Airbnb Guest Assaults Tenant in the Building

Sep 10

When guests and long-term tenants mix, conflicts can escalate fast and sometimes violently.

Airbnb guest assault incident at vacation rental leading to liability claim

Vacation Rental Assault Liability Insurance Claim Example

The Incident

A condo tenant asked a vacation rental guest to turn down music. Instead, the guest assaulted the tenant. The tenant sued both the property owner and the manager for failing to ensure guest behavior.

The Gap

Assault and battery lawsuits are often excluded from standard policies. Even dismissed claims can cost tens of thousands in legal fees.

The Cost

Six-figure lawsuit for bodily harm
Damage to host reputation within the building
Increased scrutiny from HOAs and regulators

How Wister Insurance® Coverage Helps

Wister’s commercial general liability does not exclude assault and battery; therefore, it extends to third-party claims arising from guest behavior, including defense coverage for assault allegations.

Takeaway

You can’t control every guest, but you can control whether you’re financially exposed when they cross the line.

Note: Assault and battery lawsuits are often settled for undisclosed amounts, typically ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Protect your business from guest-related risks with Wister. Get a quote.

Short-term rental management insurance for vacation rental managers and co-hosts from Wister Insurance

*While Wister cannot disclose details of actual lawsuits or settlements, the examples shared here reflect real claim scenarios and hypotheticals designed to illustrate the protection our policies provide.

Melia M. McDaris

Melia McDaris is the Marketing Manager at Wister Insurance®, where she leads brand strategy, digital marketing, and content across the company’s portfolio. Her work focuses on translating complex insurance concepts into clear, approachable messaging that resonates with short-term rental managers and co-hosts nationwide. Melia plays a key role in shaping Wister’s voice and visibility, ensuring the brand remains trustworthy, modern, and human-first in a highly regulated industry.

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