Stayful guest vetting for UK short-lets
If you’re a landlord exploring the short-term rental market, your main question is usually simple:
will my property be protected and properly maintained?
Stayful’s guest vetting (guest screening) system is built to make short-lets feel professional and predictable — not risky or chaotic.
We run third-party ID checks for every guest, charge a £200 deposit per stay, and guests pay before they arrive.
That means you avoid missed payments and the “chasing money” dynamic landlords can face with standard tenancies.
Every guest completes a third-party ID check before arrival.
Charged for every stay to create accountability and support quicker resolution if something needs attention.
We apply our own protection policy of up to £100,000 per stay (where applicable) to add reassurance for landlords.
Proof: real guest feedback at scale
Reviews don’t just “look nice” — they’re a signal your operations are working: cleanliness, communication, and a well-maintained home. Here’s our public track record.
Google rating: 4.8 average from 20 reviews.
View Google reviews
Airbnb rating: 4.6 average from 2,000+ reviews.
View Airbnb profile
What is guest vetting for short-lets?
Guest vetting (guest screening) is the set of checks and safeguards used to confirm who is staying, secure payment, and protect the home. At Stayful, it means third-party ID checks, a £200 deposit, and payment before arrival — backed by consistent operations that protect reviews.
How does Stayful vet guests?
We keep it simple for great guests — and strict where it matters for protecting your property. Here’s the short version landlords care about:
- Require a 2-night minimum to reduce churn and protect standards.
- Verify identity with third-party ID checks for every guest.
- Charge a £200 deposit for every stay to create accountability.
- Confirm payment before arrival (no chasing money after the fact).
- Apply protection with our up to £100,000 policy per stay (where applicable).
- Maintain standards through consistent cleaning and maintenance follow-through.
Last updated: February 2026
Estimate your Airbnb income
Takes about 60 seconds. You’ll get a realistic income range — plus a clear view of how our guest vetting and property care systems protect the home and support strong reviews.
If you want proof first, start with reviews or case studies.
Watch: our guest vetting process
Prefer to see the process rather than read it? This short walkthrough shows how we vet guests and protect properties in practice.
Guest vetting walkthrough
Video summary (for landlords)
In this walkthrough, we explain how Stayful’s guest screening protects homes: we require a 2-night minimum, complete third-party ID checks for every guest, charge a £200 deposit per stay, and confirm payment before arrival. We also show how operational consistency (cleaning standards, clear check-in instructions, and fast maintenance follow-through) protects reviews and keeps the property guest-ready.
Want practical landlord guidance? Browse the Airbnb management knowledge hub.
What we check during guest vetting
“Guest screening” can mean different things across the industry. Ours is built for landlords who want hands-off short-let performance without compromising on care. We focus on identity, accountability, and clarity before arrival.
Identity verification
Every guest completes a third-party ID check. This helps ensure there’s a verified person behind the booking — a core protection layer for short-lets.
Payment secured before check-in
Guests pay before they stay, reducing missed-payment risk and avoiding the need to chase money after the fact.
Deposit accountability
A £200 deposit is charged for every stay. It sets expectations and supports quicker resolution if something needs attention.
Minimum stay standards
We operate a 2-night minimum. This reduces churn, protects cleanliness, and supports a calmer, more predictable operation.
What we do (and don’t do)
We keep standards clear so owners know what to expect.
We do: third-party ID checks, a £200 deposit per stay, payment before arrival, consistent cleaning standards, and fast maintenance follow-through.
We don’t: operate 1-night minimum stays as standard, or run a “hands-off” model that leaves property condition to chance.
Our guest vetting steps
Our process is designed to be consistent across the UK. The goal is simple: protect the property while still creating a smooth, respectful guest experience that earns great reviews.
1) Set stay rules
We operate a 2-night minimum to reduce churn and protect standards.
2) Verify identity
Third-party ID checks are completed for every guest before arrival.
3) Create accountability
£200 deposit charged for every stay to encourage care and support resolution if needed.
4) Confirm payment before arrival
Guests pay before check-in — helping prevent missed payments and reducing landlord admin.
What happens if there’s damage?
The point of a professional system isn’t “nothing ever happens” — it’s that when something does happen, it’s handled quickly, fairly, and with clear communication.
Our resolution process
- Identify and document what happened, what’s affected, and what needs fixing.
- Use the £200 deposit as the first layer of accountability and resolution (where appropriate).
- Apply our protection policy of up to £100,000 per stay (where applicable) to support larger issues.
- Arrange repairs quickly so the property stays guest-ready and performance doesn’t drop.
- Keep owners informed with clear updates and outcomes.
- Prevent repeats by fixing root causes where possible.
Note: maintenance approvals of up to £300/month apply to fair wear and tear (where applicable). Guest-caused damage is handled separately through the deposit/protection process.
