Security deposit

[Hanisah0]

Hi, may I know what is the security deposit for? Do guests have to pay for the security deposit on making a booking? Please advice, Thanks

[David126]

Best to think of it as a warning toi Guests who do not realise it is not enforcable. Anybody with evil intent can avoid it.

[Phil97]

Hi David ,

sounds like Airbnb doesn’t take a hold of the deposit. So someone could cancel that card once they checked Out or before.  

[David126]

@Phil97

Absolutely, would be the logical thing to do.

[Costa2]

Hi David. How much is your damage-security deposit?

[Caroline375]

Does the security deposit mean that the guest has to have that amount available in their bank account?

I have a security deposit that I apply to longer stays, but for shorter ones it seems offputting to potential guests.

I want to reassure my guests they dont have to put that amount down unfront, especially if they are only staying a few days.

Best thanks

Caroline

[David126]

@Caroline375

I am not sure anybody can give you a certain answer, I assume usually it is or should be a hold against a credit card so would just need enough limit.

[Shanna5]

No David. this is not done. I asked airbnb point blank if they put a hold in the amount of the security deposit, and the answer is NO.

[David126]

Highly misleading calling it a security deposit, seems many Hosts do not read the small print.

AirBnb does not allow you to charge your own Security Deposit.

[Shanna5]

David that is so strange, because airbnb support actually told me to take my own security deposit via resolution center if I had a concern about new guests with no reviews. I was discussing the "guest from hell" that I recently encountered with a support person and told them that any problems I have encountered have been with new airbnb guests with no reviews. 

The support person suggested that I make a request for funds from any guests new to airbnb if I have a concern prior to their stay and explain it is a deposit against their obeying house rules (IE no loud parties, no smoking in house, etc) because airbnb will absolutely not charge a guest for breaking my house rules. 

[Beth142]

@Caroline375 can you tell me how you apply a security deposit to longer stays? I think that is a great idea!

I am also still trying to understand what the 2 insurances ($1M Host Protection and $1M Hot Guarentee) automatically offered by Airbnb cover vs what a Security Deposit would cover?

[Karine52]

My home owner's insurance dropped last month when I said I was hosting with AirBnB! I had to buy commercial insurance, about 40% increase. That said it won't cover me if I rent each room indicidually! My understanding is that the insurance from AirBnB protects us for liability, if a guest gets hurt .... not for damage ... 

For damage protection, we should ask a security deposit but very few host do and huest don't want to deal with security deposits. Every time I set a security deposit, no one books my place. As soon as I remove the security deposit, I am booked all the time.

Hotels keep a print of your credit card, we don't have that to protect ourselves from damage.

[David126]

@Karine52

AirBnB does not offer a real security deposit so if you need that you are in the wrong place.

[Janis21]

I am setting up my listing 

1 they only allow me to put in 5k for security deposit I charge more how do I adjust this with air B and B ?

[Agustin47]

I need to collect 50% of the rent to my guess, since Mexican families have a high cancellation ratio, this 50% I have to charge it at the moment of reservation, I do not know how to do that.

[David126]

@Agustin47

You would need to list on another Booking system.