Airbnb kicks off National Home Security Month across the UK

Airbnb takes the safety and security of our community incredibly seriously. In the United Kingdom, October marks National Home Security Month (NHSM). NHSM is now in its fifth year and aims to raise awareness around the importance of home security. This month, we’re excited to highlight the safety resources that are available to our hosts and guests, in addition to the proactive and preventative steps they can and should take to protect themselves.

Earning our community’s trust and facilitating trust between hosts and guests is at the heart of what makes Airbnb work. Keeping our community safe, both online and offline, is our top priority and core to building this trust. Read more about how Airbnb is building trust between hosts and guests here.

Mayor Sir Steve Bullock, London Councils’ Executive member for housing, said:
“Safety in the home is very important and this month is an opportunity to remind people who share their home using Airbnb about what they should do to protect themselves and their guests.

“Airbnb is used by thousands of Londoners and millions of visitors to the capital so we are really pleased that the company is providing its host community with the resources they need to make their homes safe and secure.”

In order to equip our community with the latest home safety advice, we routinely run workshops with local experts. Over the past year, Airbnb has hosted a number of events, including the education roadshow across London and partnered with key safety organisations for our Meet The Experts event, bringing our community together with London Fire Brigade, Get Safe Online, RoSPA, Women’s Aid and Gas Tag.

In addition, we provide free smoke and carbon monoxide detector program for hosts, as well as online safety cards containing important information —such as emergency phone numbers, locations of fire extinguishers, and fire alarms, as well as emergency exit routes—so guests know what to do if there is an emergency.

While we can’t eliminate all the risk in hosting or traveling, we strive to ensure that every host and guest has the best possible experience using Airbnb. In the rare event that something does not go as planned, Airbnb’s global customer service and trust and safety teams are standing by round the clock in 11 different languages, to support our global community and make things right.

Airbnb’s Host Guarantee offers hosts protection for damages to property up to $1,000,000 (USD), and it’s free for every host and every listing. While the Host Guarantee is not a replacement or stand-in for homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, it does provide an extra layer of protection for hosts just in case. Please click on the link to find out further detail on what is covered.

Airbnb also provides hosts in the UK with Host Protection Insurance which offers them peace of mind by protecting against third party claims relating to property damage or bodily injury, up to $1,000,000 (USD). Please click on the link to find out further detail on what is covered.

Hosts can always visit the Citizen Responsibility Hub which is constantly updated and outlines information on a range of issues, from fire safety to accessibility.

Don’t forget to visit Airbnb Citizen each Monday in the month of October for a new set of helpful tips sourced from a different team of experts on home safety and security.

Week Two: NHSM Top Tips