What photos do I need for an Airbnb damage claim?
Airbnb asks for photos or videos of the damage plus repair estimates or receipts, and you must file the reimbursement request within 14 days of the guest's checkout. Claims hold up best with photos of the same spot before and after the stay that show when they were taken, so take them at every turnover, not only when something breaks.
By StayPerk Team · Last checked · Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com details checked against the sources below
How to build evidence that holds up
- At every turnover, photograph each room from the same corners, plus close-ups of what guests damage most: sofas, mattresses, rugs, worktops, the TV and outdoor furniture.
- Keep the time and place with every photo. Photos scattered through a phone's camera roll, or with angles that don't match, are easy to doubt.
- When you find damage, photograph it before anything is cleaned or moved: a wide shot of the room, then close-ups, with something in the frame for scale.
- Get a repair or cleaning estimate, or keep the receipt if you have already paid for it.
- Message the guest through Airbnb, then file a reimbursement request in the Resolution Centre within 14 days of their checkout.
Photos to take at every turnover
| Room | Wide shots | Close-ups |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | Two opposite corners | Sofa cushions and covers, rug, TV screen, coffee table |
| Kitchen | The whole room from the door | Worktops, hob, inside the oven and fridge, glassware count |
| Bedrooms | Each bed made, from the door | Mattress protector, headboard, walls by the bed |
| Bathrooms | The whole room | Grout, towels, shower screen, under the sink |
| Outside | Deck or garden from one fixed spot | Hot tub cover, grill, outdoor furniture |
A photo set that shows the state of the home before the next guest
Living room
- Wide shots
- Two opposite corners
- Close-ups
- Sofa cushions and covers, rug, TV screen, coffee table
Kitchen
- Wide shots
- The whole room from the door
- Close-ups
- Worktops, hob, inside the oven and fridge, glassware count
Bedrooms
- Wide shots
- Each bed made, from the door
- Close-ups
- Mattress protector, headboard, walls by the bed
Bathrooms
- Wide shots
- The whole room
- Close-ups
- Grout, towels, shower screen, under the sink
Outside
- Wide shots
- Deck or garden from one fixed spot
- Close-ups
- Hot tub cover, grill, outdoor furniture
Use the same spots every time, so a before and after photo of any spot can be matched.
Airbnb's host damage protection page lists the evidence it asks for: photos or videos, repair or cleaning estimates and receipts. To bring in Airbnb Support it asks for that documentation within 14 days of the damage or loss. StayPerk is independent and not affiliated with Airbnb, and Airbnb makes its own decision on every claim.
See a turnover report with time-stamped photos
A sample StayPerk turnover report built from made-up data. Every photo carries a banner with the property, the time it reached StayPerk and a photo code anyone can check, and the report prints for a dispute.
What StayPerk does here
StayPerk's cleaner link takes your cleaner through the checklist and photos with no app or login, and you get a printable report for every clean. A problem the cleaner reports, such as a stain or a breakage, reaches you by email straight away.
The report is evidence you attach yourself. StayPerk doesn't file or decide claims.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file an Airbnb damage claim?
Airbnb's host damage protection page says to file a reimbursement request in the Resolution Centre within 14 days of the responsible guest's checkout. Don't wait for the next guest to arrive.
Are phone photos good enough?
Yes, if they are clear, taken from the same spots before and after the stay, and you can show when they were taken. Photos sent through chat apps can lose that information, so keep the originals.
Should my cleaner take the photos?
Usually, because they see the home first after checkout. Ask for photos on arrival, before they start, so damage is recorded before anything is cleaned.
Still have a question?
Write to us and a person will reply, or look it up in the Help Center.
Sources
- Host damage protection - Airbnb Help Center
- Getting charged for damage - Airbnb Help Center
- How Airbnb handles cleaning disputes - Timemark