Accommodation Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Accommodation can include serviced apartments, guesthouses, cabins and other forms of short-stay lodging. Describe the property type, the number of guests and the way bookings are managed. Identify whether the owner lives on site, an operator manages several properties or a separate agent handles guests. Explain shared facilities, access arrangements and services such as breakfast, cleaning or transport. Long vacancies, seasonal use and renovation periods should also be included. A residential building used for paying guests can present a different exposure from a private home, so the actual occupancy needs to be part of the insurance discussion.

Make a clear list of the buildings, furnishings and equipment involved. Some assets may belong to the owner, others to an operator or landlord. Pools, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, balconies and remote access can require particular explanation where they form part of the guest experience. Guest belongings and items left in storage are separate from the accommodation provider’s contents. Describe how keys or access codes are issued and changed. These details can inform questions about property, liability and theft provisions without suggesting that a policy described as accommodation insurance necessarily includes every feature or activity at the premises.

Booking platforms may provide services or protection arrangements with their own conditions, but those should not be treated as a complete substitute for reviewing your insurance. Read the host or operator terms and identify what remains your responsibility. Consider guest cancellation, damage deposits, refunds and obligations when a property becomes unavailable. If a management agent is involved, clarify who reports incidents and retains booking records. The owner and operator should not each assume that the other has arranged cover for the same interest. Ask which entities and activities are included in the proposed wording.

For leased or strata premises, review responsibility for buildings, common areas, fixtures and contents. A building policy may address a different interest from the operator’s furnishings or lost income. Explain any services delivered by outside cleaners, maintenance workers or tour providers and retain the relevant agreements. When considering interruption arrangements, discuss seasonal occupancy and the time needed to restore a property to a usable standard. A cancelled booking alone may not meet the policy trigger. Ask about the cause of the disruption, the income basis used and any limits affecting alternative accommodation or other extra costs.

An issue may first be discovered by a cleaner after checkout rather than reported by the guest. Record when damage was found, the last known condition and the booking period involved. Keep photographs, inspection records and relevant communications without assuming who caused the loss. For an injury allegation, preserve a factual account of the location and any maintenance history. Make sure the person managing bookings knows how to contact the owner and the insurance contact promptly. Where urgent repairs are needed, understand the policy’s approval arrangements while taking suitable steps to protect people and prevent further damage.

Review the insurance when a property changes from occasional letting to regular accommodation or when new facilities are added. Update furnishings and building information after refurbishment. Consider how guests would receive instructions if access systems or booking software failed, especially where nobody is present at check-in. Keep important records accessible to an authorised backup contact. At renewal, explain changes in management, occupancy and claims history accurately. A practical accommodation plan should address safe access, maintenance and communications, while the policy wording determines which losses and expenses may be met following an insured event at the property.