Does standard Danish home contents insurance cover short-term letting?

Rarely on its own. Insurers treat short-term letting as close to business use, so cover can be reduced or refused while a paying guest is staying, unless you have agreed otherwise. Some companies sell a rental add-on, and others cover only a limited scope such as fire, water and break-in theft. Check your own policy before you open the calendar.

What does AirCover cover, and what does it not cover?

AirCover for Hosts gives damage protection of up to 3 million dollars if a guest damages your home or belongings, plus liability cover of up to 1 million dollars, and it can pay for extra deep cleaning and lost income from a cancelled booking. It does not cover ordinary wear and tear, cash, or usually linen, towels and other consumables, and it does not apply to bookings made outside Airbnb.

What are the deadlines for reporting damage?

Report through Airbnb's Resolution Center quickly, in practice within 14 days and before the next guest checks in. Send photos and keep the communication with the guest inside Airbnb's message system, since that is the documentation that counts. Since April 2026 the evidence standards are stricter, so thin proof gets rejected more often.

Do I have to tell my insurer that I rent out?

Yes, tell them and get the answer in writing. Say how often you let, whether it is a room or the whole home, and whether it goes through a platform. A verbal yes will not help you the day the damage has happened.

Who pays if a guest damages something?

For stays booked through Airbnb, AirCover's damage protection can reimburse you if the damage falls within the cover and you report it correctly and on time. Airbnb does not normally take a classic security deposit, so there is no deposit to hold back from. Outside Airbnb you depend on your own insurance and on what you agreed with the guest.

Airbnb and insurance: who pays if a guest breaks something?

It is probably the worry that stops the most people from starting. What actually happens if a guest ruins the sofa, drops a vase on the old parquet floor, or leaves the tap running while they are out? The short answer is that you are covered better than many people think, but not in the way most people assume.

When you rent through Airbnb, something called AirCover for Hosts comes with it. Damage protection gives you up to 3 million dollars, roughly 20 million kroner, if a guest damages your home or your belongings. Liability insurance gives up to 1 million dollars, a little over 6 million kroner, if a guest or another person is hurt during the stay and you are found responsible. The damage protection also covers extra deep cleaning after a messy stay and lost income if damage forces you to cancel an upcoming booking.

But pay attention to the words. The damage protection is not insurance in the classic sense, but a promise from Airbnb to reimburse you under set rules. You have to document the damage properly and meet the deadlines, or you will not get the money. AirCover does not cover ordinary wear and tear, cash, or usually bed linen, towels and other consumables.

Two things matter especially in 2026. Airbnb tightened the rules in April 2026, so there are stricter evidence standards and a clear expectation that you took reasonable care of the home. And AirCover only applies to stays booked through Airbnb, so bookings via Booking.com or direct have none of that protection. Your ordinary contents insurance is rarely enough on its own, because insurers treat short-term letting as close to business use.

Arnor ApS, H.C. Ørsteds Vej 63, 1879 Frederiksberg. +45 71 33 82 53. info@arnor.dk