How do I file an AirCover damage claim that gets paid?

AirCover for Hosts is Airbnb's protection bundle. The part that pays for guest damage is called host damage protection. It works as a backstop: Airbnb pays only when the guest doesn't, and only when you followed the steps on time with the evidence the terms ask for. Everything below comes from Airbnb's and Vrbo's help centers, read on Nov 4, 2026. HostCalmly is not affiliated with Airbnb or Vrbo, and this is not legal or insurance advice.

The deadlines

Each deadline below counts from the responsible guest's checkout date unless the source says otherwise.

The safe plan is to file as soon as you find the damage, well ahead of the first deadline in the table. On a long stay where the damage happened early, the documentation clock runs from the date of the damage, not checkout. The terms we read don't set a deadline tied to your next guest's arrival, but Airbnb can ask to inspect damaged property, so photograph it before anything is cleaned, repaired or thrown out.

What host damage protection covers

Airbnb's host damage protection article (opens in a new tab) lists:

• Damage to your home, furnishings, valuables or belongings caused by guests or their invitees
• Damage to parked cars, boats or other vehicles caused by guests or their invitees
• Extra cleaning for stains, pet accidents, smoke odor removal or unapproved additional guests
• Lost income if you have to cancel confirmed bookings because of guest-caused damage

The AirCover for Hosts overview (opens in a new tab) says the coverage is up to $3 million, separate from $1 million host liability insurance for guest injuries. All limits are in US dollars.

What it doesn't cover

From the help article and the Host Damage Protection Terms (opens in a new tab) (last updated Aug 1, 2026):

• Normal wear and tear, including deterioration, rust, age and lack of maintenance
• Routine checkout cleaning, such as laundry, dishes or trash
• Natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes
• Mold and mildew, even when there's other physical damage
• Loss of cash and currency
• Mysterious disappearance
• Fine art and valuables that can't be replaced with something of like kind and quality
• Injury to guests or others (that falls under host liability insurance)
• Stays in Japan and stays offered through Airbnb Travel, LLC

Cleaning fees are for expected costs. Airbnb's help article says damage protection is for unexpected costs, such as removing smoke odor. The terms also cover only cleaning costs above the cleaning fee you were paid.

Evidence the terms ask for

Section 3.3 of the terms lists what Airbnb can require. Gather it as you go:

• Photos or videos showing the damage, taken before cleanup or repair
• When and how the damage happened, and how you know the guest or their invitee caused it
• An itemized list with make, model, purchase date, condition and repair or replacement cost
• Receipts or other proof of value for each item
• Detailed repair estimates for damage to the building itself
• Receipts for any extra cleaning
• For smoke odor, evidence such as photos or a professional assessment
• A police report if theft or another crime was involved
• Your messages with the guest, kept in Airbnb's messaging

The terms say evidence must be legitimate and verifiable and must not be doctored or falsified, including with AI. They also say you must take reasonable care to avoid losses, and repeated claims for the same type of loss may be denied.

Airbnb pays based on value, and the terms define actual cash value as replacement cost minus depreciation. Dated photos from a recent turnover show what condition an item was in before the stay. Our cleaning checklist can include a photo step for your cleaner.

Step by step

1. Document right away. Photos, videos, estimates and receipts, before your cleaner fixes or throws anything out.
2. Send the request in the Resolution Center. Explain what happened, why the guest is responsible and the amount. Keep it factual and itemized. Our damage claim message gives you wording.
3. Give the guest their response window. The guest can pay, offer part or decline.
4. Ask Airbnb to step in if the guest declines, doesn't respond or pays only part. Airbnb Support reviews the request. In Washington state, the insurer reviews it instead.
5. Check an automated result. Airbnb says some requests are decided automatically. If you don't accept the result, you can ask for a human review and add evidence or context.
6. Leave an honest review of the guest. Airbnb's ground rules for guests (opens in a new tab) ask hosts to document the issue, use the Resolution Center for damage payments and leave an honest review.

What happens if the guest doesn't pay

Under the terms, Airbnb guarantees the guest's obligation and pays you for covered losses when the guest doesn't (s. 2.3). A few limits apply:

• Payment is capped at what you could have recovered from the guest (s. 7.1).
• Money you got from elsewhere, such as your own insurance or a security deposit, is subtracted (s. 7.4).
• Airbnb can then pursue the guest itself, and you must cooperate (s. 4.8).
• Airbnb gives no fixed payment time. The terms say timing depends on the amount, documentation and other factors (s. 4.2).

Airbnb says host damage protection is not insurance and encourages hosts to buy insurance for losses it doesn't cover.

Vrbo and direct bookings

AirCover covers Airbnb bookings only. The terms say they apply to accommodations listed and booked on Airbnb. A Vrbo or direct booking at the same home gets nothing from AirCover.

Vrbo. Vrbo's damage protection page (opens in a new tab) offers two options. The first is Property Damage Protection, which guests buy (as of Nov 4, 2026, $59 for $1,500 of coverage, $89 for $3,000 and $119 for $5,000). The second is a damage security deposit, equal to the coverage level, that guests can leave instead. You choose which coverage levels your listing offers. For deposits, you must document and report damage within 14 days of checkout. Vrbo also has Host with Confidence (opens in a new tab), a host-paid program for eligible US Instant Book stays, which Vrbo describes as an invite-only beta.

Direct bookings. No platform protection applies. Your recovery depends on your rental agreement, any deposit you collected and your own insurance policy. Our short-term rental insurance basics explain the policy types. Confirm what your policy covers with a licensed insurance agent.