As a Booking.com host, your top priority is creating a safe and enjoyable experience for your guests. But what about protecting your vacation property from the unexpected? That’s where Booking.com insurance for hosts comes in. With solutions like Partner Liability Insurance, you get primary coverage tailored to safeguard you against potential hosting risks.
This blog post delves into the essentials of this insurance, helping you understand its features and how it works.
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What Are Booking.com Insurance Options for Hosts?
Booking.com offers specific insurance programmes for hosts to provide protection and peace of mind when renting out properties.
The available insurance options include:
1. Partner Liability Insurance
Booking.com’s Liability Insurance offers hosts up to 1,000,000 USD in primary liability coverage for each reservation made through their platform. This coverage has no additional cost to hosts. It protects against third-party lawsuits or liability claims for bodily injury or property damage incurred during a guest’s stay. Having this insurance is useful for large damages.
Booking.com itself is not an insurer. To offer you a liability insurance solution, they have partnered with Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, a leading global insurance provider.
2. Damage Policy Options
For everyday damages, you have two options to choose from: the damage deposit and the damage programme. These damage policy options cover the cost of repairing or replacing items or property damaged by guests.
These options differ in how the payment process is handled. With the damage deposit, you manage the process independently, while the damage programme allows Booking.com to handle the payment process on your behalf.
What Are the Key Features of the Booking.com Liability Insurance?
Here are some key features of the Booking.com insurance for hosts:
- Automatic Enrollment: Eligible home-like properties are automatically enrolled in the programme. This ensures that all Booking.com reservations are covered without any additional action required from hosts.
- Primary Coverage: The insurance serves as primary coverage. So, it responds first to any eligible claims when the host has other liability insurance policies.
- Global Protection: The programme provides liability coverage for home-like properties worldwide, offering hosts peace of mind regardless of their property’s location.
What Is Covered in Booking.com Host Insurance?
The Bookimg.com liability insurance covers hosts against third-party claims arising from incidents such as:
- Bodily Injury: For example, if a guest slips in the shower and sustains an injury, they may hold the host responsible.
- Third-Party Property Damage: For instance, if a guest accidentally leaves a tap running, causing water damage to a neighbouring apartment.
What Is Not Covered with Booking.com Liability Insurance?
It’s important to note that certain incidents are excluded from coverage by Booking.com host insurance, such as:
- Damage or Harm Caused by Pets: For example, if a guest’s cat injures a neighbour.
- Personal Injury to the Host: Incidents where the host themselves are injured on the property.
- Intentional Damage or Injury: Any harm or damage caused deliberately.
- Damage to the Host’s Personal Property: For example, if a guest breaks the host’s TV or furniture.
How Can I Submit a Claim for Booking.com Insurance?
All insurance claims through Booking.com will be managed by the designated claims administrator (Crawford). Be aware that Booking.com does not handle claims directly.
1. Gather Information:
Collect as much detail as possible about the incident and/or any injured third parties, including:
- How, when, and where the incident (“occurrence”) happened.
- Names and addresses of injured individuals and witnesses.
- Details about the nature and location of any injury or damage.
2. File a Claim:
- Log into the Extranet.
- Go to Reservations and select the reservation linked to the incident.
- On the Reservation Details page, click on Make a Claim.
- Click on Submit Claim for Crawford to process the claim.
- Crawford will send a confirmation receipt within 48 hours of your claim submission.
- After submitting, the claims administrator will evaluate your claim. They may request additional information before making a decision.
3. Track Your Claim:
- For updates, contact Crawford at Booking.comHelp@crawford.com.
- All communications will be sent to you via email.
How to Cancel the Booking.com Host Insurance
You can opt out of the programme at any time through the Extranet. Follow these steps:
- Log into the Extranet.
- Navigate to Property and then General Info.
- Under Partner Liability Insurance, check the box labelled “I’d like to opt out of the Partner Liability Insurance programme.”
- Click Opt Out to confirm.
You can enable Booking.com insurance for hosts anytime on the same page.
While Booking.com does not currently offer property-specific insurance similar to Airbnb’s AirCover, they emphasise protection through their Partner Liability Insurance. Hosts may also consider supplementary private insurance policies to cover property damage, theft, and other risks.
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