If you were sexually assaulted at an Airbnb or Vrbo, you may be able to pursue a civil claim against the host or property owner, separate from any criminal case. Inadequate security, screening, or safety measures can support a claim.
Key terms
- Premises liability
- The legal rule that a property owner or host must keep guests reasonably safe from hazards they know about, or should know about.
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline for filing a claim. It varies by state and can run out before you realize you have a claim, so do not wait to ask.
Injured at a short-term rental? Talk to our team today, free of charge.
If you were sexually assaulted at an Airbnb or Vrbo, please know this: it was not your fault, and you have rights. We understand how hard it is to be here, reading this. You can reach out to us, on your own timeline, with no pressure. A case review is free. Our lawyers are licensed in Florida and New York and help survivors of sexual assault or sexual abuse at rentals across the country, working with local counsel where needed.
You deserve to be heard, believed, and treated with care. Our role is to support you and, when the facts allow, to hold the people who failed to keep you safe accountable.
You are not alone. We are here to listen.
Call 833-236-8253 for a free conversation, available 24/7.
Start a Free Case Review →
Reaching Out at Your Own Pace
You decide what to share and when. Before submitting a request, please note:
- Your initial case review is free, with no obligation.
- You control what you share and when.
- Contacting us does not commit you to anything.
- We will treat you with respect and dignity at every step.
There is no wrong way to reach out. If you are not ready to talk by phone, you can start with a written request and we will follow your lead.
You May Have a Legal Claim, Even Against the Property
Sexual assault is a crime, and the person who harmed you is responsible for what they did, but sometimes a property owner, host, or platform also failed in a way that allowed the harm to happen. When that is true, you may have a separate civil claim against them.
This is often a form of negligent security, the failure to take reasonable steps to keep guests safe from foreseeable harm. Examples can include:
- Broken or missing locks on doors or windows
- A host or other person given improper access to the unit
- Ignored warnings or a known pattern of danger
- Failure to act on safety complaints
Whether you have a claim depends on the specific facts. A free review is the gentle, no-pressure way to find out. You can also read more on our negligent security page.
Who May Be Responsible
Beyond the person who assaulted you, responsibility can reach those who created or ignored the danger. In a short-term rental, that often involves a failure of screening or access, for example, a host who kept a key or used hidden cameras, a co-host or cleaner given improper access, or a host who ignored prior complaints about a guest, a property, or themselves.
These civil cases are sensitive, and proving them carefully is part of our work. Whether Airbnb or Vrbo also bears any responsibility depends on the circumstances and on what they knew. Our who is liable page explains your options, and we can walk you through them gently, at your pace.
There is no pressure and no judgment here.
Call 833-236-8253 whenever you are ready, or request a free review.
If You Need Help Right Now
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. For confidential support at any hour, the National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN is available at 1-800-656-4673. Your health and safety come first, always.
When you feel ready, and only then, these steps can help protect your options:
- Get medical care if you have not already. Your wellbeing matters most.
- Save anything you still have, the listing, messages, receipts.
- Write down what you remember when it feels safe to do so.
- Reach out to us for a free review.
You never have to relive more than you choose to. We can often gather what is needed without asking you to repeat painful details over and over.
What a Civil Claim May Cover
Every case is different, and a civil claim is separate from any criminal case. When the facts support a claim, compensation may help with:
- Medical care and counseling
- Therapy and ongoing mental health support
- Lost income and time away from work
- The pain, fear, and emotional harm you have carried
No amount of money can undo what happened. What a claim can do is help you access care and hold accountable those who failed to protect you.
We work on a no fee unless we win basis. There is never a charge to talk with us.
When you are ready, we are here, with care.
Call 833-236-8253 for a free case review, 24/7.
Start a Free Case Review →
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask questions before deciding whether to move forward?
Yes. A case review is free and does not commit you to hiring us. You control what you share and when. If you are not ready to speak by phone, you can start with a written request. We can answer your questions and help you understand your options at your own pace.
Do I need a police report or a criminal conviction to bring a civil claim?
No. A civil claim is separate from any criminal case and does not depend on whether the person who harmed you was arrested, charged, or convicted. Whether and when to involve police is your decision. A civil claim looks at whether a property owner, host, or platform failed to keep you safe, and every decision about pursuing it remains yours.
What if the locks or access to the rental were part of what happened?
Failures of security or access can matter to a civil claim. Broken or missing locks, a host who kept or shared a key, improper access given to another person, or ignored complaints can all point to a failure by the owner, host, or operator to keep guests safe. What happened was not your fault. When the facts support it, the people responsible for those failures may be held accountable alongside the person who harmed you.
Can I sue Airbnb if I was sexually assaulted at a rental?
Yes, you may be able to pursue a civil claim against the host or property owner separate from any criminal case against the person who assaulted you. Inadequate security, screening, or safety measures can support a claim. This applies to both Airbnb and Vrbo stays.
Do you handle Airbnb sexual assault cases in Florida?
Yes. Traction Law Group is based in Palm Beach County, Florida, and our lawyers are licensed in Florida and New York. If the assault happened at an Airbnb or Vrbo somewhere else, we can still review your case and, where needed, associate local counsel in that state. There is never any pressure to decide anything.