How much can Airbnb charge you for damages?
If you live in Europe, Airbnb can charge your card at most 500 US dollars for damage, and Airbnb must prove the damage. What applies in other countries.
Guest Defender guide
Airbnb damage claim: how to answer within 24 hours
Don't pay straight away and don't ignore the message: you have 24 hours to answer the request in the Resolution Centre. Accept what is fair, ask for evidence and dispute the rest: wear and tear, consumables, the price of a new item instead of an old one. If Airbnb then charges you, you have 60 days to appeal.
The dates to know
- The host must ask you to pay within 14 days of check-out, explaining why, and tell Airbnb (Host Damage Protection Terms, 3.1.2).
- You have 24 hours to answer in the Resolution Centre. If you do not pay in full, the host can involve Airbnb, which decides whether you are responsible and whether the amount is reasonable.
- If Airbnb charges you, you have 60 days to appeal. Airbnb never charges you without telling you first.
What to write in your answer
- Say calmly what you accept and what you do not, with dates and facts.
- Ask for evidence: the original photos with date and time, receipts or quotes, and how old the item is.
- Attach your own evidence: your photos from arrival and departure, and the messages you sent the host during the stay.
The evidence must be real and verifiable
To pay the host, Airbnb asks for legitimate and verifiable evidence: genuine documents that are not doctored or falsified in any way, including with artificial intelligence. If it cannot verify them, it asks for more or rejects the claim (Host Damage Protection Terms, 3.3.3). If a photo looks odd, you do not need to call it fake: ask for the original file.
What you usually do not pay for
- Wear and tear and deterioration over time (Host Damage Protection Terms, 6.4.7).
- Consumables such as soap, toilet paper or coffee (5.3.1).
- Stains on linen, unless caused by animals or unauthorised guests; for cleaning, only the cost above the cleaning fees already paid (6.4.6 and 6.3.6).
- The price of a new item: what counts is the actual cash value after deterioration, or the repair if it costs less (7.2 and 7.3).
This guide explains the rules of Airbnb, Booking.com and the card schemes in plain words: it is not legal advice. Guest Defender is not affiliated with Airbnb or Booking.com. If you receive court papers, see a lawyer straight away.
Sources
- Airbnb Help Centre: getting charged for damage (article 1415)
- Airbnb, Host Damage Protection Terms
- Airbnb, Terms of Service, section 16
Rules checked on 12 November 2026 against the official texts of Airbnb, Booking.com, Visa and the European Union.
More guides on money claimed after a stay
Booking.com: the property claims damage or keeps your deposit
Property keeping your damage deposit or claiming damage after a Booking.com stay? What it can do, the 14-day limit and how to decline the claim.
Upload the claim: the check is free
Guest Defender reads the host's claim and the evidence, tells you what you can dispute and what is fair to pay, and writes your answer and appeal for €9.99.