Trust & safety
How security deposits work on peer-to-peer rentals
What a rental deposit is, how Rentsome sizes it (30% down to 10% of item value, capped at $2,000), why it is a hold rather than a charge, and when it is released.
A security deposit is what makes a stranger comfortable handing you their camera. On Rentsome it is designed to be predictable for renters and meaningful for owners: it is sized by a published formula, it is held rather than charged, and it releases on a fixed schedule unless there is a documented problem.
How the amount is set
The deposit is a percentage of the item’s declared value, and the percentage depends on your trust tier:
- New account: 30% of the item value.
- Basic (trust score 1.0+): 25%. Verifying your identity alone typically moves you here.
- Good (2.5+): 20%.
- Excellent (3.5+): 15%.
- Elite (4.5+): 10%.
Whatever the tier, the deposit is capped at $2,000. Owners do not set deposits by hand; the same formula applies to every listing, so you can predict it before you book.
A hold, not a charge
The deposit is an authorization on your card, like a hotel incidentals hold. Your available credit drops by that amount but no money moves. Card networks let authorizations stand for seven days, so on rentals longer than a week the hold is refreshed automatically — you may see it disappear and reappear on your statement.
When it is released
After you return the item and the owner confirms the return, a 72-hour window opens in which the owner can file a damage or theft claim. If no claim is filed, the hold is released automatically when the window closes. Depending on your bank, the released amount can take a few days to show as available again.
If a claim is filed
- 1The owner submits photos and a description within 72 hours of the return.
- 2You have 72 hours to respond with your own evidence — this is where your pickup and return photos matter.
- 3Rentsome reviews both sides and decides how much, if any, of the deposit is captured. Only documented damage or loss is deducted.
- 4Anything not captured is released.
Deposits are separate from the rental price. The rental subtotal plus a 15% service fee (minimum $2) and sales tax is what you actually pay, and only after the owner approves your request. Read what happens if a rented item breaks for the claims side in detail.
Frequently asked
Why does my deposit look different on two similar items?
The deposit is a percentage of each item’s declared value. Two similar-looking items with different declared values produce different deposits.
Can an owner keep my deposit without evidence?
No. A claim has to be filed within 72 hours of the return with documentation, you get 72 hours to respond, and Rentsome reviews it before any amount is captured.
How do I lower my deposits?
Verify your identity in the Rentsome app, complete rentals on time, and collect good reviews. Each raises your trust score, which lowers the deposit percentage from 30% toward 10%.
Borrow it from a neighbor instead.
Deposit-protected bookings, priced by the day.
Keep reading
Trust scores and ID verification, explained
How Rentsome’s 0–5 trust score is calculated, what identity verification changes (deposits from 30% to 25%, higher rental limits), and how to raise your score.
What happens if a rented item breaks? Claims, explained
The step-by-step claims process on Rentsome: the 72-hour filing window, the renter’s 72-hour response, review, and what can be deducted from the deposit.
Cancellations and refunds: what you get back and when
Rentsome’s cancellation rules for renters and owners: full refund more than 12 hours before pickup, 50% inside 12 hours, and what happens when an owner cancels.