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Shutterstock/Joshua Rainey Photography

It pays to read the fine print when you Airbnb

The home-sharing site has fans across the world – but there are a few things you should know.

IT HAS WON legions of fans for opening up affordable and sometimes off-beat accommodation to travellers across the world.

But Airbnb hosts across Ireland could be unwittingly leaving themselves open to major costs if something goes seriously wrong during their guests’ stays.

This week it was revealed the home-sharing site – through which people can book anything from a bed to a whole house or even a castle - was soon likely to be valued at more than almost any hotel chain in the world.

In Ireland, its listings include over 1,000 active rentals and globally it has passed 35 million guests.

However while the company says problems with all those trips are extremely rare, it is the hosts who are largely left holding the can when things do go awry.

In its terms of service, Airbnb stresses those using the site “do so at (their) sole risk” and it had no obligation to do background checks, offer any guarantee of quality or accept liability on claims relating to its bookings.

airbnb1 An Irish castle listed on Airbnb Airbnb Airbnb

While the company offers a “host guarantee” for property damages up to €800,000 to hosts, it goes on to say this “should not be considered as a replacement or stand-in for homeowners or renters insurance”.

The policy also comes with a list of exclusions, including personal liability. That means Airbnb effectively pushes responsibility back onto hosts for issues not covered under the guarantee or their ability to claim for minor amounts from guests’ deposits and credit cards.

In one US case late last year, a host was left in the lurch for nearly $10,000 after her guests blocked a toilet and flooded the apartment.

These problems are hardly unique to Airbnb, but the site has brought short-term rentals and home-sharing firmly into the mainstream for those on all budgets.

509306957DH00046_TechCrunch Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky TechCrunch TechCrunch

A grey area

Meanwhile, the seven-year-old site still operates in a legal grey area as to how far its responsibilities to hosts and guests stretch. It makes its money charging both guests and hosts service fees of up to 12% on their bookings.

So far, its most serious threats have come in some of its longest-standing markets, like San Francisco and New York, where there are tight controls on short-term property rentals.

Travel- Airbnb Hearing Airbnb opponents in New York early this year Associated Press Associated Press

However even for those legally renting properties in Ireland with the added protection of insurance cover, the situation is far from clear.

TheJournal.ie contacted several major providers, most of which warned an Airbnb-style rental could void their policies altogether if the insurer wasn’t given notice.

Cover for paying guests also varies widely. Allianz said its standard policies included scope to charge for up to six guests, while both Aviva and Zurich said owners would need to take out a specific bed-and-breakfast policy to be covered for Airbnb rentals.

Airbnb Law Rally A rally in favour of home-sharing in San Francisco last year Kevin Krejci Kevin Krejci

In the US, Airbnb launched its own $1 million Host Protection Insurance in January to cover cases of guest injuries and wider property damage.

A spokesman told TheJournal.ie the company was “working hard” to find ways to expand the scheme internationally.

None of these issues, however, appear of much concern to the people actually opening up their properties to strangers.

Apartments As Hotels An Airbnb host in New York AP Photo / Seth Wenig AP Photo / Seth Wenig / Seth Wenig

Not a business

One Dublin homeowner, who asked not to be identified, said she was yet to have a bad experience with a guest despite renting out a room in her family household for the past year.

She said she wasn’t worried about what could go wrong while hosting, despite having no insurance cover.

I don’t see it as a business as such, it’s just a few extra people coming to stay with me … it’s really interesting bringing in new guests from all over the world,” she said.

Wealth Gap Hotels An Airbnb rental in Los Angeles Associated Press Associated Press

Another host, who manages a dozen properties in Dublin rented through Airbnb among other sites, said she had seen a lot of minor damage – from broken glass to blood-stained apartments and kicked-in doors.

However she said they had all been covered by guests’ deposits or credit cards, and nothing more serious had gone to justify worrying about insurance.

