How to set up security deposits?

The Security Deposit automation lets you ask each guest to authorize a refundable hold on their card with Stripe before they arrive. The amount is held, never charged unless you decide to capture it, and is automatically released a few days after check-out.

You configure it once per property, drop a payment link into your guest message templates, and gate your check-in instructions so they only go out once the deposit is authorized.

Before you start

Three things must be in place on each property you want to enable the deposit on:

• The property must be connected with Nowistay PMS.
• The property must have an active AI Channel Manager subscription.
• A Stripe account must be connected to the property.

If any of these is missing, the deposit settings will tell you exactly what to fix on the property card.

Step 1 — Activate Security Deposit on your properties

Open the Automations page from the side menu and find the Security Deposit row.

Click the property selector on the right of the row and pick the properties you want to enable the deposit on. Only properties that meet the prerequisites above will be selectable.

Step 2 — Configure the deposit settings

Once you have selected your properties, click the gear icon on the right of the Security Deposit row to open Security Deposit Settings. Each property gets its own block where you set:

• Amount — the amount Stripe will authorize on the guest's card (in the property's currency).
• Hours before check-in — how many hours before arrival the payment link becomes available to the guest. Between 2 and 48 hours.
• Days after checkout — how many days after check-out Nowistay should automatically release the hold if you haven't captured it. Between 0 and 28 days.

Click Save. From now on, every new booking on these properties will get its own deposit authorization link, made available to the guest at the time you configured.

Step 3 — Add the deposit link to your guest messages

The deposit link is delivered to the guest through your Guest Messages templates. Open any template (typically your check-in instructions or a dedicated pre-arrival message) and insert the dynamic variable {{deposit_payment_link}} wherever you want the link to appear.

Here is a simple example of a check-in instructions email:

Hi {{guest_first_name}},

Your check-in for {{property_name}} is on {{arrival_date}} from {{check_in_time}}.

Before we share your access code, please authorize the refundable security deposit here: {{deposit_payment_link}}

Once that's done, here is everything you need to enter the apartment:

Address: {{property_address}}
Door code: {{smartlock_code}}
Wi-Fi and house manual: {{welcome_guide_url}}

See you soon!

The variable resolves to a unique payment link per booking. The guest opens the link, authorizes the amount on their card with Stripe, and the booking is automatically marked as paid in Nowistay.

Step 4 — Send instructions only once the deposit is paid

To make sure your access codes never go out before the deposit is authorized, add a condition to the message template that contains the sensitive instructions. In the template editor, scroll to Booking info conditions and click Add condition:

• First field: Security deposit
• Second field: Equals
• Third field: Paid

The message will now only be sent automatically once the deposit is paid. If the guest doesn't pay before the scheduled time, the message is held back.

Send a reminder when the deposit is not paid

Duplicate your check-in template and turn the second copy into a reminder. Set the condition to:

• Security deposit · Equals · Not paid

In the body, drop the {{deposit_payment_link}} variable again and remind the guest that their access code will be shared as soon as the deposit is authorized. This way every booking gets either the instructions or a friendly nudge — never both.

Track and act on deposit status from the booking detail

Open any booking from the Bookings page. Below the booking summary you will see a SECURITY DEPOSIT section with everything you need to know about the deposit at a glance:

• Deposit status — where the deposit is in its lifecycle.
• Expected amount — the amount you set in the settings.
• Available from — when the payment link became (or becomes) available to the guest.
• Planned release — when Nowistay will automatically release the hold if you don't capture it.

Two actions are available next to the section:

• Copy deposit link (clipboard icon) — copies the guest's payment link so you can resend it manually through any channel.
• Mark as paid — bypasses Stripe authorization and unblocks any messages gated by deposit = paid. Use it only if you collected the deposit another way (cash, bank transfer, another payment processor).

Deposit statuses you may see

• Not started — the booking is too early; the link will be made available at the time you configured.
• Link created — the payment link is now live for the guest.
• Pending — the guest has opened the link but not yet completed the authorization.
• Authorized — Stripe is holding the amount on the guest's card. The deposit counts as paid for your message conditions.
• Marked paid — you marked it as paid manually. Same effect as authorized for message conditions.
• Released — the hold has been released after check-out.
• Captured — you captured part or all of the deposit.
• Failed, Expired, Cancelled — the authorization didn't go through or was cancelled.

Tips

• Set Hours before check-in early enough that guests have time to act, but not so early that they forget. 24 to 48 hours works well for most stays.
• Always pair your check-in instructions template (condition: deposit = paid) with a reminder template (condition: deposit = not paid). Guests get exactly the message that matches their state.
• Use the Copy deposit link button if a guest writes to you directly asking how to authorize the deposit — you can paste the link into the conversation in one click.