Accepting your first booking, step by step
One tap confirms the booking. Here’s exactly what happens in the seconds, days and weeks that follow — so nothing surprises you.
The moment you accept
When you tap Accept request, three things happen instantly:
- The booking is confirmed — for both sides. The tenant’s plans are locked in, and so is your income for the stay.
- You and the tenant receive each other’s contact details by email, so you can introduce yourselves and arrange the handover.
- The tenant’s First Payment is charged automatically to the payment method they authorized at request time, held safely by Spotahome, and scheduled for release within 48 hours of move-in.
Between acceptance and move-in
Say hello early. Send a short welcome message within a day or two. Confirm the move-in date and time, explain how key handover will work, and share anything they need to know about the building. First-time tenants are often first-time movers to your country — a warm message goes a long way, and seeds a great review.
Agree the practical details
- Arrival logistics: exact time, address quirks, parking, floor, intercom name
- Deposit: the amount should already be stated in your listing — confirm how and when you’ll collect it and the conditions for returning it
- Contract: prepare the rental contract for the agreed dates — keep it consistent with the booking terms
- Utilities: confirm what’s included in the rent, as stated in your listing
New to rental contracts? The Spotahome booking confirmation records the dates, rent and conditions of the booking — keep it. For the tenancy itself, most landlords sign a standard local rental contract at move-in (in Spain, a contrato de arrendamiento de temporada is the usual fit for mid-term stays; for stays approaching a year, check whether a standard housing contract fits better — the temporary-vs-habitual-residence distinction matters under Spanish law). The Help Center has country-specific guidance, and a local lawyer can prepare a reusable template — a one-off cost that serves every future tenancy.
Keep the booking inside Spotahome. If a tenant suggests cancelling and “doing it directly”, you lose every protection: the guaranteed payment, damage cover and support. The fee buys you the safety net.
Move-in day
Hand over the keys, walk the tenant through the property, and complete a simple inventory together (photos with timestamps are enough). From the move-in moment, the clock to your first payment starts: it arrives within 48 hours, or the next business day if move-in falls on a weekend. How payments work →
If plans change
Life happens. If the tenant cancels before move-in, what you receive depends on how much notice they give: no First Payment if they cancel 60 days or more ahead, 50% of the First Payment between 59 and 30 days, and 100% of the First Payment at 29 days or less. The commission is deducted in the last two cases, and those conditions apply to bookings confirmed from 1 June 2026. If you need to cancel, contact support immediately. Cancelling a booking you have already accepted has financial consequences: the commission is charged anyway and, if you cancel on the move-in date or during the 48 hours that follow, an additional charge may apply to cover emergency accommodation and rehousing the tenant. Treat acceptance as a firm commitment.
Accepted?
Confirm the move-in details with your tenant now.