The Risk of Renting to Influencers: What Insurance Does and Doesn’t Cover

Renting your vacation property to influencers might seem like a golden opportunity—free exposure, stunning content, and a chance to boost your bookings. But what happens when the reality doesn’t match the promise? For property owners, renting to influencers comes with its own set of unique risks. Whether it’s unauthorized events, brand liability, or unexpected damage, relying on standard insurance alone could leave you underprotected.

This post will walk you through what short-term rental insurance does and doesn’t cover when hosting influencers, and why proper guest screening and smart policies are key to safeguarding your business.

The Rise of Influencer Guests in Short-Term Rentals

Over the last decade, social media influencers have become high-profile guests in the vacation rental industry. With massive followings and highly curated content, influencers can seem like a dream marketing strategy for hosts—especially when they offer to promote your property in exchange for a free or discounted stay.

However, the trade-off isn’t always worth it. Behind the filters and brand deals, hosting influencers can introduce a host of risks:

• Hosting unapproved brand-sponsored photo shoots
• Bringing in unregistered guests for events or gatherings
• Causing property damage in pursuit of the “perfect shot”
• Creating liability issues if followers show up on-site

This isn’t to say all influencers are problematic guests. But renting to influencers requires an extra layer of caution, and understanding what your insurance policy does—and doesn’t—cover is the first step.

What Short-Term Rental Insurance Typically Covers

Before diving into what’s not covered, let’s look at the protections that short-term rental insurance often provides. A solid policy generally includes:

Property Damage Protection

If a guest accidentally damages your home or its contents, your insurance can help cover repairs or replacement. This includes things like broken furniture, water damage, and appliance misuse.

Liability Coverage

If a guest (or one of their guests) gets injured during their stay, you could be held legally responsible. Liability coverage protects you from medical bills, legal fees, and settlement costs.

Loss of Income

If your property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss (like a fire or flood), you may be reimbursed for the income lost during the repair period.

What Insurance Doesn’t Cover When Renting to Influencers

While standard short-term rental insurance covers a lot, there are several gray areas when it comes to influencers. Here’s where coverage often falls short:

Commercial Use or Filming Without Permission

Many influencers use vacation properties as backdrops for paid content—photoshoots, sponsored videos, or product placements. If your property is used for unauthorized commercial purposes, standard insurance may not cover damages.

Tip: Clarify in your rental agreement whether commercial filming is allowed, and require prior approval for any brand-sponsored content creation.

Large Gatherings or Events

Influencers may invite guests over for a shoot, meet-up, or celebration, even if your listing explicitly prohibits parties. If something goes wrong—say, a guest gets injured or causes damage—you could be left footing the bill if it violates your policy’s event or occupancy restrictions.

Our advice: Use guest screening services like Safely’s to identify red flags and make sure you clearly state your occupancy limits and event policy.

Damage from Reckless Behavior

Unlike accidental damage, reckless or intentional actions often fall outside of standard coverage. For example:

• Dragging furniture across hardwood floors for a better angle
• Standing on counters or bathtubs for photos
• Using smoke bombs or flammable props indoors

Even with insurance, your property may not be protected unless you have specific endorsements in place.

Reputational Harm

If an influencer posts misleading or damaging content about your property, your insurance likely won’t cover the fallout. Reputational damage can have long-term effects on bookings and brand trust—but it’s rarely insurable.

How to Protect Yourself When Renting to Influencers

You don’t need to avoid influencer guests entirely—but you do need to set clear boundaries and protect your assets. Here’s how:

Use a Guest Agreement with Specific Clauses

Your rental agreement should spell out whether commercial content creation is allowed, guest limits and event rules, quiet hours and neighborhood expectations, and specific liabilities the guest accepts.

Request a Certificate of Insurance

If the influencer is doing paid work during their stay, ask them for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from their commercial policy. It shows they’re covered for business-related liabilities and can add you as an “additional insured.”

Screen Your Guests Thoroughly

Platforms like Safely offer professional guest screening that goes beyond basic background checks. You’ll know if a potential guest has a history of property damage or policy violations.

Enhance Your Insurance Policy

Talk to your provider about adding endorsements or riders that cover commercial activity or extended liability. The right short-term insurance policy should fill the gaps that traditional homeowner’s or vacation rental insurance might miss.

Real-Life Example: When an Influencer Stay Goes Wrong

A homeowner in Palm Springs agreed to let an influencer stay at her luxury villa in exchange for social media promotion. The guest brought an entire film crew, rearranged furniture without permission, and used unapproved lighting equipment that damaged a wall.

Worse? The guest’s insurance didn’t cover damage to short-term rentals, and the homeowner’s own policy excluded commercial use. Total out-of-pocket cost: over $12,000—and no social media boost to show for it.

Renting to influencers can be a mutually beneficial arrangement—but only if you’re protected. As a short-term rental owner, your job is to manage risk, set expectations, and ensure every guest interaction supports your long-term success.

At Safely, we specialize in providing vacation rental homeowners with the tools they need to make confident decisions—from short-term rental insurance to guest screening. Whether you’re hosting influencers or everyday travelers, we’ve got your back. Explore more expert tips and learn how Safely can help you mitigate risk, enhance your guest experience, and grow your rental business without the headache.