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Airbnb Insurance

Experienced Airbnb holiday let home insurance, providing cover for second homes being let out by Airbnb.

  • Arranging insurance for holiday let owners for over 42 years

  • Available for holiday homes in the UK, Spain, France, and Portugal

  • Properties covered when occupied and unoccupied between guests

  • UK-based customer service team

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Why choose Schofields for Airbnb holiday home insurance?

  • Trusted and proven: rated 5 out of 5 on Feefo

    Our 5 out of 5 'Excellent' Feefo rating is proof from real customers that our cover and service deliver.

  • Same family values, trusted expertise

    Offering the same personal attention, knowledge and care that's defined Schofields since we started in 1984 as a family-run business.

  • Specialist cover for holiday letting and during unoccupancy

    Includes specialist cover for periods when your holiday home is unoccupied, used by family and friends or rented out short-term to paying guests. T&Cs apply.

What does Airbnb insurance through Schofields cover?

Airbnb insurance cover can include buildings and contents insurance, which can be arranged separately or combined to suit what you are looking for.

For hosts, cover can extend to key risks associated with short-term holiday lets, such as loss of rental income following an insured event listed in your policy documents, replacement of keys, and optional contents cover for furnished properties.

If your property is in the UK, Schofields offers both a Standard and Plus insurance policy, depending on the level of cover required. Looking to insure an overseas property? Explore our overseas property page to see what is covered if your property is in Europe.

Available cover types

✓

Buildings & Contents

Full structural and home contents protection.

✓

Contents Only

Cover for your furnishings and belongings.

✓

Buildings Only

Structural coverage for the property itself.

Compare UK Holiday Home and Let Insurance Policies

Plus

Most popular

Enhanced cover — UK properties only

Compulsory excess The minimum fixed amount you would have to contribute to a successful claim.

From £50

Loss Of Use and Denial Of Access Loss of pre-booked rentals or the cost of alternative accommodation under certain circumstances listed in your policy wording, such as damage to your property by storms.

£5,000

Property in the Open Property in the open but within the premises subject to a £5,000 limit. Can cover outdoor items such as garden furniture, BBQs, hot tubs and equipment left outside or in outbuildings.

£5,000 per claim

Theft of Keys The costs and expenses incurred in replacing or changing parts of the locks, if the keys to the buildings are lost or stolen or there is evidence that the keys have been duplicated by an unauthorised person.

£5,000

Locating Leaks Covers the cost of locating and accessing the escape of water - such as breaking through walls, floors, or ceilings - to find the source of a leak.

£5,000

Unoccupancy Conditions No cover restrictions when your property is left unoccupied between lets or visits. Endorsements may be applied at underwriters discretion.

None

Winter Heating & Drain Down Warranties None as standard. Underwriters may however apply terms to individual policies upon review.

No heating, isolation of water
or drain down requirements*

Standard

Standard cover — UK properties only

Compulsory excess The minimum fixed amount you would have to contribute to a successful claim.

From £250

Loss Of Use and Denial Of Access Loss of pre-booked rentals or the cost of alternative accommodation under certain circumstances listed in your policy wording, such as damage to your property by storms.

£1,000

Property in the Open Property in the open but within the premises subject to a £5,000 limit. Can cover outdoor items such as garden furniture, BBQs, hot tubs and equipment left outside or in outbuildings.

£500 per claim

Theft of Keys Covers the costs you have to pay for replacing locks to safes, alarms and outside doors in the holiday home following theft of your keys.

£500

Locating Leaks Covers the cost of locating and accessing the escape of water - such as breaking through walls or floors - to find the source of a leak.

£1,000

Unoccupancy Conditions When your property is left unoccupied, certain conditions apply - such as regular inspections.

Conditions apply

Winter Heating & Drain Down Warranties Maintaining a minimum level of heating or draining the water system during winter months is required.

Required

*Upon review of application the Underwriter may apply terms.

Included in both packages

✓

£5m Public Liability

Included

Financial protection if a guest or visitor suffers injury or property damage.

✓

Accidental Damage

Optional add-on

Accidental Damage to Buildings and Contents is available on both packages when Buildings or Contents insurance is selected. Pet damage included on Plus policies when accidental damage is opted for.

✓

Legal Expenses

Optional add-on

Available on both packages for an additional premium.

For the full information on what is and isn't covered on each policy type, view the Important Documents.

Overseas Holiday Home and Let Insurance Policies

Overseas

For overseas holiday homes in Spain, France, or Portugal

Compulsory excess The minimum fixed amount you would have to contribute to a successful claim.

From £50

Loss Of Use and Denial Of Access Loss of pre-booked rentals or the cost of alternative accommodation under certain circumstances listed in your policy wording, such as damage to your property by storms.

£5,000

Property in the Open Property in the open but within the premises subject to a £5,000 limit. Can cover outdoor items such as garden furniture, BBQs, hot tubs and equipment left outside or in outbuildings.

£2,000 per claim

Theft of Keys The costs and expenses incurred in replacing or changing parts of the locks, if the keys to the buildings are lost or stolen or there is evidence that the keys have been duplicated by an unauthorised person.

