Security deposit is collected in the form of authorization (hold). The maximum holding period for Stripe users is 28 days for Visa and 30 days for Discover/MasterCard/Amex or 7 days for other cards.

🔒 Customizing Security Deposit Messages

ChargeAutomation provides flexibility in tailoring security deposit messages to match your property’s specific requirements.

Navigate to Settings > Preferences > Template Messages.
Locate the 'Security Deposit Required' message template.
Modify the content of this message to include any relevant policies or instructions. This customization ensures that guests receive clear information regarding security deposits.

Once a booking ends, the Security deposit is automatically released 3 days after checkout.

In ChargeAutomation, there are 3 ways of collecting a security deposit

By manually sending an authorization request link to your customer, learn how
By creating a re-usable authorization link and sharing it with anyone, see example
By creating an auto payment rule for automatic collection. Read below

⚙️ How to Set Up Auto Collection of Security Deposit

Go to Settings > Account Setup > Auto Payments. Select the Booking Source and

customize the security deposit section. Example below

What if the stay is longer than the hold period?

You can select Automatically reauthorize every seven days. The system will keep re-authorizing until the end date (checkout date). Once the booking ends, the Security deposit is automatically released 3 days after checkout.

👀 How It Looks to the Guest

📅 Scheduling Security Deposit Emails

You can control the timing of security deposit communication to ensure optimal guest engagement and operational efficiency.

Navigate to the Auto Payments section in ChargeAutomation.
Configure the system to send the security deposit email example: 3 days before check-in.
- For bookings made on the same day as check-in, the email will automatically be sent immediately. Scheduling emails in this way ensures that guests are notified with ample time to process the transactions, while handling last-minute bookings effectively.

✅ Benefits of Customizing & Scheduling Security Deposit Messages

Improved Clarity: Guests receive messages specific to your property policies and booking platform.
Time Management: Adjust email scheduling to optimize the notification lead time, reducing last-minute surprises.
Enhanced Communication: Personalizing messages ensures alignment with branding and professionalism.

⏳ How It Looks When a Security Deposit Is Scheduled for Collection

💳 How It Looks When a Security Deposit Is Authorized

Select the booking and you'll see below the security deposit amount the status "Authorized" and it's colored Green. If you expand the booking, you'll also see the date when it was authorized.

⚠️ How It Looks When a Security Deposit Has Not Yet Been Paid

💰 How to Capture or Release a Security Deposit

On the dropdown arrow of the Security deposit charge, select Capture or Release. You can choose to manually release the Security deposit after checkout or wait until 3 days and it will be automatically released by the system.

🏠 How to Set Different Security Deposit Amounts per Property

Go to Settings > Properties then select the property you want to set a different deposit amount to be collected then choose "Per Property Settings" then set your new auto payments rules including the security deposit.

⏱️ How to Customize the Security Deposit Release Timing

ChargeAutomation gives you full control over when a security deposit is released after guest check-out. While many platforms limit hosts to short release windows, ChargeAutomation stands out by offering a flexible release period of up to 7 days—a true industry unicorn.

By default, security deposits are released 3 days after check-out, but you can easily adjust the timing to anywhere between 1 and 7 days. This extended window gives you the time you actually need to complete thorough inspections, identify potential damages, and act with confidence.

🎉 What Happens When the Deposit Is Released

When a Security Deposit is released, either automatically or manually, one of two scenarios will occur.

If the Guest used a regular credit card
1. The hold that was originally placed, and likely appeared as a "Pending Transaction" in the online banking account, will simply go away as though it never happened. There is no 'refund' that occurs and they won't see a 'transaction' from when the hold was originally placed.
If the Guest used a Visa-Debit or Mastercard-Debit type card
1. The cardholder will have seen the money come out of their account when the hold was placed. The money was withdrawn by the card issuer so that they could guarantee that the funds remained available for the duration of the hold. Those funds are being held by the card issuer.
2. The cardholder will see a refund in their account. This will take approximately 7 business days to occur after the hold was released, whether that happened automatically or manually.

🚫 How to Void the Security Deposit and Damage Waiver

Go to Bookings menu and locate for the booking.
Expand the booking and under Payment Schedule, click the dropdown arrow for Security Deposit and select "Void Secuirty Deposit" or "Void Damage Waiver".

All About Security Deposit