Airbnb Security Deposit & Damage Claims (India)

Short answer: Most Airbnb hosts, including hosts in India, cannot charge a security deposit or put a hold on a guest's card — Airbnb's own help pages say this is not allowed for most listings, with narrow exceptions for some software-connected hosts and for hotels collecting incidentals at check-in. What you do have is Host damage protection under AirCover for Hosts, which can reimburse certain guest damage if the guest doesn't pay. You claim it through the Resolution Centre within 14 days of checkout, with photos and evidence.

This is general information from Airbnb's published help articles, not legal advice. Read your own account settings and the current help pages before relying on any of this.

1. Can you take a security deposit on Airbnb?

For most hosts, no. Airbnb's help page on security deposits is direct about this: most hosts are not allowed to charge a security deposit or hold a credit card through the platform.

There are two narrow exceptions:

• Some select software-connected hosts may collect a deposit off-platform, provided it is disclosed in the listing's fee field before the guest books.
• Hotels may request a card hold or a deposit at check-in to cover incidentals, again disclosed in the fee field in advance.

If you keep any part of a deposit you were permitted to collect:

• Refund it within 7 days of checkout if there's no damage (14 days for hotels).
• If you keep part of it, be ready to give the guest a written explanation and evidence.

One more rule worth knowing: payments must stay on Airbnb. Hosts cannot ask guests to pay outside the platform or offer a discount for booking off Airbnb.

Source: https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/140

2. What Host damage protection actually covers

Since most hosts can't hold a deposit, Airbnb's safety net is Host damage protection, part of AirCover for Hosts. It can reimburse you up to USD 3 million for certain guest damage that the guest doesn't pay for, and it also covers some extra cleaning — think stains, pet accidents, or smoke odour beyond normal use.

It does not cover:

• Normal wear and tear
• Loss of currency or valuables
• Acts of nature
• Injury to guests or others
• Routine checkout cleaning

Airbnb is explicit that this is not insurance — it's a reimbursement process, reviewed case by case.

Source: https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/279

3. How to actually file a claim

1. Document everything — photos and video of the damage, ideally compared against check-in photos.
2. Get estimates or receipts for repair or replacement cost.
3. File within 14 days of the guest's checkout — open a reimbursement request in the Resolution Centre.
4. Give the guest 24 hours to respond — they can pay directly at this stage.
5. If they don't pay in full, submit the unpaid amount under Host damage protection; Airbnb Support reviews it from there.

Separately, if you're filing specifically under the Host Damage Protection payment request form (rather than the standard Resolution Centre path), Airbnb's help page for that form sets a 30-day filing deadline from checkout, with evidence attached. Don't let either deadline pass while you're still gathering paperwork — file what you have and add evidence after if needed.

Sources: https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/279 · https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2869

4. One India-specific detail: no auto-charge after a decision

In many countries, once Airbnb decides a claim, it can automatically charge the guest's card for the agreed amount. Airbnb's help page on this is specific that the automatic charge step does not apply to stays in India (also China and Japan). So in India, a favourable decision from Airbnb doesn't by itself move money — the guest still has to pay, and Airbnb's process factors that in.

Source: https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/1415

5. Practical habits that make a claim easier

• Take check-in and checkout photos of every room, every stay — this is your evidence if something goes wrong.
• Put your house rules clearly in the listing (no smoking, pet policy, guest limits) so damage claims tied to rule-breaking are easier to support.
• Keep a simple log of past incidents per listing if you manage more than one property — useful context if a pattern of damage comes up with repeat booking behaviour.

If you also take direct bookings on your own website, Airbnb's deposit rules don't apply there — you can set your own written deposit policy for those guests. See our post on Airbnb commission vs direct bookings for how the two channels compare, and keep calendars in sync with a channel manager if you list on Airbnb and OTAs together.

From BitLegacy: for direct bookings where you want your own deposit terms in writing, a booking engine on your own site gives you that control. Plans start from ₹299/month — see pricing.

Sources: Airbnb Help Centre, "Security deposits," https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/140 · Airbnb Help Centre, "Host damage protection," https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/279 · Airbnb Help Centre, "How decisions on reported issues are handled," https://www.airbnb.co.in/help/article/1415 · Airbnb Help Centre, "Host Damage Protection payment request form," https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2869