I’ve discussed that with my boss a number of times, but he’s of the opinion that it’s never going to happen,” she said.

This month, as part of TheJournal.ie’s ongoing startup and small and medium enterprise (SME) focus, we are looking at peer-to-peer services and the sharing economy.

To view other stories from our collection, click here.

READ: This Sligo castle has changed hands for the first time since Oliver Cromwell >

READ: How a 22 year old turned a crazy idea into a company seeking $2 million >

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17 Comments
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    Mute Kian
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    Jun 20th 2015, 9:53 AM

    I don’t get the sign “my home is not a hotel”…ok…so don’t rent it out…?

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    Mute Neil Cooney
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:50 AM

    I think they are residents of an apartment block, where they see the unsocial behaviour of some air bnb guests in their lobby, etc. So they dont necessarily rent out their place but have some knock on effects from their neighbours doing so.

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jun 20th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Thanks Neil. I was also confused by the protesters.

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    Mute cybergal99
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    Jun 27th 2015, 5:38 PM

    you have no control when your landlord turns the building you’ve been living in for 25+ years into a hotel .. that’s what it means!

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    Mute Aine Nibhern
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    Jul 25th 2015, 11:25 AM
    3
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    Mute Siobhán Gallagher
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:05 AM

    I have had nothing but good experiences as an Air B&B guest! Every stay has lended much more character than staying in a hotel.

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    Mute John Reese
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:53 AM

    AirBnb is great. Stay in a Manhattan apartment for a fraction of the price of a small hotel room.

    44
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    Mute Mary King
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:42 AM

    Have stayed in airbnb accommodation twice. Very pleased with our hosts and accommodation, however for our first trip I had booked accommodation and had money debited from my Visa account and next day Aer Lingus changed their flight schedule, despite numerous efforts to contact airbnb we never heard back from them and ended up paying for 4 nights and due to flight changes could only stay for 3. The next time I tried booking all went well until they wanted a copy of either my passport or my drivers licence ‘for verification ‘ purposes. That took 2 days and numerous phone calls to sort out, this was despite the fact that they had my email address, my mobile number, my Visa account and a very good testimonial from my previous host.
    I have found them to be impossible to communicate with as they never respond to emails. However in both of my experiences the accommodation was as described and the hosts were excellent

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    Mute sister atrocious
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    Jun 20th 2015, 12:07 PM

    Spot on just another “rent seeking” operation like Uber.

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    Mute Parkme.ie
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    Jun 20th 2015, 6:49 PM

    Would a hotel refund you one night if your flights change? Each room on Airbnb has a cancellation policy chosen by the owner or host. Surely the airline should be responsible for that loss?

    There is no excuse for poor customer service with the fees that they charge however.

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    Mute Danny Mike Hennessy
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    Jun 20th 2015, 11:09 AM

    btw if you dont like airbnb service charges homeaway is a better alternative

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    Mute Cleaver Beast
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:16 AM

    Can you get a legal document drafted and have all liability transferred to the guest for duration of their stay?

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    Mute Alphonse delatouche
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    Jun 20th 2015, 10:24 AM

    You could …but if potential guests see red tape,they could go elsewhere

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    Mute Cleaver Beast
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    Jun 20th 2015, 4:11 PM

    Obviously this would take place after they’ve already paid in full and arrived at your property. They’d have nothing to worry about if they didn’t intend to cause damage etc.

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    Mute James Kingston
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    Jun 20th 2015, 11:48 AM

    “One Dublin homeowner, who asked not to be identified…
    I don’t see it as a business as such, it’s just a few extra people coming to stay with me”
    Yeah, you can drop the children of the world act. You’re dodging tax.

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    Mute James Kingston
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    Jun 20th 2015, 12:01 PM

    “One Dublin homeowner, who asked not to be identified…
    I don’t see it as a business as such, it’s just a few extra people coming to stay with me”
    Yeah, you can drop the children of the world act. You’re dodging tax. .

    1
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