£5,000

Locating Leaks Covers the cost of locating and accessing the escape of water - such as breaking through walls, floors, or ceilings - to find the source of a leak.

£1,000

Unoccupancy Conditions No cover restrictions when your property is left unoccupied between lets or visits. Endorsements may be applied at underwriters discretion.

None

Winter Heating & Drain Down Warranties None as standard. Underwriters may however apply terms to individual policies upon review.

No heating, isolation of water
or drain down requirements*

*Upon review of application the Underwriter may apply terms.

Included in overseas property insurance

✓

£5m Public Liability

Included

Financial protection if a guest or visitor suffers injury or property damage.

✓

Accidental Damage to Contents

Optional add-on

Accidental damage to contents in the home when Contents insurance is selected.

Find out more about overseas property insurance, or visit the Important Documents.

couple walking past airbnb

Do I need specialist insurance for my Airbnb?

Airbnb holiday home insurance is designed to cover the unique risks that come with hosting paying guests – something many typical home insurance policies are not designed for.

Through Schofields, cover is available for a range of situations that can arise when letting your property short-term to holiday makers, including damage caused by guests, accidental loss or damage to contents, Public Liability claims if a guest is injured on your property, and loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable following an insured event. Cover can also extend to periods when the property is vacant between bookings.

Schofields Airbnb insurance helps provide financial protection for your second home against the unique risks of short-term letting through platforms like Airbnb, both in the UK, or overseas.

people in front of holiday cabin

Airbnb Insurance for properties in Europe

If your Airbnb property is located overseas, through Schofields, you would need to take out a specialist overseas property insurance policy.

Schofields offers cover for holiday homes and short-term rental properties across popular European destinations, including Spain, France, and Portugal. This is designed specifically for UK residents with second homes abroad.

Cover can be arranged for a range of situations, including when your property is occupied by guests and when it is unoccupied between bookings. This helps to financially protect your Airbnb during both active rental periods and gaps in occupancy.

Why consider Airbnb host insurance?

Letting out a property on a short term basis can look fairly straightforward on the surface, but the reality is that you’re inviting a steady stream of guests, often with very different habits, expectations and levels of care into your holiday home. That unpredictability can be the reason many hosts consider Airbnb insurance and Public Liability to help financially protect their property.

It’s less about expecting the worst and more about recognising what can happen when a property isn’t occupied in the same way as a traditional home.

Some everyday scenarios that can arise include:

Accidental damage to fixtures and furnishings

Guests may unintentionally break items such as TVs, furniture or kitchen appliances during their stay.

Spills, stains and general wear

Carpets, rugs and upholstery can be damaged more quickly with frequent guest turnover, especially with food, drink or luggage in the mix.

Lost keys or security issues

Misplaced keys or tampering with key safes can lead to lock changes or security concerns between bookings.

Fire or water incidents

Something as simple as a kitchen mishap or a tap left running can cause significant damage to the property and neighbouring homes.

Injury claims from guests

Slips on wet floors, trips on uneven steps or accidents involving furniture could lead to guests raising a claim against the host.

Damage affecting neighbouring properties

Leaks, fires or structural issues originating from the rental could impact adjacent properties, triggering third-party claims

Theft or missing items

Personal belongings, decorative items or provided amenities may go missing between stays.

Unapproved gatherings or misuse of the space

Larger-than-expected gatherings can increase the risk of damage, noise complaints or incidents involving neighbours.

For many hosts, these sorts of possibilities highlight the gap between typical home insurance and the realities of short-term letting. Airbnb host insurance and Public Liability can help to financially protect against different risks that come with regularly opening your property to paying guests.

Meet our Airbnb insurance expert

"Short-term holiday lets typically have a higher turnover of guests, increasing the risk of accidental damage and injuries. Providing clear information about the property and its facilities can help avoid misunderstandings and reduce the likelihood of claims."

Phil Schofield

Phil Schofield

Head of Sales and Marketing

Check out profile

What our customers say...

Airbnb Insurance FAQs

  • Airbnb provides AirCover (formerly host protection insurance and host guarantee), but this is not a replacement for a dedicated holiday home insurance policy. AirCover is designed to respond to certain issues linked to bookings made through the Airbnb platform and may not cover all risks associated with owning and letting a property.

    It is also limited to stays booked via Airbnb. This means cover may not apply to bookings made through other platforms, such as VRBO, or direct bookings through your own website.

    A specialist holiday home insurance policy can offer broader cover, including protection for a wider range of risks and booking types through different platforms, not explicitly Airbnb.

  • Many home insurance policies normally won’t cover renting out your home to paying guests. This is likely to invalidate your home insurance.

    It is best to check with your home insurance provider about your policy details.

  • Yes, Schofields generally offers cover for second homes which may have a higher flood risk or experience coastal weather exposure for a higher premium.

  • There’s no single policy for Airbnb hosts. Instead, cover is usually built around a few key areas:

    • Public Liability insurance – in case a guest is injured or their belongings are damaged.

    • Buildings insurance – for damage to the property itself (e.g. fire or flood)

    • Contents insurance – for furniture, appliances and guest-use items

    • Accidents to domestic staff directly employed

    To see what policy elements may be best for your Airbnb, receive a free online quote.

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