Airbnb hosting glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms that decide whether your damage claim gets paid. Written for hosts, not lawyers, and updated as Airbnb changes its policies.
AirCover
Airbnb's built-in host protection program. Up to $3M per stay, but only if your evidence meets an unwritten standard.
Check-in inspection
The structured, timestamped walkthrough that establishes a clean baseline before the guest arrives. The single most important workflow for damage recovery.
Airbnb security deposit
Why Airbnb no longer holds traditional cash deposits, and what replaces them in the AirCover era.
Chain of custody
The documented, unbroken record that proves evidence has not been tampered with. The difference between a photo that proves something and a photo that proves nothing.
Airbnb Resolution Center
The in-platform tool that handles every damage charge. Where claims are won or lost in the first 24 hours.
Read the full guides
Beyond the glossary
Glossary entries are quick references. For the operational playbooks that turn definitions into recovered dollars, read the full canonical guides.