- Damaging electrical fittings and creating a fire or electrocution risk.
- Leaving a gas stove turned on.
- Breaking a stair or bannister, creating a fall risk.
- Damaging a boat or other vehicle that comes with the rental.
- Deliberately setting traps designed to injure others.
Potential Guest Liability in Short-Term Stay Arrangements

Most guests who stay in short-term rentals arranged through online marketplaces like AirBNB or VRBO can be trusted to take good care of the property. Hosts collect security deposits to protect themselves against minor things like broken plates and dings in drywall. But a guest can do more harm than these simple things.
What sort of harm can a guest cause? Consider the circumstances. Guests in short-term rentals usually have exclusive use of the property. In theory this means that they can do a lot of things that a homeowner might not expect. In cases where the damage is not reported it can lead to significant dangers for others who come on the property. For example: