Vacation Seekers Need to Be Aware of These Factors When Choosing a Rental Property for Their Getaway
In the ever-growing world of vacation rentals, it's essential to know your rights and responsibilities. Our German-language service and news portal, Our Website, sheds light on life and work abroad, and today we focus on vacation rentals.
When you book a vacation rental, you are not just a tourist, but also a guest with duties. These duties include adhering to the number of guests stated in the booking, keeping the apartment broom clean, and observing house rules.
The accommodation you rent should be clean, functional, and as described. If equipment is missing or the accommodation is not as described, report the defect in writing immediately and set a deadline for rectification.
When it comes to insurance, private liability insurance usually covers damages to rented items. However, it's crucial to check if "rental property damages" are covered abroad. For comprehensive protection, consider holiday home insurance (Ferienwohnung- oder Ferienhausversicherung) with all-risk coverage. This includes household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) that protects movable items, furniture, valuable objects, and optionally glass and building coverage.
If you cause damage in a vacation rental, you are generally responsible for paying for the repairs. It's also important to ensure that families with children under seven are included in their insurance coverage.
Legal experts Sabine Brandl and Janna Poll from the Ergo Insurance explain that the right to privacy applies to vacation rentals, preventing the landlord from entering unannounced.
When booking vacation rentals, compare prices and services carefully, pay attention to hidden costs, and check reviews from other guests. Photos and witnesses can help enforce claims, and a look at the location on Google Maps can help verify the accuracy of photos provided.
Suspiciously cheap offers may not keep their promises. Popular choices for vacation accommodations include Airbnb or home exchange, offering space, freedom, and often cheaper prices.
Upon arrival, creating a handover protocol with the landlord can help prevent disputes about preexisting damages. If the repair is not made, a rent reduction or termination may be possible.
For more information on the topic, read articles such as "Renting out your own apartment as a vacation rental: 7 tips to consider for short-term rentals," "These are the most unusual finds in vacation homes," and "Scam attempts on Booking.com: How travelers can protect themselves from phishing."
Remember, being a responsible guest in a vacation rental not only ensures a pleasant stay for you but also for future guests. Happy travels!
Tags: vacation rental, vacation rentals, rights in vacation rentals, tips for booking vacation rentals.
