Security deposit

A security deposit is money you hold as cover for damage, missing items or broken rules during a stay, refunded after checkout if all is well. Some hosts charge it and refund it later, while others place a pre-authorisation on the guest's card so nothing is actually taken unless there is a claim.

Deposits work best when they are stated clearly before booking and handled automatically. A pre-authorisation a day or two before arrival, released a few days after checkout, protects you without creating refund admin, and it feels far more professional to guests than a bank-transfer deposit chased by email.