Insurance and damage in tourist rentals in Orihuela Costa: who pays for what? (2026)
Owner's insurance · Liability · Deposit · AirCover · Micazu · Normal wear and tear · Invoices
🗓️ Updated: 10 October 2026 🌐 Ce guide en français · Deze gids in het Nederlands
Punta Prima · Playa Flamenca · La Zenia · Cabo Roig · Campoamor · Villamartín · Los Dolses · Los Altos · Torrevieja
🛡️ One damage, three possible protections
When a guest breaks or damages something, three protections can come into play: the guest's deposit, Airbnb's protection (AirCover) and your own insurance. None of them covers everything, and each has its own deadlines and exclusions.
This page explains who pays for what, what to check in your insurance policy and how we handle damage, depending on your formula.
✅ Key points at a glance
- Compulsory insurance: a tourist property (VT number) must have liability insurance that covers the tourist activity (Ley 3/2026).
- Declare the rental to your insurer, whether it is tourist or seasonal. Standard home insurance may refuse a claim for an incident during an undeclared rental.
- AirCover does not replace insurance: Airbnb says so itself, and it only covers Airbnb bookings.
- Airbnb deadline: 14 days after the guest's departure to claim for damage.
- Deposit: €350 (apartment) or €500 (villa), as a card pre-authorisation, on direct and Micazu bookings.
- Normal wear and tear: always the owner's responsibility, whatever the platform.
- Purchase invoices: keep them. Without proof of value, damage is hard to get reimbursed.
📄 1. Your insurance: six points to check in your policy
- Liability cover for the tourist activity. Compulsory for the licence since Ley 3/2026. It covers damage caused to third parties: a guest injured in the property, a leak that damages the neighbour's flat.
- Is the rental declared? A standard home policy assumes residential use. If an incident happens during a rental the insurer did not know about, it may reduce or refuse compensation. This also applies to seasonal rentals.
- Buildings and contents. Water damage, fire, glass breakage, furniture and equipment: check that the sums insured match what the property actually contains.
- Damage caused by occupants. Some policies exclude deliberate damage or vandalism by tenants. Others offer it as an option.
- Theft without forced entry. An item taken by an occupant, with no door forced, is often excluded. Read this clause carefully.
- Useful options. Loss of rent if the property cannot be let after an incident, 24-hour assistance (plumber, locksmith), legal protection.
The community of owners' insurance only covers the common areas. And if your policy was taken out with your mortgage, it was rarely designed for renting.
👉 Ask your insurer for written confirmation that tourist or seasonal rental is covered, and keep it with your insurance certificate: it is also required in the tourist licence application.
⚖️ 2. Who pays for what?
| Situation | Who pays | How |
|---|---|---|
| Damage caused by a guest (direct or Micazu booking) | The guest | Deducted from the deposit; any excess claimed from the guest |
| Damage caused by a guest (Airbnb booking) | The guest, otherwise AirCover | Request through Airbnb's Resolution Centre |
| Normal wear and tear (linen, crockery, paint, grouting) | The owner | Routine upkeep of the property |
| Equipment breakdown (air conditioning, water heater, appliances) | The owner | Repair, under the manufacturer's warranty where applicable |
| Insured incident (water damage, fire, storm) | The owner's insurance, or the neighbour's or the community's if the cause lies with them | Claim to the insurer |
| Injured guest or damage to a third party | The owner's liability insurance | Liability insurance for the tourist activity |
👉 Small everyday breakages, a glass or a plate, are in practice part of routine upkeep: claiming for them costs more time than they are worth.
💳 3. The guest deposit at Casacare360
- Amount: €350 for an apartment, €500 for a villa, on direct bookings and on Micazu.
- Held, not charged: a pre-authorisation on the guest's card, placed 48 hours before arrival, renewed every 5 days during the stay and released no later than 4 days after departure if everything is in order.
- Booking paid by bank transfer: the deposit is paid in cash on arrival.
- Electricity: the deposit can also be used to pay for electricity used beyond the allowance included in the stay.
- Airbnb: no deposit, because Airbnb does not allow deposits outside its platform. Protection goes through the Resolution Centre and AirCover.
If the damage exceeds the deposit, the difference is claimed from the guest or, for an insured incident, from your insurer.