How we maintain your property
Guest vetting protects who stays. Maintenance protects how the home performs over time. Strong reviews come from repeatable standards: clean homes, working essentials, and quick fixes when something needs attention.
Cleaning standards that protect reviews
We use a consistent cleaning framework that prioritises common “trouble areas” so every stay begins with a clean, guest-ready home.
Maintenance follow-through
Comfort-impacting issues are prioritised (heating, hot water, Wi-Fi, access). The aim is quick resolution and clear communication.
Fair wear and tear handled sensibly
We use a £300/month auto-approval approach for fair wear and tear (where applicable), so small fixes don’t get stuck waiting — keeping the home in great condition.
Better care attracts better guests
A well-maintained listing doesn’t just protect the asset — it improves guest confidence, supports stronger reviews, and keeps performance healthier over time.
Guest vetting across the UK
Stayful is UK-wide. Our guest screening system stays consistent across markets — which helps owners feel confident whether the property is in a major city, a university market, or a tourism-led location.
Highest-demand areas (quick links)
Start with your area, then use the calculator to see a realistic income range based on your property type and local demand.
Why guest vetting matters even more in high-demand markets
- London: a mix of corporate, relocation, tourism and longer project stays — consistency and clear standards protect reviews.
- Regional cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds): work trips + events + weekend breaks — fast communication and clean turnarounds matter.
- Tourism-led markets (Bath, Oxford, Cambridge): families and leisure stays — comfort, cleanliness and clear check-in reduce friction.
If you’re still deciding between long-let and short-let, the knowledge hub has plain-English guides for UK landlords.
Short-let vs standard tenancies
Traditional renting can be simple when it goes well — but when it doesn’t, it can mean missed payments, chasing money, and slower feedback loops on property condition. Short stays change the rhythm: guests pay before arrival, and frequent changeovers create regular checks that help protect standards.
How the payment and property-care experience changes
| Standard tenancy | Short-let with Stayful |
|---|---|
| Potential for missed payments and chasing rent | Guests pay before they stay, reducing missed-payment risk |
| Property issues can go unnoticed for longer | Regular turnovers create frequent checks and faster fixes |
| Less structured accountability | Third-party ID checks + £200 deposit per stay |
| Maintenance can become drawn out | Clear processes + fair wear-and-tear approvals keep standards stable |
Glossary (quick definitions)
Short-lets have their own language. Here are the terms landlords ask about most when comparing short-lets with long-lets.
Glossary
- Guest vetting (guest screening)
- The checks and safeguards used to confirm who is staying, secure payment, and protect the property.
- Deposit
- A refundable amount charged to encourage care and support resolution if something needs attention (Stayful: £200 per stay).
- Minimum stay
- The shortest booking length accepted (Stayful: 2 nights), used to protect standards and reduce churn.
- Turnover
- The changeover process between guests, including cleaning, checks, and preparing the home for the next stay.
- Fair wear and tear
- Everyday, unavoidable minor deterioration from normal use (handled via our £300/month approval approach where applicable).
- Damage claim
- When guest-caused damage needs repair, typically supported by the deposit and (where applicable) the protection policy.
Stayful guest vetting: FAQs
These are the most common questions landlords ask when they’re deciding whether short-lets are right for them.
Do you have a minimum stay length?
Yes — we operate a 2-night minimum. It reduces churn and supports consistent cleanliness and standards.
Do you run ID checks for guests?
Yes. We run third-party ID checks for every guest before arrival.
Do guests pay before they stay?
Yes. Guests pay before arrival, which helps prevent missed payments and avoids the need to chase money after the stay.
Do you charge a deposit for each stay?
Yes — we charge a £200 deposit for every stay.
What’s the £100,000 protection policy?
We apply our own protection policy of up to £100,000 per stay (where applicable) to add reassurance for owners.
Do you allow local bookings?
Yes — local bookings are allowed, with the same vetting steps: third-party ID checks, deposit, and payment before arrival.
How do you handle maintenance and small repairs?
We prioritise comfort-impacting issues. We also use a £300/month auto-approval approach for fair wear and tear (where applicable) so small fixes aren’t delayed.
What happens if there is damage?
The £200 deposit supports accountability and resolution. Where applicable, we also apply our protection policy, document issues clearly, and arrange repairs quickly to keep the home guest-ready.
Where can I see proof this works?
Start with reviews for guest feedback, then browse case studies for owner outcomes.
Estimate your Airbnb income
Get a realistic range for your property — then we’ll show how guest vetting, deposits, and property maintenance systems protect the home and support strong reviews.
Note: “Where applicable” reflects that eligibility can vary by stay and circumstances. We’ll confirm how the protection policy applies to your property and booking channels during onboarding.