hi :) ..not sure if Im in the right place, but are guests charged the security deposit when they book? ..or only if they damage something under amount of security deposit.

[Emily1409]

hello 🙂 I want to set a security deposit for my guests, but am not sure if they are required to pay this amount when they book, ..or only if they damage something. I see I would have 14 days to ask airBnB to charge them for any damages, but do not want to scare them off by requiring they pay entire deposit at time of booking the space. 

Im not sure if Im in the right place for these questions, but if anyone has the answer Id be grateful to know. 

thank you 🙂

Emily

2beeBnB

[Sarah977]

@Emily1409  The Airbnb so-called security deposit is bogus. It is neither charged at the time of booking, nor charged simply because a guest damages something. 

Hosts have to request to the guest first, that they pay for damage. If the guest refuses, which they are likely to do, you then have to try to pursue the claim with Airbnb, which can be a lengthy and frustrating process at the end of whuch the claim may be completely denied.

If you are hosting an entire home, you need to have private str insurance to cover yourself for major damage. And a fund set aside to cover the small stuff.

Listing a security deposit can make guests more respectful of your property, though, as they would fear being charged. That it would scare a guest away is the wrong attitude. If a guest is scared away by it, you really don't want those kinds of guests.

And there is more to the procedure of making a damage claim than that you have 14 days to do so. The damage has to be documented with time and date stamped photos before the next guest checks in, you have to first request that the guest pay, and so on. Read the procedure protocols carefully- Airbnb loves to deny claims on a procedural technicality