For Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com hosts
Guest damaged your place? Claim it before the clock runs out.
On all three platforms you have 14 days from checkout. Claims fail when they're late, when the damage looks like wear and tear, or when there's no proof it was fine before. Build an itemised claim that avoids all three.
Your claim
Request to the guest
If they don't pay
How guest damage claims work
| Platform | Claim within | First step | If the guest won't pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | 14 days after checkout | Request money in the Resolution Center; guest has 24 hours | Ask Airbnb to review under AirCover for Hosts |
| Vrbo | 14 days after checkout | Claim against the damage deposit or card on file | Property Damage Protection claim, or Vrbo support |
| Booking.com | 14 days after checkout | Report damage (damage programme only) | Capped at €250; your own insurance above that |
What evidence wins a damage claim?
Dated photos or video from before the stay (your turnover photos) and after checkout, a receipt or repair quote for each item, and any message where the guest mentioned the damage. Airbnb doesn't accept AI-generated or AI-edited images as evidence.
What gets refused?
Normal wear and tear, consumables, cleaning already covered by your cleaning fee, and anything you can't show was fine before the stay. Claim the repair or the item's current value, not a brand-new upgrade.
Should I message the guest first?
Yes. Airbnb only steps in after you've asked the guest to pay, and a calm, itemised request is the one most guests pay without a fight.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's information and message templates based on each platform's published help pages. Platform rules change, so check the current terms on your claim.
Checked 14 October 2026 against Airbnb's Help Center (Host damage protection), Vrbo's damage deposit help page, and published summaries of Booking.com's damage programme.