Setting deposit, balance, security deposit and cancellation terms
1 min read · Updated 24 September 2026
These four settings decide your cash flow and part of your cancellations. Set them once under Conditions.
The deposit
The default is 40 % at booking. Too low attracts bookings that cancel; too high makes people hesitate. The further away the stay, the lower the deposit can be. Under a month, ask for the full amount.
The balance
Claimed automatically a number of days before arrival — 30 by default. Do not go below 14: an unpaid balance then leaves you no time to re-let.
The security deposit
A card hold reassures the owner and worries the guest; an uncashed cheque does the opposite. The amount matters less than how it is announced: explained in one sentence at booking, it passes; discovered on arrival, it ruins the evening.
Cancellation terms
Keep them simple and stand by them. They are displayed before payment, which is what protects you in a dispute.
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