(PNO, traveller's insurance, Airbnb AirCover, deposit... simply explained)
Renting accommodation on a seasonal basis or on Airbnb very quickly raises an essential question:
👉 “If a passenger damages something, who pays? And what does insurance really cover?”
Between the PNO, the traveller's home insurance, AirCover, Booking or the deposit, it's hard to find your way around.
1️⃣ Homeowner's insurance: PNO (Propriétaire Non Occupant)
It is the most important insurance for owners of holiday lets.
It covers the home when it is rented, vacant or occupied by someone else.
✔️ What a PNO covers
- water damage
- fire, explosion
- defects in the property (old appliances, faulty electrical installation, etc.)
- damage to neighbours
- burglary (⚠️ not theft by tenant)
- outdoor vandalism
- owner's civil liability
❌ What the PNO does not cover
- theft committed by the traveller
- deliberate damage
- linen, crockery, decoration
- a little everyday breakage (see deposit)
- damage caused by the tenant (covered by their insurance)
👉 This is the insurance that protects the dwelling itself.
2️⃣ Traveller's insurance: “holiday” insurance”
Most home insurance policies also cover holidays.
This is known as holiday guarantee.
It covers accidental damage caused by the traveller.
✔️ What travel insurance covers
- fire started by mistake
- water damage caused by mishandling
- furniture broken by accident
- unintentional staining or damage
- damage caused to neighbours (e.g. leakage to the flat below)
❌ What the holiday does not cover
- theft committed by the traveller
- deliberate damage
- normal wear and tear or defects in the dwelling
- leaks from old appliances
- electrical installation problem
👉 It is the insurance that covers the traveller's liability, not the accommodation.
🔍 IMPORTANT :
The resort works whatever the channel (Airbnb, direct, Booking...),
but certificates can only be requested for direct bookings.
3️⃣ Airbnb AirCover: useful, but clearly limited
Airbnb highlights AirCover, presented as protection “up to 3 million”.
But be careful:
➡️ This is not insurance.
➡️ Airbnb can accept... or refuse according to its own rules.
➡️ No legal recourse.
✔️ AirCover works well for :
- damaged bedding
- small broken items
- very dirty cleaning
- obvious damage
❌ AirCover works very poorly for :
- theft by the traveller
- major damage
- structural damage (leaks, electricity, obsolescence)
- unbilled items
- deliberate damage
- “normal wear and tear” (a word much used to refuse)
👉 AirCover = a little extra, not at all a reliable insurance system.
4️⃣ Booking: no insurance included
Booking does not provide no cover for homeowners.
If there is a problem, management is based on :
- the PNO
- the deposit
- discussion with the traveller
5️⃣ The deposit: essential for minor breakages
The deposit is the practical addition insurance.
It covers :
✔️ Minor breakage or loss
- tableware
- glasses
- missing linen
- small decorative element
- abnormally dirty household
❌ The deposit never covers
- extensive damage
- major losses
- major theft
- housing damage
- fire / water damage
👉 It is only used for immediate costs, uninsurable.
6️⃣ Clear table: who covers what?
| Situation | Travel insurance | Owner's PNO | Airbnb AirCover | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture broken by accident | ✔️ | ❌ | ⚠️ possible | ✔️ |
| Very dirty cleaning | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Missing linen / broken crockery | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Leak linked to an old appliance | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Fire caused by the passenger | ✔️ | ✔️ supplement | ⚠️ | ❌ |
| Appliances damaged by obsolescence | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Theft by the traveller | ❌ | ❌ (excluding break-ins) | ⚠️ very rare | ❌ |
| Deliberate damage | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ rare | ❌ |
7️⃣ What about CLM's RC Pro?
CLM's professional liability policy does not cover the traveller's actions, but it does cover professional errors :
✔️ Covered by CLM
- door not properly closed by an agent
- window left open
- key box code not changed
- lost keys
- failure to comply with entry/exit protocol
❌ Not covered
- theft or breakage by the traveller
- damage caused by the traveller
- home-related claims
👉 CLM protects against its own mistakes, never the traveller's.
8️⃣ The best protection package for homeowners
To be truly covered, you need to combine :
✔ Home insurance (PNO solid)
✔ Traveller's insurance (operated directly)
✔ Suitable deposit
✔ AirCover in addition (Airbnb only)
✔ Rigorous checks after each stay
✔ Concierge services covered by professional liability insurance
✔ A precise inventory + photos
That's what CLM is doing to make homeowners feel more secure.
🎯 To sum up
Even if no system covers everything, the combination of PNO + traveller's insurance + deposit + AirCover (for Airbnb) + CLM check covers almost all risks seasonal rental.
And for the rest (deliberate theft, bad faith, risky behaviour),
CLM screens, secures and supervises travellers to minimise disputes.
| Element | What's it for? | Reliability? | Actual coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNO | Damage to dwelling, landlord's liability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Indispensable |
| Tenant / holiday insurance | Damage caused by the tenant | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very useful |
| AirCover | Airbnb's way of reassuring | ⭐⭐✩✩✩ | Partial coverage, non-contractual |
| Deposit | Minor damage, cleaning, laundry | ⭐⭐⭐ | Practical complement |