Damage Protection — Waivers & Deposits

Protect your properties from accidents, broken TVs, stained rugs, and the occasional party without making every guest feel like a suspect. Vanio supports two models — security deposits and damage waivers — and you can choose either one per property.

Security deposits

A refundable hold placed on the guest's card before arrival. If nothing is damaged, it's released automatically after checkout. If something is damaged, you can deduct the repair cost directly from the hold.

To enable:

1. Open the property and go to Settings → Damage Protection
2. Pick Security Deposit
3. Set the amount (e.g. $250)
4. Choose when to place the hold (24h or 48h before arrival)
5. Save

Guests get a clear pre-arrival email explaining the hold, when it's placed, and when it's released. They see it on their statement as a pending charge, never as a completed payment.

Damage waivers

A small non-refundable fee (e.g. $29) added to every booking that covers accidental damage up to a set limit (e.g. $1,500). Guests pay once, you're covered, no deposit drama.

To enable:

1. Open the property and go to Settings → Damage Protection
2. Pick Damage Waiver
3. Set the fee and coverage limit
4. Save

Waivers are great for short stays and families — they remove friction at booking while still giving you protection.

Filing a claim

If you or your cleaner finds damage:

1. Open the reservation
2. Click Report Damage
3. Upload photos (before and after, if you have them)
4. Describe what happened and the repair cost
5. Submit

For deposits, Vanio deducts the approved amount from the hold and refunds the remainder. For waivers, the claim is submitted to the coverage provider and you're reimbursed directly.

What guests see

Guests get a receipt for any deposit or waiver at booking, a reminder email before arrival, and a final summary after checkout showing exactly what was charged or refunded. Transparent, professional, no surprises.

Common questions

Can I use both? Yes — some hosts charge a waiver on short stays and a deposit on long ones. Set the rule per property or per length of stay.

What if the card is declined for the hold? Vanio retries, notifies you, and can optionally block check-in access until the hold clears.

Does Airbnb support this? Airbnb bookings use Airbnb's own AirCover. Vanio deposits and waivers apply to direct, Booking.com, and VRBO reservations.