How to split (and recover) a vacation rental security deposit

Steps

1. 01

   Log the deposit as a separate expense, not bundled with the rental

   Original booking: €1500 rental + €500 deposit = €2000 total on the booker's card. Log them as two expenses. The €1500 splits across all stayers; the €500 stays with the booker as a 'pending refund'.

2. 02

   Wait for the refund decision before splitting the deposit loss

   Don't pre-split the deposit. After Airbnb resolves, you'll know the actual loss. Often it's zero.

3. 03

   If a deduction was group-fault, split it equally among stayers

   Broken wine glass, missing key: equal split. Add a new expense with the deducted amount, paid by the booker, equal among stayers.

4. 04

   If a deduction was one person's fault, that person eats it

   Friend stained the rug with red wine - they pay the full deduction. Add an expense paid by booker, split 100% to the responsible person.

5. 05

   If the host was being petty, dispute it (and the group covers the cost of the dispute)

   Some hosts withhold for normal wear-and-tear. Dispute via Airbnb Resolution Center. If the dispute fails, the group can vote whether to absorb it or keep fighting.

Worked example

Deposits are easier when they're tracked separately from the rental and resolved after the refund lands. Don't pre-split losses you don't know yet.