A property may have a pool, furniture, appliances, and considerable value. Asking for a deposit seems logical, but on Airbnb, it’s not enough to just write it in the house rules.
What Airbnb allows
Airbnb states that most hosts cannot charge security deposits to guests either through the Resolution Center or outside the platform. There are exceptions for certain accommodations, especially those connected through software, as long as the deposit is properly declared in the flow permitted by Airbnb.
The key is not whether the owner considers the deposit reasonable, but whether Airbnb authorizes that deposit for that specific listing.
The calculation a host should make
Let’s assume a reservation of €900, with an expected profit after costs of €350 and a concern for minor damages of about €200.
Reservation: €900
Expected margin: €350
Minor damage to be covered: €200
Maximum cost of rejecting the reservation for requiring a non-permitted condition: up to €350 margin.
The deposit cannot be analyzed solely as "€200 of protection." It is also necessary to measure how much it could commercially cost to impose a condition that the platform does not allow.
How to protect the property without improvising a deposit
- Inventory and photographs prior to each stay.
- Clear house rules accepted within the platform.
- Quick documentation of any damage.
- Internal procedure for claims within applicable deadlines.
- Appropriate insurance when the asset risk justifies it.
If Airbnb does not expressly authorize the deposit for your listing, do not make it a condition of entry charged externally. Real protection lies in properly documenting the property and reacting quickly to any incidents.
Main source: Airbnb Help Center, policy on security deposits.