VRBO Insurance

VRBO Insurance

Protect your property with customized VRBO rental insurance and rest easy knowing you’re covered from the liability risks you face as a VRBO host.

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Trusted by over 300,000 Canadian small business owners!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
Instant price and coverage in just a few clicks!
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Zensurance - VRBO host coverage

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VRBO Property Owner

Insurance for VRBO rentals

If you rent a seasonal property like a cottage, a house, or a condominium through VRBO or another home-sharing service, get a tailored insurance policy that provides coverage for property damage and liability claims that may arise during a guest’s stay at your property.

VRBO damage insurance typically covers a range of risks, such as accidental damage to the property, theft, and bodily injury or property damage caused by a guest during their stay.

Although VRBO rental insurance can be purchased through the VRBO platform, it may not fully cover you for accidents, mishaps, and damages that can occur, or the amount of coverage provided by VRBO may be insufficient to cover losses.

Insurance for VRBO rentals is not mandatory, but protecting you and your guests in case of unforeseen events is highly recommended.

Insurance for VRBO rentals typically includes a range of coverages that can protect both the property owner and the guest. Some of the recommended coverages for a property owner to be fully insured may include the following:

  • Commercial Property Insurance: Commercial property insurance, or property damage coverage, protects damages to the rental property caused by a guest, such as accidental spills or damage to the furniture, walls, or floors. It typically includes protection against damages caused by floods or water damage, which are not typically covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy.
    • Additionally, this type of insurance also covers the cost of damage and loss because of a fire, theft, vandalism, and extreme weather or a natural disaster. It is designed to cover the cost of replacing or repairing damages to your property, its contents, fixtures and furniture, and your electronics like laptop computers and flat-panel televisions.
  • Contingent Unit Insurance: If you own a condominium or apartment, contingent unit insurance covers the gap in your condo corporation’s policy that doesn’t protect your unit, such as specific perils or events like a flood.
    • For example, if a guest is injured while staying at the property in a slip and fall, CGL can help cover their medical expenses, your legal fees if sued, and damages awarded in a lawsuit.
  • Business Interruption Insurance: This coverage protects loss of income, mortgage and lease payments, and other overhead costs due to unforeseen events, such as a natural disaster that prevent guests from staying at the property. It is usually included in a commercial property policy, but you can add it to your VRBO insurance policy if it isn’t. Business interruption insurance is not a standalone policy. You must have commercial property insurance to qualify for it.
  • Cyber Liability Insurance: Essential protection for any VRBO host, cyber liability insurance safeguards your finances against losses due to data breaches, cyber-attacks, and other digital threats that can compromise the security of guest information. Cyber liability coverage is vital for VRBO hosts to pay for credit monitoring, legal advice, losses because of a system outage following a cyber-attack, and crisis management expenses.

All VRBO hosts are offered up to $1 million of general liability insurance through the platform to cover third-party bodily injuries to your guests and damage to someone else’s property. You may be able to add accidental damage protection to protect your property due to damages caused by a guest, but VRBO’s coverage is typically capped at $5,000.

However, this coverage and its restrictions may need to be increased to protect you and your property. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover additional expenses if you need to file a claim for financial support.

Whether you use VRBO exclusively or other home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb, when you rent your home to guests for short- or long-term stays, insurers view your property as a business property, not a private residence. That means your homeowner’s policy may be void if you file a claim for damage or loss.

Before opening your property to VRBO rentals, talk to your homeowner insurance provider and find out how much coverage they offer if you do so. That way, you’ll know if you have adequate coverage for your home or condo if something goes wrong. If your home insurance provider does not offer enough coverage, it’s wise to get a customized VRBO insurance policy from Zensurance to fill those gaps.

It may seem you’re fully protected between what your home insurance provider may offer and VRBO’s limited liability insurance. But take a closer look. Does the protection you have entirely cover your finances if facing a loss or damage claim or the threat of a lawsuit?

There are many risks all VRBO hosts face. In addition to securing your assets and finances with a customized VRBO insurance policy from Zensurance, you can take proactive steps to protect yourself, such as:

  • Complying with municipal, provincial, and federal laws and regulations governing VRBO rentals.
  • Charging your guests a refundable security deposit for any damage they cause to your property or belongings.
  • Regularly conducting routine inspections and maintenance checks of your property to prevent accidents like a trip and fall or the risk of water-related damage.
  • Ensuring you have an active 24/7 monitored security and fire alarm system.
  • Complying with your condo corporation’s regulations if you rent a condo unit.
  • Removing expensive items or furniture in your home or condo and replacing them with inexpensive items.
  • Asking your guests to sign a liability waiver to release you from legal responsibility for injuries or damages they suffer due to their activities.

Getting insured is quick and easy!

Complete our 5-minute online application for a free VRBO insurance quote.

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Common claims scenarios

house fire

Problem: While unoccupied between short-term rentals, an electrical fire ignites in your home, causing significant damage to your property.

Outcome: Your commercial property insurance may cover repairing the fire and smoke damage to your home. If you have business interruption coverage as part of your policy, it may cover your lost income while repairs are underway following an insurable loss.

cyber-hacker

Problem: You fall for an email phishing scam that compromises your computer and software systems and exposes your past and future guests’ confidential information.

Outcome: Your cyber liability insurance may pay to repair and restore your affected computer and software and provide you with funds for notifying the impacted guests, credit monitoring, and legal advice.

VRGO guest injured

Problem: One of your guests takes a tumble climbing the steps to your rental property and fractures an arm.

Outcome: Your commercial general liability insurance may cover the cost of the injured guest’s medical expenses and provide you with funds to seek legal advice if you are threatened with a lawsuit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to ask my guests to buy a renters’ or tenants’ insurance policy while staying at my VRBO rental property?

Not necessarily. It’s your call if you ask guests to carry a personal renters’ or tenants’ insurance policy to cover the belongings they bring with them and provide them with a limited amount of liability protection during their stay at your VRBO rental. Talk to a Zensurance broker if you have questions about the coverages you need and the pros and cons of requiring your guests to have valid renters’ insurance.

Do VRBO hosts need landlord insurance?

No. Landlord insurance is designed for property owners who rent or lease a home, condo, or apartment to a tenant long-term. For short-term rentals through VRBO, Airbnb, HomeAway or another home-sharing or vacation rental platform, you need the coverage offered by a customized VRBO insurance policy from Zensurance to complement your VRBO or home insurance or to protect your VRBO rental property completely.

How does Zensurance help if I file a claim for damage or loss?

Zensurance has a dedicated team available 24/7 to help you file a claim with your insurance provider and ensure your claim is handled quickly. Although we do not determine the outcome of your claim – your insurance provider decides to offer a settlement or not – if your claim is rejected, we serve as your advocate by contacting the insurance company to ask them to revisit their decision and investigate the matter anew.

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