--- title: "2.1.7 Collect Security Deposits" description: "A security deposit helps protect your property against damage or other additional costs during a guest's stay." url: https://support.zeevou.com/en-gb/articles/535-217-collect-security-deposits collection: "2.1 Customise Pre-Check-In Form" updated: 2026-11-04 language: en-gb --- # 2.1.7 Collect Security Deposits A security deposit helps protect your property against damage or other additional costs during a guest's stay. Managing security deposits efficiently helps you protect your property and keep your financial records accurate. In Zeevou, you can log, charge, release, and automate security deposits, depending on your payment gateway and settings. * * * ## Managing Your Guests’ Security Deposit There are different things that you might need to do with your guests’ security deposits. You can find the instructions for each one here: ### **1\. Log a Security Deposit** 1. Log in to your [Zeevou account](https://app.zeevou.com/). 2. Go to the **Finance** tab of the booking and open the **Security Deposit** card. 3. Click **More** to log a new deposit. 4. A window will appear. 5. Enter the **Amount**, **Date**, and **Time**. 6. Select the **Payment Type** from the drop-down menu. 7. Add a **Reference** and **Description**. (Optional) 8. Click **Log** to save the deposit. ### **2\. Charge/Release a Security Deposit** 1. Click **Charge & Release**. 2. A window will open. 3. Select the **Deposit Type**. 4. Enter the **Associated Cost**, **Amount to Capture**, and **Reason**. 5. Click **Save and Close** to complete the action. **_Note 1_:** If the booking status is 'Booked,' Charge & Release is not shown. You need to check the guest in before you can charge their deposit. * * * ## **Manage Deposits That Were Paid via Payment Gateways** If the security deposit was collected through a payment gateway, you can manage it through **Charge & Release**. 1. Open the relevant booking and go to the **Finance** tab. 2. Open the **Security Deposit** card. 3. Click **Charge & Release**. 4. Select the appropriate option: - **Captured (Automatic)** – the authorised deposit is charged to the guest’s card. - **Logged** – the deposit is recorded in Zeevou without charging the guest’s card through Zeevou. A **Logged** security deposit is typically used when the deposit was received outside Zeevou and needs to be recorded in the system. A **Captured** security deposit means that the authorised amount has been charged from the guest’s card. * * * ## Change the Deposit Amount of a Unit Type You can change the security deposit amount for a Unit Type from its applicable Rate Plan. 1. Go to the **Listings** page and select the relevant **Unit Type**. 2. Click the **Pricing & Availability** tab. 3. In the **Rate Plans** card, click **View/Edit Details** for the applicable rate plan. 4. Click the **edit** icon next to the **Security Deposit** amount. 5. Enter the new deposit amount. 6. Click **Save** to apply the changes. * * * ## Auto-Charge/Auto-Refund Security Deposits Via Payment Gateways Zeevou’s **Auto Charge/Auto Refund** feature automates payment collection and refunds based on booking policies, reducing manual work. It ensures deposits, balances, and refunds are processed seamlessly through integrated payment gateways. To enable this option: 1. Click the **Settings** gear icon. 2. Select **Settings**. 3. Under the **Finance** tab, locate the **Security Deposit Collection Methods** card. 4. Turn on the **Card** toggle. 5. Select **Stripe** as your payment gateway. 6. Select **Auto Charge/Auto Refund**. 7. Click **Save**. This setting allows you to specify the number of days after the departure date when the security deposit should be automatically released to the guest. Crucially, if you have selected the **Auto Charge/Auto Refund** method, the deposit will be processed as an actual payment upon authorization and automatically refunded according to your specified timeline. * * * ## Auto Charge/Auto Refund vs Pre-Authorisation These two options handle the guest’s security deposit differently: - **Auto Charge/Auto Refund:** The deposit is charged to the guest’s card and automatically refunded according to your configured timeline if you do not need to retain any of it. - **Pre-authorisation:** The deposit amount is temporarily held on the guest’s card without being captured. You can capture the required amount if you need to retain some or all of the deposit, or release the authorisation when no charge is required. