A declined booking request means the landlord chose not to accept your application. You are never charged for a declined request — and you can search for another listing and try again straight away.
Common reasons for decline
Landlords don’t always give a reason, but the most common situations are:
- Dates no longer available — the landlord may have accepted another booking for the same period just before yours arrived. This is the most common reason and has nothing to do with your profile.
- Tenant profile mismatch — some landlords set preferences for the type of tenant they want. If your profile doesn’t match — for example, a student-only listing and you’re a young professional — your request may be declined.
- Incomplete profile — a profile with no bio gives landlords very little to go on. The less they know about you, the more uncertain they feel about accepting.
- No response within 24 hours — if the landlord doesn’t respond in time, your request expires automatically. This is not technically a decline, but the outcome is the same.
If you’re seeing repeated declines, the most likely fix is updating your profile — more on that below.
Are you charged for a declined booking?
No — you are never charged for a declined booking request. On Uniplaces, payment is only processed after a landlord accepts your request and the booking is confirmed. A decline at any stage means no charge, no penalty, and no negative impact on your account.
The same applies if a request expires without a response. Your payment details are stored securely but never used until a booking is confirmed.
What to do after a decline
The short answer: keep going. Here’s what to do.
- Search for alternatives — go back to your search results and look for similar listings in the same area. Use the Instant Booking filter to find places that confirm immediately without waiting for landlord approval.
- Update your profile — add a short bio if you haven’t already. Explain who you are, why you’re moving to the city, and what kind of tenant you are. Two or three sentences is enough to make a real difference.
- Check your dates — if you’re flexible on move-in or move-out dates, adjusting them slightly can open up more listings.
Can you ask the landlord why?
You cannot contact the landlord directly after a decline — messaging is only available once a booking is confirmed. However, if you want to understand what happened, you can contact the Uniplaces support team and ask them to follow up.
Worth knowing: landlords are not required to give a reason for declining. In most cases, it comes down to timing or profile fit — neither of which reflects badly on you as a tenant.
When to contact Uniplaces support
Contact the support team if:
- You believe your request was declined unfairly or discriminatorily
- You’ve had multiple declines in a row and can’t identify why
- You need help understanding what landlords can see on your profile
Frequently asked questions
How long does a landlord have to respond to my booking request?
Landlords have 24 hours to accept or decline a booking request. If they don’t respond within that window, your request expires automatically and you are not charged.
Can I send another request to the same landlord after a decline?
Yes — there’s no restriction on sending a new request to the same landlord. If you believe the decline was due to timing or a misunderstanding, you can try again after updating your profile.
Will a declined request affect my account or future bookings?
No — declined requests have no negative impact on your Uniplaces account. You can send as many booking requests as you need until you find the right place.
What if I think the decline was discriminatory?
Uniplaces does not tolerate discrimination on the platform. If you believe you were declined based on nationality, religion or any other protected characteristic, contact the support team immediately and they will investigate.
Still need help?
Contact our support team →