Having Guests Stay? Five Home Insurance Checks to Make

Friends for the weekend, a lodger, a house swap or Airbnb guests...there are plenty of reasons why someone might stay in your home.

But different arrangements can have different implications for your home insurance. Here are five things to know before you hand over the keys. 

1. Friends staying over and paying guests are different 

Friends or family staying for a few nights for free is generally part of ordinary home life. Taking in a lodger or hosting paying guests is different and can affect your insurance. 

Depending on the policy, lodgers or paying guests may be covered as standard, covered with restrictions, require you to tell your insurer, or be excluded altogether. Restrictions may also apply to certain types of claims. 

Look in your policy documents for terms such as lodgers, paying guests, short-term letting or business use. Under the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, your policy documentation should clearly set out the terms, conditions and exclusions that apply to your cover. 

2. Damage and theft aren't treated in the same way 

A guest spilling red wine on the carpet is a different insurance situation from a guest deliberately damaging something or taking it. 

Accidental damage is often an optional part of home insurance, so whether something like a damaged television, furniture or flooring is covered will depend on whether you've selected that cover and on the terms of the policy. 

Theft can be different when you've allowed the person into your home. Some policies exclude or restrict theft or deliberate damage by lodgers or paying guests. Cover for valuables can also be affected if the home wasn't properly secured. 

Your contents insurance is also primarily for your own possessions. A lodger or other person staying with you shouldn't assume their belongings are covered and may need their own insurance. 

3. Platform protection has its own limits 

Hosting, house-swapping and house-sitting platforms such as Airbnb, HomeExchange and TrustedHousesitters can offer their own protection for eligible stays. 

However, this protection comes with its own limits, conditions and exclusions, which can vary between platforms and may change over time. 

If you're using one of these services, check what protection is provided and don't assume it's a replacement for your own home insurance. 

4. Liability matters if someone is injured 

Home insurance generally includes liability cover if someone is injured in or around your home and you're found legally responsible, up to the limits of your policy. 

Paying guests can be treated differently. Some policies restrict liability claims connected with business or commercial use of the home, which may include taking in lodgers or regularly hosting paying guests. 

If you're earning money from the arrangement, check that your liability cover extends to the people staying in your home. 

5. Longer absences can affect your cover 

Home insurance policies can restrict cover if your home is left unoccupied for an extended period. Many policies apply restrictions after a specified period of unoccupancy, often around 30 days, although this varies. 

This can be relevant if you're arranging a house swap or using a house-sitter while you're away. Having someone staying in your home doesn't always mean it meets your policy's definition of being occupied. 

If you're planning a longer trip, check your policy's unoccupancy period and how it defines an occupied home. 

Before you hand over the keys 

Having friends or family stay for a few nights is generally part of ordinary home life. But if you're taking in a lodger, hosting paying guests or leaving your home for an extended period, it's worth knowing how your cover applies before the arrangement begins. 

Your policy documents should set out any relevant conditions or exclusions. If anything is unclear, contact your insurer or broker before handing over the keys. 

Need More Assistance?

If you have further questions, you can contact Insurance Ireland's Information Services team:

Email: feedback@insuranceireland.eu
Tel: (01) 676 1820