Updated July 2026
Protecting Yourself as a Host & Guest
You did it. You're planning to slow-travel the world with your family and your home, the one you've spent years building into a real, lived-in space you love, is going to help make that possible.
Then comes the question every host eventually asks: What if something goes wrong?
It's a fair question. And it deserves a real answer.
Most platforms leave you with a vague sense of security — a branded "protection program" that sounds comprehensive until you actually read the fine print. We're not going to do that. At GFHR, we believe you deserve to know exactly what you're covered for, what you're not, and how to close the gaps before they cost you.
Why Your Homeowner's Insurance Isn't Enough
Most homeowners assume their existing insurance has them covered when a guest is in their home. In most cases, it doesn't.
Standard homeowner's insurance is designed for owner-occupied homes. The moment you rent your property, you've changed the legal classification of your property in the eyes of your insurer. Many policies explicitly exclude damage or liability that occurs during a rental period. Some will even drop your coverage entirely if they find out you've been renting without notifying them.
This isn't a scare tactic. It's just something most people don't find out until they need to file a claim.
What About Other Booking Platforms? (The AirCover Reality Check)
If you've ever listed your home on Airbnb, you've heard of their built-in host protection program AirCover. It sounds reassuring. But here's what many hosts don't realize until it's too late:
AirCover is not insurance. It's a platform benefit, controlled and defined entirely by Airbnb. Coverage decisions go through Airbnb's internal review process, not an independent insurer. Claim limits and exclusions are more restrictive than they appear, and hosts frequently report difficulty getting claims approved or paid out in full.
As a GFHR host, you're renting to a vetted family in our trusted community, but that doesn't mean you should go in unprotected. The goal isn't to expect the worst. It's to make sure that if something does happen, you're genuinely covered.
The GFHR Gold Star Protection Stack
After extensive research and direct conversations with leading landlord insurance and damage protection providers, we landed on what we believe is the most complete, practical protection approach for GFHR families. This is our Gold Star Protection Stack — three layers that work together to cover everything from minor wear and tear to worst-case scenarios.
Here's how it works:
Layer 1 — Refundable Security Deposit for small damages under $1,500
This one is foundational. A refundable security deposit (which you can highlight under the Home fees section of your GFHR listing) collected directly from your guest as part of your booking deposit gives you immediate protection for the everyday stuff — a broken lamp, a stained couch, a missing item. It's simple, fast, and puts both parties on notice that the home should be treated with care.
We recommend including a refundable security deposit in every rental agreement. This isn't about distrust. It's about clarity. When expectations are set upfront, both families feel more comfortable which is exactly the kind of relationship we want to foster in our community.
A security deposit is not a replacement for damage protection or insurance. It's the first line of defense for small, everyday incidents.
Layer 2 — Waivo Damage Protection for bigger damages between $1,500–$5,000
When damage exceeds what a security deposit can cover but isn't catastrophic enough for an insurance claim, that's the gap Waivo was built to fill.
Waivo is our preferred partner for guest damage protection. It's an on-demand, internationally recognized program that covers accidental and malicious damage caused by guests during rental stays.
Hosts sign up for Waivo directly (not guests) and pay in full for individual bookings, not month to month.
Waivo on-demand coverage options (prices updated February 2026):
- $1,500 in coverage — $117/month equivalent
- $3,000 in coverage — $177/month equivalent
- $5,000 in coverage — $237/month equivalent
A few important things to know: Waivo is a supplement to your security deposit, not a replacement for it. It's also not designed to handle minor scratches or general wear. Think of it as your mid-tier safety net that protects you when the deposit runs out but an insurance claim would be overkill.
Waivo has found that for most stays, the average damage claim comes in under $1,500. Having both a security deposit and Waivo in place means you're covered end-to-end for the vast majority of scenarios.
Layer 3 — Landlord Insurance for the biggest damages — think structural, liability, or catastrophic
This is the layer most traveling homeowners overlook and the one that matters most when things really go sideways.
Landlord insurance is specifically designed to cover properties that are being rented out. Unlike your homeowner's policy, it accounts for the fact that someone other than you is living in the home. It typically covers structural damage, loss of rental income, and liability which your standard policy won't touch.
We've partnered with leading landlord insurance provider Steadily.
Steadily is purpose-built for rental properties and works alongside your existing homeowner's policy (it doesn't replace it). It's a strong option for US-based GFHR hosts, with coverage ranging from $300 to $1 million. Most policies can be paid annually (with a 5% discount) or monthly. Get a free quote directly through our partnership link.
Your Complete Gold Star Checklist
Before your first guest arrives, make sure you have all three layers in place:
- Refundable security deposit collected at booking deposit before the rental period begins (recommended for any damages under $1,500)
- Waivo damage protection set up at booking (recommended for coverage between $1,500–$5,000)
- Landlord insurance policy active through Steadily (for structural, liability, or major damage protection)
A Note to Guests
Protection isn't just for hosts. If you're a traveling family renting a GFHR home, here's what to keep in mind:
You're entering someone's personal space and primary home, filled with things that matter to them. Renters insurance (if you don't already have it) can protect you against personal liability if an accident occurs. It's affordable, widely available, and worth looking into before your first stay. Your host may even require you to get it.
And on the human side: communicate early, document the home thoroughly at check-in, and treat every home the way you'd want yours to be treated. That's the spirit of this community.
The Bottom Line
Renting your home while you travel is one of the most practical ways to make long-term family travel financially sustainable. We want you to do it with complete confidence. We've done the research and built the partnerships so you don't have to figure it out on your own.
The Gold Star Protection Stack — a security deposit, Waivo damage protection, and landlord insurance — gives you comprehensive coverage across every scenario. It's not complicated and takes a little setup.
Questions about which coverage is right for your situation? Reach out. We're here and happy to help.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. We encourage all members to consult directly with insurance providers to determine the best coverage for their specific situation.