> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.overviu.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Security deposits

> Charge a refundable deposit before check-in, keep part of it for damage, and return the rest automatically.

A security deposit covers damage or missing items. Overviu charges it to the guest's card a day before check-in and refunds it automatically a few days after check-out, unless you keep some of it.

<Note>Deposits need Stripe; see [Connect Stripe](/payments/connect-stripe). Anyone in the team can keep, refund or waive a deposit from a booking.</Note>

## Set up a deposit

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set the amount">
    Open the listing → **Pricing** → **Charges & fees**, enter the **Security deposit** and click **Save fees**. For a unit type, set it on the unit type; for whole-building bookings, on the building.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose when it comes back">
    In **Settings** → **Booking site**, under **Security deposits**, set **Refund security deposits after (days after check-out)**. It's 7 days unless you change it. This setting is for owners and admins.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>**Security deposit (offline)**, on the same tab, is only kept with the listing: Overviu doesn't charge it, show it to guests or put it in the rental agreement.</Note>

## How it works

1. The guest adds a card. A guest who paid online already has their card saved. Otherwise, their [booking page](/guests/guest-page) asks them to add one; until they do, the booking shows **No card yet**.
2. Overviu charges it 24 hours before check-in, at the property's local time. The deposit shows **Charged**, with the date and when it's due back. The rental agreement names the amount as `{security_deposit}`.
3. Overviu refunds it on the refund date: the whole deposit, less anything you kept.

If the card is declined, the deposit shows **Card declined** and the guest is asked for another card on their booking page. Your team gets a **Security deposit declined** email. Click **Try again** to charge the card again straight away.

## Keep part of it

When something's damaged:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the booking">
    Go to **Bookings**, open the booking and find the **Security deposit** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep part">
    Click **Keep part**. Enter the **Amount to keep** and the **Reason**, like "Broken lamp", and click **Keep and refund the rest**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The rest goes back to the guest straight away. What you kept shows as **Kept** on the booking, and counts as money in on the [money report](/insights/reports).

## Other things you can do

* **Hold refund**: pause the automatic refund while you check something, like a damage report. **Release hold** lets it go ahead again.
* **Refund now**: give the whole deposit back before the refund date.
* **Waive**: drop a deposit that hasn't been charged yet. The guest won't be charged.

## What happens next

* Cancelling a booking refunds a charged deposit in full, and drops one that hasn't been charged.
* A deposit refunded in the Stripe Dashboard counts too: Overviu refunds only what's left.
* **Reports** show the deposits you're holding under the money report.

## Related

* [How guests pay](/payments/how-guests-pay)
* [Refunds](/payments/refunds)
* [The guest's booking page](/guests/guest-page)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.