Short-term rental insurance in Austin, TX

Short-term hosting on Airbnb or VRBO in Austin falls outside what a standard homeowners or landlord policy is built to cover. That is where short-term rental insurance comes in, covering property damage, liability for an injured guest, and the nightly income a covered event takes away.

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Among the top short-term rental insurers in Austin.

Eric Martin

I had a quote within half an hour and then connected them with my mortgage lender for closing via email. Very easy to work with.

Elizabeth Oreo

They respond quickly and communicate well. I was able to get the policy I needed to convert my vacation home to Airbnb.

Arnold Chambers

The process of getting a landlord policy was very smooth. A few text messages, and the price was great, new policy saved us over $600!

Why your Austin short-term rental needs comprehensive protection

Austin’s short-term rental market is as vibrant as its live music scene, and just as active year-round. But local regulations require Airbnb hosts and apartment owners to register, maintain liability coverage, and comply with strict city rules.

Without the right insurance, a single guest incident can turn into a costly setback. Steadily’s short-term rental insurance helps Austin property owners stay protected, compliant, and covered against damage, lawsuits, and lost income.

From guest injuries to storm and fire damage in Austin, protecting it properly takes insurance built for short-term guests, not just long-term tenants.

Who is short-term rental insurance for?

Short-term rental insurance protects your investments when they are rented as a vacation rental, Airbnb, VRBO, etc. Short-term rental insurance covers rental periods as short as one night. This insurance offers coverages for:

Legal liabilities

Fire and water damage

Financial protection against natural disasters

Protection for your furnishings

What does short-term rental insurance cover?

We cover a wide range of risks, or you can choose a limited set of coverages for a lower premium

Fire

Fire insurance for rental properties covers structural fire and smoke damage, your personal property, and lost rent while repairs are underway. See what’s covered, exclusions, and how much coverage you need.

Legal liability

Landlord liability insurance pays medical bills, legal defense, and settlements when a tenant or visitor is injured at your rental. Steadily writes $300K to $2M of liability into every landlord policy in all 50 states. Quote in two minutes.

Water

Water damage insurance for rental properties covers burst pipes, roof leaks, appliance overflows, and sewer backups with an endorsement, plus lost rent. See what’s covered, the exclusions, and how much you need.

Storm and hail

Storm and hail damage insurance for landlords covers roof punctures, siding, windows, and wind damage to your rental. See what’s covered, deductibles, and how much coverage you need.

Loss of rent

Loss of rent insurance, also called fair rental value coverage, replaces the rental income you lose when a covered event makes your rental uninhabitable.

Vandalism & burglary

Covers damage made to your rental property by a burglar or a vandal, such as broken windows or defacements made to walls or exterior structures.

Riot & civil commotion

Covers damage to your rental property caused by riots, civil unrest, and public disturbances.

Short-term vs. long-term rentals explained

Short-term rentals

Stays that are 30 days or less at a time.

Rented in short stays

Guests book by the night or week, cycling through constantly instead of one household staying put. A short-term rental policy is priced for that turnover.

Furnished space for paying guests

You supply the beds, furniture, and everything guests use.

Rental income rises and falls with bookings

Revenue is variable and business-like, and loss of rent coverage can replace bookings lost after a covered event.

Requires an STR policy or endorsement

An STR carries a meaningfully different risk profile than a long-term rental. Having the wrong policy can result in coverage gaps and claims being denied.

Long-term rentals

A tenant's permanent residence.

Leased for months or years

One tenant signs a lease and lives there full-time; there's no nightly turnover.

A different risk profile

A single long-term tenant creates far less turnover and guest liability than a stream of nightly visitors, so it's underwritten differently.

Steady rent, tied to a lease

Using a homeowners policy for a rental property can create major coverage gaps.

Does not require an STR policy or endorsement

A tenant-occupied rental calls for a landlord policy built around long-term tenants.

Not sure if your STR is covered? Enter your address and get a free quote instantly:

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Why an Austin STR needs its own policy

Austin dropped its proposed insurance mandate, so the city no longer makes you show a specific coverage amount to get licensed. That's easy to misread as a reason to skip real coverage, when it's the opposite. Nothing is backstopping you but your own policy, and a standard Texas homeowners policy excludes the business of renting to guests.

That exclusion is where hosts get burned. A guest slips on the stairs, a kitchen fire spreads, a booking damages the place, and the homeowners carrier points to the commercial-use clause and walks. A short-term rental policy is built for the actual use: liability for guest injuries, coverage for the dwelling and your contents, and lost income when a covered event takes the rental offline.

With the market as competitive as Austin's, one denied claim can wipe out a season of bookings. Run a quick quote to see what short-term rental insurance costs for your Austin property.

The short-term rental laws Austin hosts need to follow

Austin overhauled its short-term rental rules in 2025, and the headline is that non-owner-occupied rentals are legal again. The old ordinance had tried to phase out those homes, a federal court struck that ban down in 2023, and the city replaced the whole scheme with citywide licensing. Every unit now needs its own operating license, good for two years, running about $836.

There are still three license types: owner-occupied, non-owner-occupied whole-home, and units inside multifamily buildings, which carry density caps. One operator can run up to two rentals on a single-family lot, and additional units have to sit at least 1,000 feet apart. There's no primary-residence requirement anymore.

Guests owe roughly 17% in combined hotel occupancy taxes, city plus state, and since 2025 the platforms collect and remit that for you. Enforcement now leans on the platforms too, with fines up to $500 a day for keeping unlicensed listings live.