Scott Frost shares his insights from our newsletter:
Vacation rentals are a strange concept when you really think about them.
A complete stranger hands you the keys to their house.
You sleep in their bed. Use their shower. Cook in their kitchen. Spend ten minutes trying to figure out how their coffee maker works.
Then wander around at 2 a.m. trying to remember which door leads to the bathroom.
And for a few days, you mostly just trust that everything works the way it’s supposed to.
Until something doesn’t.
A loose railing. A broken step. A slippery walkway. A deck that’s seen better days.
If you get hurt, figuring out who may be responsible starts with an interesting question:
Are you basically just a houseguest? Not quite.
In California, Airbnb guests are generally considered “invitees,” similar to guests at a hotel.
Which sounds a little funny considering you paid to invite yourself. But it matters.
As a paying guest, the property owner has a responsibility to keep the place reasonably safe.
You’re not there to inspect the place. You’re there to go on vacation.
Which means you’re probably more concerned with the Wi-Fi password and whether the hot tub actually gets hot.
You should be able to take the basic safety stuff for granted.
But if you do get hurt, the question becomes whether the owner knew—or should have known—about the danger.
So unpack. Put your feet up. Argue with your family about who gets the good bedroom.
Just don’t feel obligated to add “check structural integrity of deck” to the vacation checklist.
That part shouldn’t be your job.
— Scott Frost
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P.S. If you or someone you love has been injured and you’re not sure what to do next, we’re here to help.
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