20 Airbnb Hosting Tricks - guide discussion

Rotax912s

Just to say well done on the airbnb article - very helpful 
I am an airbnb superhost for the past few years and have met some great guests with only a handful I would not really want back
Getting buildings and contents insurance while being an airbnb host is a nightmare with many like Aviva for instance only willing to provide cover for 30 days a year which is no good to anyone really - my listing is a large family bedroom on the 1st floor of a modern town house with great private ensuite bathroom, guests share the kitchen and eat in the room - it's more or less permanently booked
So what's the deal why all the fuss - I can understand insurers being nervous and reluctant to cover if you were not in residence just letting out without being there or at least someone being there and you do hear of some nightmare stories of whole houses being trashed in cases like that but the majority of hosts like me just let out a room in their main dwelling 
I found MSE advice to contact BIBA really good - they put me on to Adrian Flux where I just got next years policy nearly £200.00 less than my current provider 
I also think the majority of hosts think they will be ok with airbnb host protection but as MSE advises it is riddled with loop holes and is not good to rely on especially if the listing is your main residence as well 
If you take in paying guests then the moment a paying guest steps through the door your domestic insurance becomes nil and void - so my advice is always to get house and contents cover that allows for airbnb hosting as well 
I do not want to come home one day and find my home burn to the ground and then be in dispute with airbnb loss adjusters working out whose fault it was !!
Chris