How to Protect Your Property When Renting to Film Productions
Film shoots pay $1,000 to $5,000 a day. They also bring 48-foot trucks, 85-person crews, and lighting rigs that can scorch ceilings. The property owners who come out ahead are the ones who document everything before the first grip truck parks.
The single biggest mistake property owners make when renting to film productions is not documenting the property's condition before the crew arrives. According to the California Film Commission, property owners should take photos prior to filming and conduct a walkthrough with the location manager after the shoot wraps. Production companies carry insurance that covers third-party property damage, but without timestamped before-and-after evidence, proving what changed during the shoot becomes your word against theirs.
What Actually Gets Damaged
Film crews are professionals, and most shoots end without incident. According to Giggster, less than 1% of bookings on their platform result in an insurance claim. But when damage does happen, it tends to fall into predictable categories that the California Film Commission has documented extensively in their property owner guide, Your Property in a Starring Role (revised April 2024).
Floors
Heavy dollies, C-stands, and equipment cases scratch hardwood and tear carpet. The CFC recommends covering all floors where crew will walk.
Walls and Woodwork
The CFC explicitly states: nails, tape, pushpins, tacks, and clamps should not be used on any wall, door, beam, or woodwork without prior approval.
Ceilings and Surfaces
Film lights generate significant heat. The CFC warns they should be placed so they do not scorch walls, ceilings, curtains, plants, or trees.
Driveways and Landscaping
A feature film brings 10 to 25 equipment trucks and 60 to 95 automobiles, per the CFC. Large trucks damage sprinkler heads, crack driveways, and leave oil spots.
Missing or Moved Items
Art departments routinely rearrange furniture, remove doors, and add set dressing. Items get misplaced or damaged in the shuffle. The CFC recommends requesting a bonded mover for heirlooms and antiques.
Electrical
Productions may need to tie into building power. The CFC raises whether a building electrician needs to be present and whether permits are required.
- No eating, drinking, or smoking inside the property (unless the script requires it, on-camera only)
- Large trucks should not be allowed in the driveway because they tend to damage sprinkler heads
- All floors should be covered in areas where crew will be walking
- Nails, tape, pushpins, tacks, and clamps should not be used on any wall, door, beam, or woodwork without prior approval
- Lights should be placed so as not to scorch walls, ceilings, curtains, plants, or trees
- Consider whether or not you will allow roof access
The Insurance You Should Demand
Every legitimate production company carries insurance. According to Akker Insurance's 2026 film production guide, a standard Producer's Package includes seven bundled coverages, and one of them is specifically "Third-Party Property Damage," which responds when a production damages property it does not own. General liability minimums start at $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with studios requiring $5 to $25 million in umbrella coverage on top.
According to the California Film Commission, most insurance policies for filming on location cover liability up to $1 million. But here is the detail most property owners miss: the Certificate of Insurance (COI) is not the coverage itself. You also need an additional insured endorsement with your name or company listed specifically. The COI shows that the production company has a policy. The endorsement is what extends that coverage to your property.
What to verify on the COI
A production that refuses to provide a COI with an additional insured endorsement is a production you should not work with. According to Akker Insurance, even a small indie short carries $1,200 to $2,500 in insurance. The cost is built into every legitimate production budget.
Platform Protection Compared
If you list on a film location platform rather than booking directly with production companies, you get a layer of platform protection. But the coverage varies dramatically, and none of it replaces the production company's own insurance.
| Peerspace | Giggster | Direct Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage coverage | $25,000/booking $7,500 per item max |
$2,000/booking via Damage Protection add-on |
None Production's own insurance only |
| Host deductible | $100 | $500 | N/A |
| Liability coverage | $1M GL | $1M GL | Require COI |
| Reporting window | 14 days | Not published | Per contract |
| Theft covered? | No | No | Via police report + claim |
| Availability | U.S. only | U.S. only | Anywhere |
According to Peerspace's published terms, their Property Damage Guarantee (launched April 2023) is not insurance. It is a reimbursement agreement: Peerspace pays hosts for eligible damage when a guest is unable or unwilling to pay. It excludes gross negligence, willful destruction, theft, smoking and vaping damage, and motorized vehicle damage.
According to Giggster, their Location Agreement requires every renter to carry production insurance with a minimum of $2 million in general liability and property damage coverage. The platform also offers its own Damage Protection at checkout: up to $2,000 with a $500 deductible. For hosts who want the production company to carry proper insurance, Giggster's Production Insurance package provides $1 million per occurrence with $100,000 specifically for damage to rental premises.
What Your Location Agreement Must Include
The production company will usually bring their own location agreement. According to the California Film Commission, you should attach your own provisions and conditions to it. The CFC's guide includes a sample location agreement (Form C) and general provisions (Form C-1) that property owners can reference.
The California Film Commission also recommends requiring partial or full payment upfront, with the balance due at wrap. If you plan to request a damage deposit, include it in your guidelines before the production locks the location, so they can prepare the necessary paperwork.
