Some recognised sharing economy platforms do offer guidance around property safety, and how to minimise risks as a host.
For example, Airbnb provides a help article on how hosts can require guests to be verified before booking. Airbnb also explains how to share “House Rules” with your guests - which are a set of expectations around guest behaviour. There are also more specific issues they address, including what you should consider when offering Internet access to guests, and what you should know if you specify that your property is suitable for children. Furthermore, Airbnb provides a general list of safety tips for hosts.
Ultimately though, the safety of your property and possessions can never be guaranteed. And while there are some actions you can take that may reduce the risk of damage to your property, these preventative measures aren’t the same as cover. This is why ShareCover exists.
ShareCover is designed to provide home and contents insurance to those who are renting out all or part of their home on a recognised platform such as Airbnb, Bookabach, and TripAdvisor. Importantly, ShareCover covers you against risks that may not be covered by your standard home and contents insurance, landlord insurance policy, or by the guarantees and covers provided by certain recognised sharing economy platforms. To find out what you are covered by under your existing insurance arrangements, refer to those policies.
ShareCover is issued by IAG New Zealand Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Insurance Australia Group, Australasia’s largest general insurer. When making decisions about a product, always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). You should carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and all policy documentation for more details.
ShareCover Enterprises is owned by Insurance Australia Limited and is not related to either Airbnb, Bookabach, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Spacer, and Uber. References to these platforms on this website do not constitute an endorsement by these platforms of ShareCover nor an endorsement of these platforms by ShareCover; nor IAG being partnered with these platforms.