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/QTWRGKMnFpjubB6kpVcJ2Huz61EtzkbT4TZstSbH6tvqe9p99IwMmv8tFhAR97N5RU8hSx9tpcV.png) **Important:** When handling security deposits with Stripe, it's important to distinguish between **Auto Charge/Auto Refund** and **Pre-Authorisation**, as they serve different purposes. Stripe has limitations regarding the duration of pre-authorised security deposits, typically allowing a maximum hold of 7 days from the point of authorisation. To address this, Zeevou offers two options: 1. **Auto-capture** and **auto-refund**: This method captures the security deposit as a payment and then automatically refunds it after the guest's departure based on your configured timeline. This allows you to hold a security deposit for bookings of any length. 2. **Security deposit extend module**: This module automatically re-authorises the deposit according to your security deposit timeline settings, overcoming the 7-day limitation for pre-authorisations. However, when you tick the Auto Charge/Auto Refund box, the system treats Stripe deposits as actual payments. This means that when guests authorise the deposit, the funds are transferred to your account. Following the guests’ departure, if you do not intend to Capture any or all of the deposit, the system will automatically initiate a refund based on the timeframe you have set in the **Online Check-in Process or Listings → Set Listing Defaults → Security Deposit Timeline.** **_Note_:** The reauthorization process typically takes 3–5 days. However, depending on your settings, the card may continue to repeat the process and get reauthorized for up to 7 days or more. **Regarding the timeframe for guests receiving their refund via Stripe with the Auto Charge/Auto Refund method:** If you have configured the system to release the funds, for example, 2 days after checkout, Zeevou will instruct Stripe to process the refund at that point. While the system initiates the refund on the specified day, please note that it can take up to 14 working days for the refunded amount to appear back on the guest's card due to processing times by Stripe and the guest's bank. Please note that £3.00 per deposit transaction will be deducted from your account if the security deposit is captured. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/9EMqEQ8ljDsZof6rUEMu655mPNCI1i8BuxTGAVv8y0EL7HA2W9aUJ8BkEGPNudSwgCUagx1AHdv.png) * * * ## **Airbnb Off-Platform Security Deposits Handling** If you want to automate the [security deposit](https://zeevou.com/features/security-deposits/) collection of **Airbnb** bookings via Zeevou, follow these steps: **Step 1:** Log into [app.zeevou.com](https://app.zeevou.com/) and click on the gear icon, select **Settings→ Finance** card**→ Security Deposit** tab→ **Security Deposit Collection Method** card. **Step 2:** Turn the toggle of Airbnb on. **Step 3:** A drawer opens in which you should select **Date** and **Time**. Finally, click **Save**. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/F14y86siMbhAUoGRTZCQXV9BdtxlJYlprlV5iqwgplf39vngFxwJGPlphVpIkXxk0slYQdUt3kb.png) **_Note 1_:** This will be applied to Bookings created after the selected date. **_Note 2_:** If you enable the toggle of **Airbnb**, the Security Deposit collection will be applied for the bookings that are created after the date you set in the open drawer. When you disable the Airbnb toggle, the Security Deposit status gets Guaranteed by Channel under the Finance tab. In this situation, Zeevou will not track the Security Deposit, and you need to check manually in the channel where the process will take place. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/yi0F7IHcWVYXVL0Hp2mJblZiXJEbE1Qlc5AEXzaWi4THFZrWYYYW1AQOEBmXazTB1u8lS6bCzai.webp) * * * ## Pre-authorise A Deposit Via The Guest’s Card Once the guest enters their card details, Zeevou will automatically pre-authorise the specified amount according to the settings configured in your **Security Deposit Timeline**. The pre-authorised amount is not captured unless you need to charge the guest for damage or another applicable cost. If no charge is required, the authorisation can be released according to your configured settings. Once you’ve set up your security deposits, you can continue to the next step and activate your communication channels to keep guests informed throughout their booking journey. [**Connect to WhatsApp→**](https://support.zeevou.com/en-gb/articles/746-connect-to-whatsapp.md)