Airbnb Security Deposit & Damage: What Really Protects Hosts (2026)
Airbnb Security Deposit & Damage: What Really Protects Hosts
None at all, since 2022 Airbnb has not allowed most hosts a classic security deposit.
Guests are charged nothing at check-in, and there is no money set aside for you to draw on if something breaks. AirCover has taken the deposit's place.
Airbnb Help Center, Host damage protection (AirCover)In 60 seconds
Since 2022 Airbnb has not allowed most hosts a classic deposit; AirCover has taken its place.
Without a deposit there is no cushion you can simply withhold. Every cent has to be requested through the Resolution Center.
That only works with evidence and inside the deadline: file no request within 14 days of checkout and the claim lapses.
Deposit or AirCover, payment only follows if you can prove the damage is new. Securing the money means securing the proof.
A photo after checkout shows the damage but not when it arose. That is exactly where most cases fail.
Deposit and AirCover compared
The two solve the same problem from opposite ends.
| Point | Classic deposit | AirCover |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | money is set aside in advance | reimbursement after the stay |
| Access | direct, up to the deposit amount | only after review by Airbnb |
| Deadline | — | request within 14 days of checkout |
| Requirement | proof the damage is new | proof the damage is new |
What actually gets a claim paid
Not the deposit and not the programme: the documentation that comes before them. A recorded condition before every stay makes any damage attributable to a single booking and any reimbursement enforceable.
Why a photo alone is not enough is in Photos as damage evidence; why claims are refused is in When AirCover does not pay. How it works on Vrbo and Booking.com is in Damage from Booking.com and Vrbo guests.
Common mistakes
Guests are charged nothing at check-in; no money is set aside.
Every cent runs through the Resolution Center and only against proof.
File no request within 14 days of checkout and the claim lapses.
What to do next
Record the condition before every stay, that is the cushion replacing the deposit. Do it with BildProof, about two minutes a room →
When damage occurs, document before cleaning.
File the reimbursement request within 14 days, with evidence of cost.
On refusal, escalate to Host damage protection.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a security deposit on Airbnb?
For most hosts, no longer. Since 2022 Airbnb doesn't allow a traditional, upfront-held deposit; guests aren't charged anything at check-in. AirCover replaced it. You request reimbursement only after the stay. Only hosts connected via property-management software (API) can manage their own deposits externally, and must disclose them clearly in the listing.
How do I get money for damage without a deposit?
Through the Airbnb Resolution Center: you file a reimbursement request to the guest within 14 days of checkout; if they don't pay, you escalate to Host damage protection. If no request is filed within 14 days, the claim lapses. In every case you need proof the damage is new.
Is AirCover as good as a deposit?
It's different. A deposit is money set aside in advance; AirCover pays only after review, and only if documentation and deadline hold. The advantage of a deposit (fast access) is gone, while the need for proof stays the same or grows. In both cases what decides it is whether you can show the damage occurred during the stay.
Can I require a deposit as a host?
Directly through Airbnb only as an API-connected host via approved management software, with clear disclosure in the listing. On other platforms like Vrbo or Booking.com your own deposits are possible, but there too, short deadlines and proof requirements apply.
This page gives general information as at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice on an individual case.