Who Pays for Property Damage to a Vacation Rental?

You may think it is strategic to rent your secondary real estate property to third-party visitors and vacationers as a means of collecting passive income. However, these earnings may not come as easily or simply as you anticipate. That is, as the owner of the property and host of the vacation stay, you have a responsibility to upkeep the premises. But also, you may be on the hook for any damages the guests cause during their visit. With that being said, please follow along to find out who pays for property damage caused to a vacation rental and how a proficient Miami property damage lawyer at the Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA, can help you get the coverage you are entitled to.

Who is responsible for paying for the property damage to a vacation rental?

First of all, you must understand that your standard homeowner’s insurance policy may not provide coverage for the short-term rentals you offer guests. With that, you should look into purchasing additional policies if you are ever held liable for a guest’s personal injuries or damages.

Also, if you promote your vacation rental through an online booking system like Airbnb or Vrbo, you should know that these companies may offer some liability coverage to their hosts. Generally speaking, you may receive protection for up to $1 million worth of personal property that your guests incur or the damage they cause to neighboring properties during their stay.

Otherwise, you may be responsible for covering the cost of minor damages or normal wear and tear your property experiences after a guest’s stay. This may include a lifted floor tile, a loose doorknob, or minor stains. Importantly, though, things such as missing tiles or handrails can also be dangerous, so you are charged with promptly addressing them.

But there may be an incident in which a guest practices sheer negligence during their stay. This may result in damage to your property that is beyond what is considered minor or expected, such as broken furniture and electronic appliances. With this, you may attempt to hold a guest responsible for the costs of repairs or replacements in a legal claim.

How do I prove that I did not cause damage to a vacation rental property?

Whether you are the host or guest in a situation where a vacation rental property incurs damage, you must have enough evidence that it was not your fault. One way this may be accomplished is by taking photos and videos of the entire premises before and after the scheduled period of stay. With this, you may prove that the damage already existed before the stay or did not arise during the stay.

The first step toward preparing yourself for this legal action is to retain the services of a talented Miami-Dade County injury lawyer. Look no further than the Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA.