Airbnb Liability

An interesting article caught my eye this evening: What happens if someone dies in an Airbnb?

Have you notified your insurer?

Are you covered?

Do you hope for the best/rely on Airbnb's largesse?

 

It seems unlikely that Airbnb would be held liable in this case. It's up to each person running a business to ensure they have sufficient business insurance including public liability. Airbnb is the advertiser of the service, not the business providing it, in my opinion.

 

Can get even more complex when tenants themselves list the house they're renting on airbnb without consent and (largely) voiding the landlord's insurance.

 

A short stay LL (EBM example here) policy may avoid the concerns regarding public liability and being sued. If a claim occurs (ie a spa results in death, electrical hazard etc) its a better situation to be in that you can refer the claim to an insurer who will defend and/or settle than being personally responsible for the defence or a successful claim for example.

Anyone who wants to rely on Aibnb for their apparent policy is nuts. Sure if you are covered the lawyers may defer to that policy first but if its denied then what ?