Start with controlled access, secure storage for personal belongings, a current inventory, and insurance reviewed for your proposed rental use. Set clear house expectations and arrange condition checks between stays without intruding on guest privacy. These precautions can reduce risk, but no screening process or device guarantees that nothing will go wrong.
Choose what guests will have access to
Remove or securely store sensitive documents, sentimental objects, and items you cannot easily replace. Be clear about spaces that are not included in the stay. Keep an inventory with dated photographs and receipts where available so the condition of the home and its contents is documented.1
Create an access plan with a backup for a lost key or failed lock. With a compatible smart lock, use temporary codes rather than sharing one permanent code with every guest and vendor. Agree who checks the home between stays and how an access problem is handled.
Respect privacy while arranging security
Do not install indoor cameras to watch guests. Airbnb prohibits cameras monitoring the interior of a home listing, including shared spaces, even if a device is disconnected. Permitted exterior cameras need appropriate disclosure and must not monitor private areas.2
Explain relevant safety and access information before a stay rather than leaving guests to discover restrictions on arrival. Use lawful, consistent screening and communication, and avoid treating a verified account as a guarantee about someone’s behavior.
Understand coverage before a problem occurs
Tell your insurer exactly how the property will be used and ask which losses and liabilities are covered. Do not assume ordinary homeowners coverage or a platform protection program automatically covers every rental-related situation.3
Keep incident records, follow the applicable reporting process, and know who will attend an urgent issue. The practical goal is a clear plan for access, belongings, and response, not a promise that hosting is risk-free.
Reference notes
General information, not individualized legal or insurance advice. Confirm the requirements for your address and proposed arrangement.
- California Department of Insurance, Home Inventory Guide.
- Airbnb, Restrictions on security cameras and other devices in homes.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Insurance Coverage for Home-Sharing Rentals.
Reviewed September 28, 2026.