Airbnb Reimbursement Request: Template and Wording for Hosts
An Airbnb reimbursement request is not the place to argue. It is the place to make the reviewer and the guest understand the facts quickly: what happened, when it was discovered, what it costs, and which files prove it. Airbnb's Resolution Center flow can ask the guest to respond first, then the case can move to Airbnb review if the guest does not pay or agree — see our guide to a non-responsive or refusing guest if that's where you are right now.
Before you write the request
- Confirm the checkout date and your filing deadline. Start with the 14-day damage claim guide if the timing is close.
- Collect discovery photos, prior-condition proof, receipts, repair estimates, cleaner notes, and any guest messages.
- Make one requested amount that matches the attached receipt or estimate exactly.
- Use filenames and labels that a stranger can understand: "Checkout photo - cracked cooktop", not "IMG_8842".
- Keep private guest details out of screenshots unless Airbnb specifically needs that context.
Short reimbursement request template
Hi [GUEST NAME], during checkout cleaning on [DATE], we found [SPECIFIC DAMAGE] at [PROPERTY / ROOM]. The item was intact before your stay, as shown in the attached [PRE-STAY PHOTO / LISTING PHOTO / PRIOR TURNOVER PHOTO].
The attached [RECEIPT / REPAIR ESTIMATE / CLEANING INVOICE] from [BUSINESS] dated [DATE] shows a cost of [AMOUNT] for [REPAIR / REPLACEMENT / EXTRA CLEANING].
I am requesting reimbursement of [TOTAL]. I attached the discovery photos, prior-condition proof, and cost document so the request is clear.
Longer version for complex damage
This reimbursement request concerns [PLATFORM] reservation [CODE] at [PROPERTY], with checkout on [DATE]. During checkout cleaning on [DATE/TIME], [CLEANER/HOST] found [SPECIFIC DAMAGE].
The attached evidence shows: 1. the damage at discovery, 2. the item or area before the stay, and 3. the cost to repair, replace, or clean it. The requested amount is [TOTAL], matching the attached [INVOICE / ESTIMATE] dated [DATE].
Please review the attached documentation. If you have context about what happened, please reply in the Resolution Center so it stays with the case.
What not to include
- Accusations you cannot prove. "The table was cracked at checkout" is stronger than "you broke the table."
- Extra costs that are not in the invoice or estimate.
- Threats about reviews, deposits, or outside-platform collection.
- Long emotional explanations. A reviewer needs facts, not frustration.
Official Airbnb flows and labels can change, so use Airbnb's own Resolution Center and Host damage protection pages as the source of truth. ClaimPack helps with the part you control: turning the facts and files into one organized packet before you submit.
Questions, answered
What should an Airbnb reimbursement request say?
State the facts a reviewer needs, in order: the reservation and checkout date, what was found and when, proof the item was intact before the stay, the documented cost, and the specific amount requested — without accusations or emotional language.
How much can I ask an Airbnb guest to reimburse for damage?
Request the amount shown on your attached receipt or repair estimate — no more. A request that exactly matches a dated invoice or quote is easier for a reviewer to approve than a round number with nothing attached.
Does Airbnb see my reimbursement request message to the guest?
Yes, as long as it stays inside the Resolution Center. That's one more reason factual, non-accusatory wording matters: the same message becomes part of the record if the case is later escalated for Airbnb review.