A booking request is how you apply for a listing on Uniplaces. You submit your details to the landlord, who has 24 hours to accept or decline — and you are only charged if they accept.
What is a booking request?
A booking request is the formal application to rent a specific listing on Uniplaces. Instead of contacting the landlord outside the platform, you submit the request through Uniplaces — with your dates, personal details and a short message — and the landlord decides whether to accept.
Not every listing works through booking requests. Instant Booking listings are confirmed immediately, with no approval step required. But outside of those, sending a booking request is the standard way to secure a place.
What happens when you send a request?
As soon as you send the request, the landlord is notified immediately by email and has 24 hours to respond. Three things can happen during that window:
- The landlord accepts — your payment is processed automatically and the booking is confirmed. You receive an email with the landlord’s contact details and move-in instructions.
- The landlord declines — the request closes and you are not charged. You can search for another listing straight away.
- The landlord doesn’t respond — the request expires automatically after 24 hours and you are not charged.
What information does the landlord see?
When your request arrives, the landlord can see:
- Your name and bio from your Uniplaces profile
- Your intended move-in and move-out dates
- The message you wrote in the request
- Basic account verification information (email confirmed, profile completed)
The landlord does not see your payment details — that information is held securely by Uniplaces and only processed if your request is accepted. A complete bio and a friendly message significantly increase your chances of being accepted — treat it like a first introduction.
Are you charged when you send a request?
No. Your card is only charged when the landlord accepts your request. You enter your payment details at the point of submission, but they are stored only — no money is ever taken while your request is pending, if it is declined, or if it expires.
Once a booking is confirmed, Uniplaces processes the first month’s rent and the service fee. The amount is held by the platform and only transferred to the landlord 24 hours after you move in — this is the 24-hour safety period, which protects you if the property doesn’t match the listing.
What happens after the landlord accepts?
Once the landlord accepts, your booking is confirmed and there are no further required steps on your side. You receive by email:
- The booking confirmation with your reference number
- The landlord’s contact details (email and phone)
- The property address and any move-in instructions
- The receipt for the processed payment
From there, you can contact the landlord directly to arrange your arrival. For more on what to do after confirmation, see My Booking Is Confirmed — What Happens Next?
Frequently asked questions
Can I send requests to multiple listings at once?
Yes — you can have multiple pending requests at the same time. If more than one landlord accepts, contact Uniplaces support immediately to cancel the unwanted booking. Cancellation fees may apply depending on the listing’s policy.
Can I cancel a request after sending it?
Yes — while the request is pending, you can cancel it from your Personal Dashboard at no cost. Once accepted by the landlord, the listing’s cancellation policy applies.
Can the landlord contact me before accepting?
No — direct communication between tenant and landlord only becomes available once the booking is confirmed. Until then, the only information the landlord has about you is what’s on your profile and in the request message.
How will I know if the request was accepted?
You receive a confirmation email as soon as the landlord accepts. You can also check the status of all your requests in your Personal Dashboard at any time.
Can the landlord change the listing after I’ve sent the request?
No — from the moment you send a request, the listing conditions (price, dates, house rules) are locked for you. If the landlord accepts, the terms you saw when applying are the terms that apply to your booking.
Ready to book?
See the step-by-step guide to sending a request →