Airbnb Guest Assaults Tenant in the Building
When guests and long-term tenants mix, conflicts can escalate fast — sometimes violently.
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 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. For more insights and tips for vacation rental managers and co-hosts, visit our Blog →
*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.
