between STR insurance and landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance is built for long-term tenants. STR insurance is built for frequent guest turnover, shorter stays, furnished properties and the risks that come with them. If you rent both ways, tell your agent.

Can I insure several rental properties together?

Often you can arrange them so they work together, whether through one program or several policies. We look at your whole portfolio, including LLC ownership and property managers, so the coverage fits together.

Does STR insurance cover lost rental income?

Coverage for lost rental income can be added to some policies. It generally applies when a covered loss, such as a fire, keeps the property from being rented. Ask your agent how it is calculated and how long it lasts.

What happens if a guest is injured?

Guest liability coverage can help if a guest is hurt and says the property was at fault. Limits matter here, and so do details like hot tubs and fire pits. Call us before you list the property, not after a claim.

Do I need an umbrella policy for a rental business?

An umbrella adds liability coverage above your other policies. Many rental owners consider one because they host many guests over time. We can show you what it would add for your situation.

Do you insure luxury or coastal vacation rentals?

We help owners in the areas we serve, which include several coastal states. High-value and coastal properties have extra questions about limits, wind and flood. Call (740) 642-3333 and we will walk through them with you.

Can I get a quote online?

Yes. Use the Get a Quote button, or call or email us and an agent 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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