Two ways to take a security deposit
Hold it on the card
The amount is reserved on the guest's card but not charged. If nothing is damaged, you release it and it disappears from their statement. If something is, you capture what you need. The catch is time: with Stripe, an authorisation for an online card payment is usually valid for 7 days. So place the hold shortly before arrival, not at booking, and for stays longer than about a week use the second method.
Charge it, then refund it
The deposit is charged like a payment and refunded after checkout. It works for any length of stay. The guest sees the money leave and come back, which takes a few days, so say so clearly in the agreement.
What the rental agreement should cover
- Who is staying, the dates, and the maximum number of guests
- The price, what it includes, and when it is paid
- The deposit: how much, how it is taken, when it is returned, and what it can be used for
- House rules - noise, parties, pets, smoking
- The cancellation policy, in plain numbers
- What happens if something is damaged, and how you will show it (photos, receipts)
Have it signed online before arrival, with the date and time recorded - from the guest page is the easiest place, because the guest is already there.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Local rules on rental agreements and deposits differ; for Costa Rica, Pulpería Studio's guide below goes into disputes and protection in more detail.