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Glossary

AirCover for Hosts

AirCover for Hosts is Airbnb's platform protection program for hosts, combining Host damage protection and Host liability insurance for stays booked on Airbnb. It is a platform benefit administered by Airbnb, not a policy the host owns, and it applies only to Airbnb reservations.

By Andrew Bate, Co-founderReviewed by Stuart BateUpdated

Why this matters for property managers

Managers who rely on AirCover as their damage strategy have no protection on Vrbo or direct bookings, no control over claim decisions or timelines, and exclusions for exactly the scenarios that cost the most — events, intentional damage, and disputes the platform declines. It is useful as a secondary layer behind the manager's own program, and a poor primary one.

Related terms

Damage protection (vacation rental)
Vacation rental damage protection is any arrangement that pays for guest-caused damage to a property: a guest-paid damage waiver, a per-stay damage insurance policy, platform programs such as Airbnb's AirCover or Vrbo's damage protection, or a refundable security deposit. The terms describe different mechanisms, not one product.
Damage waiver
A damage waiver is a non-refundable fee a guest pays at booking — typically $69–$199 per reservation for vacation rentals — in exchange for being released from liability for accidental damage up to a stated limit. Unlike a security deposit, the guest never gets the fee back, and the property manager keeps it as revenue.
Short-term rental insurance
Short-term rental insurance is commercial coverage for properties rented nightly or weekly through Airbnb, Vrbo, or direct booking. It covers the risks homeowners and landlord policies exclude: guest liability, guest-caused damage, and lost booking revenue.

Browse every term in the insurance glossary for property managers.

AirCover for Hosts: common questions

Is AirCover real insurance?

Host liability insurance within AirCover is an insurance policy Airbnb arranges; Host damage protection is a reimbursement program Airbnb administers. In both cases the host is not the policyholder and Airbnb controls the claim.

Can I use a damage waiver alongside AirCover?

Yes. Most professional operators run their own waiver program as the primary layer on every channel and treat AirCover as a backstop for Airbnb stays.

Related guides

AirCover vs. host insurance
Read the full Velaris guide.
Airbnb host insurance
Read the full Velaris guide.
Compare protection options
Read the full Velaris guide.

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