Security Deposit
A security deposit is a refundable amount a host asks a guest to cover in case of damage, excess cleaning, or a policy violation during the stay. In vacation rentals it’s typically handled separately from the booking payment - as a card authorization hold or a separate request - and returned after checkout if nothing needs deducting.
Deposit amounts and collection methods vary widely - some hosts state a policy and collect informally, some use a card authorization hold that releases automatically, and some use a third-party damage protection product instead of a deposit at all.
Because deposit handling touches payment processing and refund rules directly, tools differ in whether they display a deposit as information for the guest to know about, or actually collect and hold the funds themselves.
Why it matters for hosts
On RentalBeam, a security deposit amount and label are informational only - shown to the guest on the booking form and confirmation, but not collected or held through the widget itself. Hosts who need to actually charge a deposit collect it separately, outside the booking flow.
Related terms
Other glossary terms that come up alongside this one.
See this in the product.
See booking widget documentation