Airbnb Security Deposits: How Much Should I Charge?

A security deposit is an extra money collected from the guest and held by a host for possible charges incurred during the resident’s stay. Property damage and legal fees are examples of such additional fees.

While security deposits are standard and expected in most regions, some hosts seek additional deposits under certain circumstances. This is usually to compensate for the possibility of damage.

All types of landlords—Airbnb and otherwise—are exposed to the danger of a guest failing to pay or causing damage to the property. A security deposit is one method of mitigating this risk. However, there are regulations and recommended practices much like any other aspect of the industry when it comes to security deposits.