The OnePulse poll, conducted by specialist sharing economy insurer GUARDHOG, revealed that three quarters of all those planning a Christmas or New Year's Eve party this year fear too many guests will turn up or the party may get out of hand.
According to the data, just under half of those planning a bash this December said they were worried about too many people arriving, with more than 20% saying they feared the house might get trashed or valuables stolen. Only 11% were worried too few guests would show up, while 14% admitted the biggest drag would be the tidy-up the next day.
The poll also quizzed would-be guests about what they'd do if they accidentally caused damage at a party, with 17% saying they would just keep quiet and a further 3.5% admitting they would deliberately cast the finger of suspicion elsewhere to dodge the blame. Almost half (49%) said they would admit to being the culprit, but wouldn't expect to be asked to pay for the damage, hoping the host would be sufficiently insured.
Guests who said they would own up but didn't expect to fork out may be in for a shock, however, as 44% of hosts stated that they would expect the guilty party to cover the cost of cleaning, repairing or replacing damaged items. Only around 20% of hosts said they'd foot the bill themselves, with around a quarter (26%) saying they would try to claim on their home and contents insurance.
Humphrey Bowles, co-founder of GUARDHOG, says: “Renting out a property over the festive season can be rewarding, but hosts may be concerned their guests might be planning to hold a New Year's Eve bash. GUARDHOG's cover protects hosts and their homes in a variety of circumstances including accidental and malicious damage should guests overdo the party spirit! From as little as £1 a night we aim to offer peace of mind, so hosts can enjoy the festivities without worrying about their property or their guests.”