Before-and-After Documentation
The California Film Commission's advice is simple: take photos of your property prior to filming, and do a walkthrough with the location manager once the production wraps. But for high-value properties or repeat rentals, a more systematic approach pays for itself the first time something goes wrong.
Before the shoot: baseline documentation
Walk every room with a camera and record a continuous video, narrating the condition of walls, floors, fixtures, and high-value items. Photograph individual items (art, antiques, electronics) with serial numbers or distinguishing marks. Create a written inventory. Timestamp everything. This is your baseline.
During the shoot: on-site monitoring
Hire a film site representative ($100 to $300+ per 12-hour day, according to Giggster) or assign your own property manager to stay on-site. Their job is to enforce your location agreement: confirm floors are covered, lights are positioned safely, and off-limits areas stay off-limits. Document any incidents as they happen.
After the shoot: comparison walkthrough
Do the same video walkthrough you did before the shoot, covering every room in the same order. Walk it with the location manager or an assistant location manager present. Compare against your baseline. Note any damage, missing items, or alterations that were not restored. This is your evidence.
File claims promptly
If you are on Peerspace, submit your damage reimbursement request within 14 days. For direct bookings, follow the damage assessment timeline in your location agreement. Attach the before-and-after documentation: timestamped photos, video, the written inventory, and the location manager's acknowledgment.
The same problem film locations have, vacation rentals solved first
The before-and-after documentation challenge that film location owners face is identical to what vacation rental managers deal with on every turnover: a property changes hands, and you need to know what changed. In vacation rentals, where this happens hundreds of times a month across a portfolio, AI-powered video comparison has already replaced manual photo review.
RapidEye was built for exactly this kind of comparison. A video walkthrough before the shoot becomes a baseline. A walkthrough after becomes a comparison set. The AI flags what changed: missing items, new damage, alterations that were not restored. No manual photo-by-photo comparison. No relying on memory.
If your property hosts regular film shoots, commercial productions, or events, the same technology that protects 3,000+ vacation rental properties can protect yours. Learn more about RapidEye.
The 14-Day Tax Benefit
According to the California Film Commission, you can rent your home for filming for up to 14 days per year without having to pay taxes on the income. You do not have to report it, but you also cannot deduct any expenses associated with the rental. This is the same IRS rule (Topic 415) that applies to vacation rentals. For property owners who host a handful of shoots per year, this is a meaningful benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rates typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 per day depending on the production type, property features, and location. According to Giggster, the average host earns approximately $2,027 per booking. The California Film Commission recommends a sliding fee scale based on production budgets and crew size, with reduced rates (one-third to one-half of the daily fee) for prep and strike days.
At minimum, require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing general liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence. You also need an additional insured endorsement naming you or your company. According to the California Film Commission, the COI shows the production has a policy, but the endorsement is what actually extends coverage to your property.
Most standard homeowner's policies do not cover commercial activity on your property. Contact your insurance provider before agreeing to any shoot. The production company's general liability and third-party property damage coverage are your primary protection.
Do a complete video walkthrough of every room and outdoor area, narrating pre-existing conditions. Photograph high-value items individually with serial numbers or identifying marks. Create a written inventory. Timestamp everything. After the shoot, repeat the same walkthrough and compare against the baseline.
Key clauses: restoration obligation (return property to original condition), insurance requirements (COI + additional insured), security deposit, permitted areas and off-limits zones, alteration restrictions, hours and crew size limits, pre-shoot and post-shoot walkthrough requirements, and a damage assessment timeline.
Sources
- California Film Commission, "Your Property in a Starring Role" (revised April 2024) https://cdn.film.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Your-Property-In-A-Starring-Role-1.pdf
- California Film Commission, Insurance Requirements https://film.ca.gov/state-permits/insurance-requirements/
- Akker Insurance, "Film Production Insurance: The Complete 2026 Guide" https://www.akkerins.com/new-blog/film-production-insurance-complete-guide-2026
- Peerspace, "Introducing the Peerspace Property Damage Guarantee" https://www.peerspace.com/resources/property-damage-guarantee/
- Peerspace Support, "What is covered under the Property Damage Guarantee?" https://support.peerspace.com/en/articles/10119500-what-is-covered-under-the-property-damage-guarantee
- Giggster Help Center, "Giggster's Production Insurance" https://help.giggster.com/en/articles/8444644-giggster-s-production-insurance
- Giggster Blog, "Rent Your House for Filming: Earn More Than With Airbnb" https://blog.giggster.com/rent-house-for-film-location/
- Wrapbook, "Producer's Guide: Certificates of Insurance in Film" https://www.wrapbook.com/blog/producers-guide-certificates-of-insurance-film
- Thoolie, "Film Location Agreement Template: What Must It Include?" (May 2026) https://thoolie.com/2026/05/13/film-location-agreement-template/