Houfy Protect: Up to $20,000 Damage Protection Without Deposits

Houfy Protect vs. Traditional Damage Deposits

Traditional damage deposits ask guests to set aside $200-$1,000+ before check-in, then wait days or weeks to get it back — a friction point that pushes price-sensitive travelers toward listings without one. Houfy Protect removes that upfront hold entirely. Guests pay a flat $5 per night, built into the booking price like any other fee, and your property is covered for up to $20,000 in accidental damage on every approved stay. You get automatic guest screening before the fee is even collected, so problem bookings are flagged before check-in rather than disputed after checkout. No deposit to collect, no deposit to return, no chargeback risk on a hold you placed on a guest's card.

What Guest Screening Does

Every booking protected by Houfy Protect runs through automatic screening at the time of booking, powered by Truvi. The check looks for known fraud patterns, mismatched identity signals, and other red flags associated with problematic bookings — before the reservation is confirmed, not after something goes wrong. Screening happens in the background; guests experience it as a normal booking flow with no extra steps or forms. If a booking is flagged, you're notified so you can decide how to proceed, rather than finding out about an issue only after a guest has already checked in.

How Claims Work

If a guest damages your property during a Houfy Protect-covered stay, you file a claim directly through Truvi's resolution center rather than chasing a guest for reimbursement yourself. Most claims are processed within 5-7 business days; complex cases with additional documentation can take longer, and Truvi's team keeps you updated throughout.

What to have ready before you file:

• Clear photos of the damage
• Receipts or estimates for repair or replacement
• A detailed written description of what happened and when

Where Houfy Protect Is Available

Houfy Protect is available on eligible listings in most countries where Houfy operates. It is currently not available for bookings in:

• Mexico
• Brazil
• India
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Thailand

Availability is evaluated per booking based on the property's country. If your listing is in one of the excluded countries, the standard damage deposit tools in Pricing remain available.

Houfy Protect and Your Home Insurance

Houfy Protect is not a replacement for homeowner's or landlord insurance — it's designed to complement it. Your existing policy covers the broader risks of renting out your property, such as liability and structural loss, while Houfy Protect specifically addresses the accidental guest damage that a security deposit used to cover, up to $20,000 per approved booking, without asking guests to put down cash up front. We recommend keeping your standard homeowner's or short-term-rental insurance policy active alongside Houfy Protect, not instead of it.

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