🏠 4. Airbnb and AirCover: what is really covered
AirCover for Hosts includes damage protection of up to 3 million dollars and host liability insurance of up to 1 million dollars. These ceilings are impressive, but how it works matters more:
- The guest first: the reimbursement request goes to the guest first, through the Resolution Centre, within 14 days of their departure. If they do not pay within 24 hours, Airbnb can step in.
- Evidence: photos of the damage, purchase invoices or proof of value, repair quotes.
- Exclusions: normal wear and tear, natural disasters, routine cleaning and cash, among others.
- Limited scope: only stays booked on Airbnb. Direct and Micazu bookings are not covered.
👉 Airbnb itself states that AirCover is not a substitute for insurance. Your own policy remains essential.
🧭 5. Damage has been found: the steps
The report
The damage is photographed and described as soon as the guest leaves, before any cleaning or repair.
The valuation
The value is backed up by the item's purchase invoice or a repair quote.
The claim, without delay
A deduction from the deposit before it is released, no later than 4 days after departure, or a request to the guest through Airbnb's Resolution Centre within 14 days.
Follow-up until payment
Replies to the guest and, where needed, to Airbnb, extra documents if requested, then reimbursement.
Who handles it depends on your formula:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4-star formula
We handle everything, from the report to payment: photos, deduction from the deposit or request to the guest and to Airbnb, and follow-up of the file.
⭐⭐⭐ 3-star formula
We document the damage (report and photos) and send you the file. You submit the claim and follow it up.
🧾 6. Keep your purchase invoices
Airbnb and insurers ask for the same thing: proof of the value of what was damaged. Without an invoice, reimbursement is often reduced, or even refused.
- furniture, sofas, bedding and mattresses;
- appliances, television, air conditioning;
- valuable decor, garden furniture, barbecue;
- building work and repairs.
👉 One digital folder per property is enough: a photo of each invoice, sorted by room. Repair and maintenance invoices also count for your taxes: depending on your country of residence, some expenses are deductible. See our guide Renting legally in Orihuela Costa.
🤝 7. What Casacare360 does
- In-person welcome for every guest: a first contact that encourages responsibility and prevents a lot of damage.
- Deposit of €350 or €500 on direct and Micazu bookings.
- 4-star formula: full handling of every damage case, from the report to payment.
- 3-star formula: report and photos, file sent to the owner.
Compare our 3-star and 4-star formulas, or message us on WhatsApp: +34 604 470 876.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Which insurance is compulsory for a tourist property in the Valencian Community?
Liability insurance that expressly covers the tourist activity. Since Ley 3/2026, home insurance limited to residential use is no longer enough for the licence.
Does my home insurance cover holiday rentals?
Not necessarily. Many policies assume residential use. Declare the rental to your insurer and ask for written confirmation; otherwise it may reduce or refuse compensation after an incident.
Does AirCover replace insurance?
No, Airbnb says so itself. AirCover only covers Airbnb bookings, excludes normal wear and tear and natural disasters among other things, and always starts with a request to the guest.
How long do I have to claim for damage on Airbnb?
14 days after the guest's departure, through the Resolution Centre. After that, the request is no longer accepted.
Who pays if a guest breaks something?
The guest: through a deduction from the deposit for a direct or Micazu booking, or through the Resolution Centre for Airbnb, with AirCover as a last resort. Normal wear and tear remains the owner's responsibility.
How much is the deposit at Casacare360?
€350 for an apartment and €500 for a villa, as a card pre-authorisation, on direct and Micazu bookings. It is released no later than 4 days after departure if everything is in order.
Why keep the purchase invoices for my furniture?
Because Airbnb and insurers ask for proof of the value of the damaged item. Without an invoice, reimbursement is often reduced or refused.
✍️ Who wrote this guide?
This guide is written by Gauthier, co-founder of Casacare360 with Amy, a licensed estate agent (API nº 01529). A Belgian couple living on the Costa Blanca, we speak French, Dutch and English, and manage tourist and seasonal rentals every day in Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja, welcoming every guest in person.
Casacare360 (Casa care 360 SL) is listed in the Valencian Community's register of estate agents under number RAICV 4145. Rated 4.9/5 on Google. More about us.
📚 References
- Ley 3/2026 of the Generalitat of 29 June 2026 (BOE-A-2026-15683), amending Decreto 10/2021 (insurance of the tourist activity).
- AirCover for Hosts (Airbnb) and the damage protection terms, Airbnb Help Centre.
This guide is for information only. Platform and insurer terms change: only your policy is binding.