Glossary

Endorsement

An endorsement is an amendment to an insurance policy that adds, removes, or changes coverage — adding pet damage coverage, extending liability to a new property, or naming an additional insured. It is also called a rider.

By Andrew Bate, Co-founderReviewed by Stuart BateUpdated September 14, 2026

Why this matters for property managers

The risks that actually generate vacation rental claims — pets, bed bugs, squatters, smoke remediation, linen damage, liquor at events — are often excluded from base forms and added back by endorsement. Reading the endorsement list tells a manager what the program really covers.

Worked example

A manager adds forty pet-friendly homes in a season. Without a pet damage endorsement the chewed doors and stained carpets are excluded and come out of the manager's pocket; with it, the program pays and the guest fee on those homes is adjusted by a few dollars per stay.

Endorsements property managers should ask for

The base form of a liability or property policy rarely matches a vacation rental portfolio, and the fix is usually an endorsement rather than a different policy. The ones that come up most: a blanket additional insured endorsement so every owner, HOA and city is covered without a separate filing; a waiver of subrogation to match the management agreement; pet damage; bed bugs; event or liquor liability for approved gatherings; holdover or squatter coverage; and smoke or odor remediation. Each one changes the price a little and the claim outcome a lot. Review the endorsement schedule at renewal, and make sure certificates reflect the endorsements owners are relying on.

Related terms

Exclusion

An exclusion is something a policy specifically does not cover. Common exclusions include flood, earthquake, intentional damage, wear and tear, and — in most homeowners policies — commercial short-term rental activity.

Additional insured

An additional insured is a person or company added to a policy who receives some of the policyholder's coverage benefits. Property managers commonly add homeowners, HOAs, and municipalities as additional insureds on their liability policy.

Event liability insurance

Event liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury and property damage arising from an organized gathering — a wedding, retreat, or party — at a vacation rental, at limits selected for the event. It fills the gap left by host policies and platform protection, which typically exclude events.

Browse every term in the insurance glossary for property managers.

Endorsement: common questions

What endorsements do vacation rental programs commonly include?

Pet damage, toilet and sink backup, linen damage, smoke remediation, intentional acts, shared amenities, bed bugs, squatter removal, and liquor liability are common program add-ons.

Do endorsements cost extra?

Coverage-expanding endorsements usually carry additional premium. Administrative endorsements such as adding an additional insured are included in Velaris programs.

Related guides

Insurance programs and endorsements

Read the full Velaris guide.

Vacation rental damage waiver program

Read the full Velaris guide.

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