Landlords have up to 24 hours to respond to booking requests. If they don’t reply within that window, your request expires automatically and you are not charged anything.
How long does the landlord have to respond?
From the moment you send a booking request, the landlord has up to 24 hours to accept or decline. This deadline is automatic and enforced by the platform — there’s no way for a landlord to extend it.
If you send a request at 3pm on Monday, it will expire at 3pm on Tuesday if the landlord hasn’t responded. You’ll receive an email notification when your request expires.
What happens when the request expires?
When a booking request expires without a response, it closes automatically. You are not charged anything — your payment details were stored securely but never used. Your account is unaffected and you’re free to search for another listing immediately.
An expired request is not the same as a decline. It simply means the landlord didn’t respond in time — this can happen for various reasons, including technical issues, being away, or receiving too many requests at once.
What to do next
Go back to your search results and look for similar listings in the same area. A few things worth trying:
- Filter for Instant Booking listings — these confirm immediately and eliminate the waiting period entirely. See What Is an Instant Booking Listing?
- Broaden your search — try nearby neighbourhoods or adjust your dates slightly to see more available options.
- Check your profile — a complete profile with a short bio improves your chances with the next landlord you apply to.
Can Uniplaces contact the landlord?
If your request expired and you’re concerned, or if you believe there was a technical issue, contact the Uniplaces support team. They can look into what happened and, in some cases, escalate to the landlord on your behalf.
Landlords who consistently fail to respond to booking requests may have their listings penalised in search rankings — Uniplaces monitors response rates and takes action when landlords repeatedly leave tenants without an answer.
When to contact Uniplaces support
- If you believe there was a technical error with your request
- If your request shows as pending beyond the 24-hour window
- If you were charged despite the request expiring — this should not happen, but contact support immediately if it does
Frequently asked questions
Can I resend a request to the same landlord after it expires?
Yes — there’s no restriction on sending a new request to the same listing. However, if the landlord didn’t respond once, they may not respond again. It’s usually more productive to search for a different listing.
Will an expired request affect my Uniplaces account?
No — expired requests have no negative impact on your account. You can continue searching and sending requests to other listings immediately.
Is there any way to speed up a landlord’s response?
No — Uniplaces doesn’t allow tenants to contact landlords directly before a booking is confirmed. The 24-hour window is the only timeline in place. If speed matters, use the Instant Booking filter to find listings that confirm immediately.
What if I need accommodation urgently and keep getting no responses?
Switch your search to Instant Booking listings only — these are confirmed the moment you complete the booking, with no landlord approval required. Contact Uniplaces support if you’re struggling to find something in your timeframe and they can advise on availability in your target city.
Still need help?
Contact our support team →