Security deposit disputes
Deposits work very differently by channel, and acting on the wrong assumption is one of the most common ways a recoverable cost becomes an unrecoverable one.
The path matters more than the label
Some channels hold no traditional refundable deposit at all and route damage costs through a request to the guest and a platform protection process instead. HostCase checks the path against verified sources for your channel before advising anything.
Direct bookings are your own terms
For direct reservations, the deposit terms are the ones in your own booking agreement. HostCase treats those as your property terms, clearly labelled as your rules rather than platform policy.
When the rule is not verified
If a current verified source does not cover your channel and region, HostCase says policy verification required. It never invents a clause or a policy number.
Gather these before you reply or escalate.
HostCase AI is an independent third-party service and is not endorsed by or associated with Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo or their affiliated companies. HostCase does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee the outcome of any claim, refund request or review.