Short-term rentals are a popular form of accommodation for visitors to Pembroke Pines and surrounding areas. Local residents set up short-term accommodations on sites such as VRBO and Airbnb, but while hotels must meet certain standards there are usually no inspections of short-term rental properties. Both hosts and guests have been injured through short-term rental situations and in some cases it may be challenging to get compensation for injuries.
Common Injuries at Hollywood Short-Term Rentals
Hosts have insurance through short-term rental platforms when they offer their home for guests, but homeowners insurance typically does not cover damages causes by guests because short-term rentals are a business. For hosts, common injuries and complaints include:
- Theft
- Assault, including sexual assault
- Property damage
- Guests refusing to leave
- Fires caused by guest behavior
- Illegal activity by guests
Guests are staying in a stranger’s home when they travel, and even with positive reviews on an online platform, crimes, injuries, and damages can happen. Common complaints and injuries include:
- Theft
- Misrepresentation of the accommodations
- Sudden cancellation of accommodations
- Assault and sexual assault
- Lack of smoke detectors and other safety equipment, which can become a tragedy in case of an emergency
- Illegal hidden cameras inside of accommodations, including in bedrooms and bathrooms
- Air-borne contaminants such as mold
- Exposure to bed bugs or other pests
- Trip and fall and slip and fall injuries caused by unsafe conditions
- Lack of adequate security, potentially leading to theft or attacks
- Dangerous dogs or animals on the premises
- Falls from balconies and patios which are not properly secured
- Pool injuries caused by poorly maintained pools and hot tubs
- Injuries caused by defective appliances, furniture, or poorly-maintained premises
In addition to guests and hosts, neighbors of short-term rentals may face losses. Their properties may become less valuable if a home is constantly hosting large groups of people. There have been causes of neighboring homes being broken into or even damaged by unruly guests staying at short-term rentals.
Seeking Compensation
If you’re a host, you will generally contact Airbnb or the platform where your home is advertised. However, these platforms have argued in courts that they simply provide a site for advertising and cannot be held liable for any damages. It can be difficult to get adequate compensation to pay for a guest who has caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a property. Homeowners insurance also typically does not cover commercial use of a property, such as tourist accommodations.
For guests, the situation can be even worse. In many cases, hosts will deny any wrongdoing and platforms offering short-term rentals typically offer some insurance to hosts but not necessarily to guests. Travel insurance can offer some help, but if you are seriously injured in a short-term rental, it may be challenging to get adequate compensation.
For neighbors of short-term rentals, platforms offer no help at all and hosts are reluctant to admit liability. Homeowners insurance may cover some property damage but will not address lower property values or loss of sleep caused by parties.
If you have been injured as a guest, host, or neighbor of a short-term rental, contact a personal injury attorney to find out if you have a claim. To speak with a Hollywood personal injury attorney in a free accident consultation, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN).