Proper Insurance releases free short-term rental coverage guide

Proper Insurance has published a free guide with 10 questions short-term rental owners can ask their insurance agent in writing before the next booking season. The company says the checklist is meant to help hosts spot coverage gaps in homeowners policies that may not respond to guest damage, off-premises liability or lost income.

Why it matters: - Short-term rental owners can face coverage gaps they do not discover until after a claim starts. - The guide is meant to help hosts confirm, in writing, whether their insurance actually responds to short-term rental activity. - The issue matters most for hosts moving from peak season into the next round of bookings, when property risks and repair needs can stack up.

What happened: - Proper Insurance released a free guide with 10 questions short-term rental owners should ask an insurance agent in writing. - The guide is aimed at owners who are still using Homeowners policies that were never written for short-term rentals. - Justin Brodin, chief marketing officer at Proper Insurance, said a verbal yes from an insurance agent is not the same as coverage confirmed in writing from the underwriter.

The details: - The guide gives owners specific language to use with an agent so they can get a definitive written answer on whether a policy responds to STR hosting. - Proper Insurance says three common gaps are guest-caused damage and theft, off-premises liability, and loss of business income. - Homeowners policies may exclude theft or vandalism by someone the owner has entrusted the home to, including paying short-term rental guests. - Standard policies often stop liability coverage at the property line. - Owners who offer kayaks, bikes or waterfront access can face claims tied to incidents away from the property. - Many policies do not cover income lost during repairs after a covered loss makes the property uninhabitable. - The guide’s remaining questions cover liability type, policy exclusions, amenity coverage, the claims process, vacancy provisions, and coverage for squatters, bed bugs and fleas.

Between the lines: - Proper Insurance is positioning short-term rental hosting as a hospitality business, not a standard residence. - That framing raises the bar for insurance review and pushes owners to read contract language instead of relying on an agent’s oral reassurance. - The release also signals a broader sales message: existing Homeowners and Landlord policies may be inadequate for the risks tied to guest stays.

What's next: - Hosts are being urged to review their insurance contracts and ask for written answers before the next busy booking period. - Proper Insurance is steering owners toward its dedicated short-term rental policy, which the company says is built to replace inadequate Homeowners and Landlord policies. - The policy is designed to respond to guest-caused damage, liability beyond the property line and loss of business revenue.

The bottom line: - For short-term rental owners, the key question is not whether an agent sounds confident. It is whether the policy language actually protects the business.