Are You An Airbnb Host? Read This Guide to Protect Your Guests
Airbnb has changed the face of travel, granting vacationers, business travelers, and more a broader range of options than ever before to find accommodations outside of traditional motels and hotels. Whether you simply need a room and a bed for an overnight stay, or a full vacation home to accommodate an extended family, Airbnb will present a wide variety of short term rental options in a wide variety of locations. However, the break from the standards of traditional hotels opens guests up to possible injury, and takes the duty of their care out of the hands of hospitality professionals. Amateur hosts may make mistakes, and mistakes may prove costly. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will explain how an Airbnb host can protect their guests from injury and themselves from liability.
Understanding Premises Liability and the Duty of Care for Airbnb Hosts
While there are plenty of reasons to opt for Airbnb over long term rental as a landlord, one of the most tempting is the perceived ease. Long term tenancy agreements require leases, background checks, and other boring paperwork. Furthermore, they open a property up to wear and tear. Appliances break down, HVAC and plumbing require service, many of these headaches will inevitably fall on the landlord. Airbnb removes much of the friction from this arrangement. Guests arrive, they leave, and the unit can be reoccupied after nominal cleaning. Furthermore, a house or condo can be segmented into multiple units to increase revenues.
However, the pursuit of profit must never impede on the property owner’s duty under the law.
What is Required of You as an Airbnb Host?
It is the responsibility of landlords to maintain the safety of their property. This is legally referred to as a “duty of care,” which implies that in the event of an injury, failing to keep their property to a minimum standard could result in a landlord premises liability claim. Landlords have a duty to:
- Keep common areas including hallways, stairwells, laundry facilities, elevators, etc. safe and tidy.
- Keep an eye out for any hazards on the property and let renters and guests know about them.
- Respect all local laws, including those pertaining to running water, heating in the winter, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
What to Look For When Conducting Maintenance?
The main cause of premises liability lawsuits are falls. Protecting yourself from liability as an Airbnb host can be as simple as noting areas where such a fall may occur and posting signage to inform guests of the danger. While abatement of such hazards is even better, your duty of care merely requires you to inform guests that a danger may be present. These may include:
- Oddly proportioned or wobbly steps
- Unsecured rugs
- Staircases with poor lighting or insufficient handrails
- Unsecured or uncovered wires
What Else Can Airbnb Hosts do to Protect Their Guests?
In order to ensure a pleasant experience for all involved, Airbnb hosts may wish to provide their guests with some of the following:
- Safety Guidelines – Is any part of the unit “off-limits?” Is there anything your guests should be aware of?
- First Aid Kit – Even a few bandages and some disinfectant can be a huge help under the right circumstances.
- Evacuation Plan – Does your unit have a fire escape? What is the safest way out in the event of a fire, flood, or other emergency?
- Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Early warnings can save lives
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, you may be wondering if you need a personal injury attorney to represent you in your premises liability case. The answer is yes – having an experienced lawyer on your side can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
Malloy Law Offices has experience handling all types of premises liability cases, and we can help you recover the compensation you’re entitled to for your injuries. We’ll handle all the paperwork and dealing with the insurance companies, so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation.