How to Insure Guest-Caused Damage and Theft at Your Vacation Rental
- Nate Jones, CPCU, ARM, CLCS, AU
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Owning a vacation rental comes with unique risks—guest-caused damage and theft are among the most common. Many property owners assume that a standard homeowners policy or platform protections are enough, but the truth is these often leave significant gaps in coverage.
Insuring your rental properly ensures you can recover costs and continue hosting with confidence.
Why Standard Homeowners Insurance Isn’t Enough
Homeowners insurance is designed for owner-occupied residences. Most policies exclude business activity, which includes short-term rentals. This means that if a guest:
Damages furniture or electronics
Steals property or personal items
Causes a fire or water damage incident
Even platform guarantees, like Airbnb’s Host Guarantee or Vrbo’s insurance, provide limited coverage that does not replace a full insurance policy:
Vacation Rental Insurance: How It Covers Guest Risks
Vacation rental insurance is designed to cover risks standard policies do not, including:
1. Guest-Caused Property Damage
Protects your home, furnishings, and appliances from accidental or intentional damage by renters.
2. Theft Coverage
Covers stolen property, whether it’s electronics, furniture, or personal items used in the rental.
Covers injuries to guests caused by property hazards, including slip-and-fall accidents or pool incidents.
4. Loss of Rental Income
If the property becomes uninhabitable due to covered damage, this coverage replaces lost rental income.
5. Optional Add-Ons
Some policies allow coverage for natural disasters, equipment breakdown, or additional personal property.
Steps to Protect Your Vacation Rental
Evaluate your current homeowners or landlord policy to identify exclusions.
Work with an insurance specialist, like Wexford Insurance, to find a policy tailored to short-term rentals.
Document your property and contents with photos and inventories.
Implement preventive measures such as security cameras, locks, and guest agreements.
Why Choose Wexford Insurance
At Wexford Insurance, we specialize in vacation rental policies that cover guest-caused damage, theft, and liability. Our team helps property owners find comprehensive protection at competitive rates.
