Set a security deposit on a unit and it's collected as part of the renter's booking payment. The renter sees it labeled as a refundable security deposit at checkout. After the rental ends and the unit comes back clean and undamaged, you return the deposit to the renter.
How the deposit is collected
The deposit is charged together with the rental in a single card payment when the booking is confirmed. On the booking it shows a deposit status of collected. Sales tax is never charged on the deposit; a processing fee (if you use one) does apply to it.
Good to know: The deposit is real money charged to the renter's card and held in your Stripe balance — not just a pending hold. That's why you return it as a refund when the rental is done.
Returning the deposit
- Go to Dashboard → Payments → Transactions.
- Open the booking's invoice.
- Click Return Deposit and confirm the amount.
The deposit (or the part you choose) is refunded to the renter's original card on your connected Stripe account. If there was damage, you can return part of the deposit and keep the rest — just enter a smaller amount. The Transactions page tracks Deposits Held and Deposits Returned for you.
Authorization holds (review-each bookings)
If you review each booking before approving, the renter's card is authorized but not charged at checkout. Stripe holds that authorization for 7 days:
- Approve within 7 days to capture the payment (rental + deposit) and confirm the booking.
- If you don't act in time, the hold expires and the renter has to book again.
Auto-approve charges immediately, so the 7-day limit doesn't apply there. See approve or review bookings.
Cancellations and refunds
Returning a deposit is separate from issuing a refund. Refunds aren't automatic — you issue them yourself. Spell out your rules (for example, "deposit is non-refundable if cancelled within 24 hours of pickup") in your Cancellation Policy under Payment Settings, which renters see at checkout. See invoices and refunds.
Still need help? Tap the Support button inside your dashboard.