Airbnb Damage Claim Template: A Narrative Reviewers Take Seriously
Two hosts file the same claim: same broken TV, same receipt, same photos. One writes three paragraphs of calm facts; the other writes six paragraphs about how the guest lied and partying should be banned. The first claim is easy to approve. Reviewers process documentation, not grievances — here's the structure that works.
The five-part structure
- Reservation facts. Platform, property, reservation code, guest name, checkout date.
- Discovery. Who found the damage, when, and what exactly was found.
- Condition before. The evidence that the item was intact before this stay.
- Cost. What the repair/replacement costs, tied to a named receipt or estimate with its date.
- The request. One sentence: the amount and the attached evidence list.
Fill-in-the-blank template
This reimbursement request concerns [PLATFORM] reservation [CODE] at [PROPERTY NAME], with guest [GUEST NAME], who checked out on [DATE].
During checkout cleaning on [DATE], [WHO] found [SPECIFIC DAMAGE — what, where, extent]. The [ITEM] was intact and functional at the pre-arrival inspection on [DATE], as shown in the attached photos. [The guest did not report any incident during the stay. / The guest messaged on [DATE] saying: "[QUOTE]".]
[Repair/replacement] costs [AMOUNT], per the attached [estimate/invoice] from [BUSINESS NAME] dated [DATE], covering [WHAT THE QUOTE COVERS].
The requested reimbursement is [TOTAL]. Supporting evidence: [numbered list of attached files].
The language rules
- State facts you can evidence; skip the rest. "The screen was cracked at checkout" — not "the guest obviously smashed it."
- No emotion, no adjectives doing accusation work. Delete "shocking", "blatant", "disrespectful".
- Every number matches a document. If the invoice says $229.50, the narrative says $229.50.
- Dates everywhere. Checkout, discovery, receipt, estimate — dated facts read as verified facts.
- Short. Three or four paragraphs. Reviewers read dozens of these a day.
Worked example
See a complete narrative written in this style — with the evidence index it sits on top of — in our sample packet. If you'd rather not write it yourself, ClaimPack drafts a neutral narrative from your facts and evidence (and never invents anything), you edit it, and export the whole packet as a PDF. Before you file, double-check your deadline and run the evidence checklist.