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

[Danny21]

The more I read posts about issues people have with AirBnB and how it works, the more untrustworthy I feel of them.

What's the difference between a Security Deposit and Host Protection/ Guarantee?

Is one an excuse for the other?

Does one override the other?

I've read that the Security Deposit isn't guaranteed if the guest 'cancels their payment card' and you're still stuck with the bill, does the Host Guarantee take over?

There's too much speculation and not enough clarity on these things. Doesn't help trusting AirBnB to look after the Hosts does it!

[David126]

All you really need to know is that both are very difficult to claim against and you need to manage your business on the basis neither are available to you and treat it as a bonus if you get something back.

[Susan514]

I'd like to collect a security deposit outside of AirBNB, this is perfectly acceptable on most other booking sites.  How can we initiate the change?  I'm reconsidering working with Air BNB due to the way they have managed my requests for resolution.

[Melissa580]

I agree. 

[Jonathan547]

Hi Susan,

Did you ever find a way to collect a security deposit outside of Airnbnb?

[Melissa580]

I had a guest stay and broke my washing machine.  I emailed him privately and asked for a fee of 200.00 per AIRBNB.   The guest declined the payment and wrote a bad review  saying everything was fine until I accused him of breaking the washing machine.  So I was faced with a bad review or accept that he wasn’t going to pay anything on the broken washer.  I opted to agree with him that he didn’t do it so that I could say in the review that I didn’t charge him.  I don’t like the fact that the security deposit is not collected before the guest arrives.

[Jonathan547]

A guest broke my refrigerator and I had to replace it asap as I had another guest arriving the following day. I have a security depost listed on my profile. When I asked the guest to pay half of the costs for replacing it, he declined, so I "involved" Airbnb.

They have asked for "A professional incident report, from a technician, where it states the cause of the damage and why your guest is liable for that damage." If I cannot supply this -- and who could? -- they will not pay out.

I can only deduce that both the security deposit and the host protection insurance are scams to lead us into thinking we are covered in any way. I want to be able to take the deposit myself -- has anyone figured out how to do this? 

When you set a security deposit amount for your listing, this is what the site says:

"If you submit a damage claim within 14 days of checkout, guests will be responsible for damages up to this amount." This is totally misleading, and in my case, a complete lie.

[David126]

@Jonathan547

Don't book through AirBnB, simple.

[Beth142]

Agree!!

I find when I travel I will look for places on Airbnb and VRBO (equally as terrible to hosts) but they either say right on their listing “to receive a discount, book through my website” or when they reply to my inquiry they will say the same. Basically, they give their short-term rental a specific name and use that in the title of their posting (on whatever site) but the name in an online search also brings you to their own site. 

For me, it was simple because I just added insurance on through my existing policy and when I accept a guest, I prearrange for a security deposit myself (I have a little short term rental agreement I send through DocuSign). I use Venmo or Zelle for $ transfers (many use PayPal). Only thing I need to do is the vetting, but I found that Airbnb and VRBO did not do a very good job with this either. 

Unless these companies are better to their hosts (who provide the real product), they will not survive. 

[Jonathan547]

Thanks, Beth. It sounds like you have found a way around this outside the Airbnb system. I may have to adopt your system eventually, but I am still wondering if I can ask for the security deposit within the Airbnb system (without breaking their many rules).

[John1080]

Has anyone ever had to make a claim against the said 'security deposit'? And if so, were you successful? It's my understanding that hosts first make a claim in the resolution center, and if the guest refuses, it is taken to AirBnb to get involved. From what I have read it is very difficult to claim any money for damages and it seems AirBnb often sides with guests. 

[Jonathan547]

Hi John,

See my comment above -- the short answers are no, I was not successful in making a claim against the so-called security deposit, and yes, it seems to be impossible to claim any money for damages.

[Penny179]

Hi I'm just starting to host and trying to figure out the insurance situation with airbnb and how it works with the security deposit. AIRBNB provides a Host Guarantee which appears to be a comprehensive insurance against damage and theft and so on so how does the Security Deposit work in with this? has anyone claimed for damage on either system?

[Jackie-and-Al0]

I have to trust that if the tenants damage something that they will reach in their pocket for monies after they leave.  I dont think anyone would do that.  I have always collected the security deposit up front so they are extra careful so they can collect their deposit back.

[Fran147]

Jackie how do you collect this deposit?