Airbnb rentals have transformed the way people travel, with many opting to go with a short-term rental rather than stay in a hotel when they take a trip. The popularity of these rentals can make them a lucrative investment for people who own properties they don’t normally occupy. However, this venture comes with a unique set of risks.

According to USAA, the major risks of owning an Airbnb include:

Property damage: Homeownership will always come with maintenance costs from normal wear and tear, but when a home is being used as an Airbnb there is always the risk of a renter causing major damage.

Guest injuries: Regardless of whether an owner was present at the time it happened, they can still be held liable for an accident on their property that injured a guest. USAA notes that some common features on Airbnb properties that can open an owner up to extra liability risk are pools, hot tubs, trampolines, bicycles, grills and fireplaces.

Theft of personal belongings: The occasional guest may decide to take home a few of the amenities offered in a vacation rental, like linens, electronics or artwork. Even if an owner reports these thefts, there is no guarantee they will be able to recover their property. In these instances, owners will have to pay out of pocket to replace the item or file a claim on their rental property insurance.

Squatters: Squatting happens when a person resides on a property without permission. Most states have laws to protect squatters, so if a property owner finds themselves with an unwanted guest who won’t leave, they may be looking at a long eviction process.

Loss of use: For Airbnb owners, loss of use means a loss of income. To protect themselves if the property becomes unlivable for a time due to an incident, owners should speak with their insurer about whether their rental property policy includes coverage for loss of use. USAA notes that this coverage is not standard across all rental property policies.

The Perfect Rug recently examined Airbnb statistics in 50 major U.S. cities to determine which have the most Airbnb-ready homes. For insurers looking for new areas to shore up rental property clients, we have shared the top ten most Airbnb-friendly cities in the slideshow above according to their report.

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Brittney Meredith-Miller

Brittney Meredith-Miller is assistant editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. She can be reached at [email protected].