Instant Booking confirms your reservation immediately. Add your payment details and the place is yours — no waiting for landlord approval required.
How to book an Instant Booking listing
- Find a listing with the Instant Booking badge — use the Instant Booking filter in your search results, or look for the badge on individual listing cards.
- Select your dates — choose your move-in and move-out dates. Check that they fall within the listing’s available period before proceeding.
- Add your payment details — enter your card information. Unlike a regular booking request, payment is processed immediately on confirmation.
- Confirm your booking — review your details and click ‘Confirm booking’. Your reservation is confirmed instantly — no waiting required.
You’ll receive a confirmation email straight away with your landlord’s contact details and move-in information. The place is yours.
What if a step doesn’t work?
- Instant Booking badge not showing — the landlord may have recently switched to regular booking mode. Refresh the page or search for another listing with the badge.
- Payment not processing — check your card details and available balance. For more help, see My Payment Failed on Uniplaces.
- Confirmation not arriving — check your spam folder. If the confirmation email hasn’t arrived within 10 minutes, contact the Uniplaces support team.
What if I change my mind?
The listing’s cancellation policy applies from the moment your booking is confirmed. Check the cancellation policy on the listing page before you confirm — some Instant Booking listings have Strict or Moderate policies that limit your refund if you cancel shortly after booking.
You’ll find the cancellation policy clearly displayed on the listing page, below the price. If you’re unsure, read the Uniplaces cancellation policy guide before confirming.
Differences vs regular booking
- No waiting period — regular bookings take up to 24 hours for landlord approval. Instant Booking is confirmed in seconds.
- Payment is immediate — with regular bookings, payment is only taken when the landlord accepts. With Instant Booking, payment is processed at the moment of confirmation.
- Same protections apply — the UniTrust Guarantee and the 24-hour safety period apply to all bookings, including Instant Booking.
Frequently asked questions
Is Instant Booking safer or riskier than a regular booking?
Neither — both types of booking carry the same protections on Uniplaces. The UniTrust Guarantee and 24-hour safety period apply regardless of how the booking was confirmed. The only difference is speed and when payment is taken.
Can a landlord cancel an Instant Booking after it’s confirmed?
Landlords can cancel confirmed bookings in exceptional circumstances, but this is rare and results in penalties for the landlord. If a landlord cancels your confirmed Instant Booking, Uniplaces will help you find an alternative and ensure a full refund.
What if the listing becomes unavailable just before I confirm?
If the listing becomes unavailable between you viewing it and confirming the booking, the system will prevent the booking from going through. You’ll be notified and can search for another listing.
Can I use Klarna for an Instant Booking?
Yes — Klarna is available as a payment method for Instant Booking listings where it’s offered at checkout. Check the payment options on the listing page before confirming.
Still need help?
Contact our support team →