Two-thirds of STR operators hit by guest damage paid for repairs themselves, Hospitable finds
Among operators who experienced damage, 66 percent ultimately paid for repairs themselves
Short-term rental operating system Hospitable has released new research examining how hosts and property managers are managing costs, risk and technology.
The research found 60 percent of hosts and property managers experienced guest-caused property damage in the past 12 months, with 36 percent dealing with damage on multiple occasions.
Among operators who experienced damage, 66 percent ultimately paid for repairs themselves because the costs were not covered by their insurance or booking channel.
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The findings also point to consolidation in the technology used to manage short-term rentals. More than half of respondents, 56 percent, use two or three separate systems across functions including pricing, cleaning, accounting and messaging, while 22 percent use four or more.
However, 30 percent had stopped using a standalone tool during the previous 12 months. The most common reason was that their property management software had introduced the same functionality, suggesting operators are increasingly moving towards platforms that bring multiple functions together.
Artificial intelligence is also gaining acceptance among short-term rental operators, with 60 percent saying they already trust AI to take actions on their behalf or would be willing to try it. Nine percent said they would not trust AI to act for them at all.
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Trust was highest for pricing decisions, with 84 percent willing to allow AI to perform the task. Another 70 percent would trust AI to generate owner reports, while 68 percent would use it to identify underperforming listings.
Hospitable CEO and Founder Pierre-Camille Hamana said the findings reflected the growing operational burden faced by hosts and property managers.
“Hosts and property managers have become used to carrying a huge amount of the operational burden themselves. When something goes wrong, they often pay for it. As their businesses grow, they add more tools, more subscriptions and more things to manage.
“There’s clearly an appetite for technology that can take responsibility for more of the day-to-day running of the business, whether that means bringing more operations into one place or trusting AI to make decisions on their behalf.”
