Uniplaces holds your first month’s rent and transfers it to the landlord 24 hours after you move in. This protects you if the place doesn’t match the listing — your money stays safe until you’ve confirmed everything is as described.
Why Uniplaces holds your first payment
When you book through Uniplaces, your first month’s rent doesn’t go directly to the landlord. Instead, Uniplaces holds the payment securely and only releases it after you’ve moved in and had time to verify the property.
This system exists specifically to protect tenants. If you paid the landlord directly at booking and then arrived to find the property didn’t match the listing, recovering that money would be extremely difficult. By holding the payment, Uniplaces gives you real leverage if something goes wrong.
When is the money transferred to the landlord?
Uniplaces transfers your first month’s rent to the landlord 24 hours after your move-in date. This 24-hour window is your safety period — it gives you time to inspect the property and report any issues before the landlord receives their money.
If everything is as described and you don’t report any problems, the transfer happens automatically at the end of the 24-hour window. You don’t need to do anything to release the payment.
What if something is wrong at move-in?
If the property doesn’t match the listing — wrong room type, missing furniture, a bathroom that’s shared when it was listed as private — contact the Uniplaces support team immediately and within the 24-hour window.
Document everything with photos or video as soon as you arrive. Uniplaces will investigate your complaint, contact the landlord, and withhold payment until the issue is resolved. This is the 24-hour safety period in action — it’s one of the most important protections you have as a Uniplaces tenant.
What happens to your money if you cancel before moving in?
If you cancel your booking before your move-in date, the refund you receive depends on the listing’s cancellation policy — Flexible, Moderate or Strict. Your first month’s rent is the amount subject to the cancellation policy.
The service fee is generally non-refundable regardless of when you cancel. See What Is the Uniplaces Cancellation Policy? for the full breakdown of what’s refundable and when.
Frequently asked questions
Is my money safe while Uniplaces holds it?
Yes — Uniplaces uses a secure, PCI-compliant payment system. Your funds are held in a protected account and are never at risk during the holding period. The system has processed hundreds of thousands of bookings since 2012.
What if the landlord asks me to pay them directly instead?
Do not pay outside the platform. Any payment made directly to a landlord is not covered by the UniTrust Guarantee or the 24-hour safety period. If a landlord asks you to bypass the platform, report it to Uniplaces support immediately — this is against platform rules.
How do subsequent monthly rent payments work?
After the first month, rent is paid directly to your landlord — not through Uniplaces — unless your landlord has enabled the Rent Collection feature. With Rent Collection, payments are automated through the platform each month on your due date. Note that the security deposit is also always paid directly to the landlord, never through Uniplaces.
What if I move in early or late?
The 24-hour safety period starts from your confirmed move-in date. If you arrive early or late, contact Uniplaces support to ensure the timing of your safety period is adjusted accordingly. [VERIFY: confirm how early/late move-in affects the safety period]
Still need help?
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