Your concierge in Deauville explains how Aircover, Airbnb insurance works

Real estate is one of the most popular investment areas for the French. It is an investment that is both reassuring and tangible, capable of offering significant returns. However, whether for short-term or long-term rental, risks exist. Many landlords get discouraged in anticipation of late payments, possible damage to their rental or fear of non-compliance with neighborhood rules. They thus lose opportunities to invest in interesting projects due to a lack of security. However, Airbnb rental offers additional coverage through the establishment of specific Airbnb insurance to protect hosts and guests. Your concierge in Deauville will tell you about the advantages of Aircover and the impact of this new insurance on guests. 

Setting up Aircover

Released in November 2021, Airbnb updates its insurance policy by creating Aircover. This protection service replaces the two old covers put in place by the platform: the “Host Guarantee” and protection in the event of a neighbor complaint. However, there have been many criticisms of the method Airbnb uses to handle claims handling. 

It was following numerous criticisms that the online booking site aligned itself with demand by creating its new insurance system. Touted as the most comprehensive protection for hosts, Aircover is completely free and promises three different insurance policies to apply to every situation.

What does this Airbnb insurance cover?

Airbnb Aircover insurance covers both owners and guests using the accommodation. This insurance applies as soon as your ad appears on the platform and gives you automatic protection when booking your accommodation.

To understand how Aircover insurance works, here are the different types of protection available to all users:  

• Protection against damage requiring professional cleaning. This covers you in the event of heavy soiling in your apartment (impregnated smell of cigarettes, stains on your textile furniture, etc.). There is also protection for destruction caused by your tenants' animals. 

• The civil liability insurance for its part protects you in the event of damage and theft in your homes, but also extends its guarantee to the common areas. Airbnb insurance protects you against damage caused by your tenants, up to 1 million euros. 

• Civil liability insurance specific to “Airbnb experiences”. Thought in case of problems and damages suffered during an Airbnb experience offered by the owners (cooking class, visit, etc.).

With Airbnb Aircover insurance, you are also protected against the loss of income caused by the deterioration of your accommodation. Thus, you are covered if you are obliged to cancel a reservation because of the repairs to be carried out. 

For travelers, Aircover also provides protection against scams and unserious landlords. It benefits from several guarantees: 

• His reservation is guaranteed to him once the agreement has been given by the owner (and in the absence of force majeure). 
• His Airbnb travel expenses will be reimbursed if the veracity of the ad is questioned. 
• The platform must provide the tenant with similar accommodation in the event of cancellation of the reservation within 30 days before the reserved date. This also applies if the accommodation is inaccessible at the last minute (incapacity of the owner, etc.). The proposal of a similar accommodation by the platform if the host cancels the reservation (applicable period of 30 days before the start of the rental) or if the accommodation is inaccessible.  

What Airbnb hosts think about Aircover

After a year and a half of good and loyal service, it's time to take stock of the appreciation of the hosts in relation to this new Airbnb insurance.

Insufficient improvement

The old cover put in place by the online booking platform suffered negative feedback on several points. These concern in particular: 

• The many exclusions from the protection: theft of cash, art object, qualification of accommodation eligible or not for insurance, etc. 
• The obligation to go through an amicable reconciliation between the tenant and the landlord. The lengthening of the appeal procedure has also been questioned several times.

Only, after the update of the Airbnb insurance policy and the creation of Aircover, the returns of the hosts are not mainly satisfied and point the finger at the shortcomings of the protection of the platform. 

Yet eagerly awaited by the seasonal rental public, the limits of Aircover were quickly revealed and the owners testified to certain shortcomings when claiming compensation: 

• non-French-speaking assistance;
• problems with processing times and loss of files;
• monitoring by different people with recurring loss of information;
• a refund that falls short of Airbnb owners' expectations. 

AirCover also appears not to cover damage caused in unintentional ways, nor does it work against weather-related damage (earthquakes, storms, etc.). 

Advice from your Deauville concierge 

Consumer opinions are still to be taken with a grain of salt due to the lack of perspective. Indeed, some opinions strongly offset the negative testimonials by being very satisfied with Aircover. Something to raise doubts. 

Nevertheless, at YourHostHelper, we believe that it is better to prevent all eventualities. This is why your Deauville concierge strongly advises you to preserve your home insurance to best cover you in the event of a dispute or damage. Although Airbnb has an insurance policy in place for all its guests, keeping personal insurance will allow you to live your short-term rental more serenely and to move forward with your investment with a clearer mind. Your Deauville concierge accompanies you at every step to help you make the best decisions for your rental investment. 

Airbnb's will shines through in its updates. The American company works to guarantee its users optimal protection. The new Airbnb insurance, Aircover, is part of the measures taken by the platform to cover its owners and travelers against scams or damage suffered during their stays. However, Aircover shows its limits and does not seem to be sufficient for the overall protection of landlords. This is why your Deauville Concierge strongly advises keeping your own coverage in addition to Airbnb insurance to ensure you have a safe and peaceful vacation rental experience.