Couple Sues Airbnb After House Fire Claim Gets Denied
A couple in Austin, Texas, has filed a lawsuit against Airbnb after their insurance claim was denied by the short-term rental company.
According to the report, Kenneth Flippin and Candace Duval listed their property up for rent on Airbnb back in July 2015. Their guest negligently threw away a cigarette into a trash bin, which is what led to the damaging fire that cost them priceless family heirlooms, artwork, and more.
They filed a claim with Airbnb’s Host Protection Insurance, but it’s been over 2 years, and they still haven’t seen a penny. Now, Airbnb has closed the claim, citing a lack of cooperation from the couple.
The couple is reporting that Airbnb’s claim process is “overwhelming” and that “It felt like it was meant for us to fail and ultimately give up.”
Safeguard Your Property with Airbnb Insurance for Owners
Platform protection programs like Airbnb’s aren’t a substitute for a policy: their terms come with exclusions and claim requirements that can make it hard to recover for all but small losses. This is because free insurance plans simply aren’t feasible unless there are enough restrictions to prevent too many claims from getting approved.
On paper, Airbnb’s insurance offering may seem like a good deal. After all, they boast of coverage up to $1 million dollars. But, the truth is, it’s providing little more than a false sense of security.
If you’re renting out your property for any length of time, make sure you have a short-term rental policy to protect you and your property.
