Umbrella / Excess Liability Insurance
Umbrella (excess) liability sits on top of your general, premises, and short-term rental liability policies, adding $1M–$5M of protection for the catastrophic guest-injury claims that can exceed primary limits.
Umbrella / Excess Liability for Vacation Rentals
A single serious guest injury — a child hurt at the pool, a balcony failure, a carbon monoxide incident — can generate a claim far larger than a standard $1M liability limit. Umbrella liability adds a layer of protection above your primary policies so a catastrophic claim doesn't reach your personal assets.
How It Works
1. Your primary liability policy: $1M per occurrence 2. A serious guest-injury claim settles at $2.5M 3. Primary pays $1M; the umbrella covers the remaining $1.5M
Why STR Hosts Specifically Need It
Short-term rentals concentrate the exact factors that drive large injury verdicts:
- High-risk amenities — pools, hot tubs, decks, balconies, stairs
- Guests unfamiliar with the property's hazards
- Family groups with children on vacation
- Properties (and owners) with assets worth pursuing
For a host with real equity in one or more properties, an umbrella is the most cost-effective way to protect against a worst-case claim.
Coverage Above Multiple Policies
A well-structured umbrella can sit above your general/premises liability and, where applicable, your auto liability — providing one consistent extra layer. We coordinate the underlying limits so the umbrella attaches cleanly with no gap.
Cost
Umbrella coverage is typically inexpensive relative to the protection it provides — often a few hundred dollars per $1M layer for a single property — because it only pays after primary limits are exhausted.
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
If your property has a pool, hot tub, balcony, or stairs — or if you have meaningful assets — yes. A serious guest injury can easily exceed a $1M primary limit, and an umbrella adds catastrophic protection for a relatively low cost.
Often yes. We can structure an umbrella to sit above the primary liability on multiple properties, coordinating the underlying limits so the umbrella attaches cleanly with no gap.