FAQ
Questions, answered straight.
Sound familiar? You're why we built this.
"How do I know this person is who they say they are?"
Booking platforms verify a payment card, not a person. LekkerGuest automatically collects a copy of every guest's ID at pre-check-in and attaches it to the booking, so you review exactly who is arriving before handing over the keys, and missing or suspect IDs are easy to spot. Guest profiles are keyed to ID, so their history follows them across hosts, and the pre-check-in process surfaces undeclared extra guests, so "quiet getaway" can't quietly become a party. Fully automated ID verification is on our roadmap.
"I feel vulnerable every time I hand over the keys."
Most platforms give hosts minimal vetting and no behavioural history. LekkerGuest adds a cross-host review system keyed to the guest's ID: you see how a guest treated the last three properties, not just their star rating from hosts too polite to say anything.
"It's not just the cost, it's the admin and the emotional load."
Filing platform claims means screenshots, support tickets and weeks of waiting, so most hosts don't bother for smaller damage. LekkerGuest claims are itemised in minutes from the booking record, and settlement comes from protection that already exists on the booking.
"I'm flying blind when accepting a booking."
Before the stay begins you see the guest's submitted ID, completed house-rules signature, protection status and their LekkerGuest Score. Enough signal to accept with confidence or decline with cause.
"Why isn't there a way to stop these issues before they happen?"
Most protection is reactive. LekkerGuest is built around deterrence: guests who know they are verified, protected against, and scored simply behave better. Hosts consistently report fewer incidents, not just faster settlements.
"Speaking up might hurt my business more than staying quiet."
Reviews are shared with other LekkerGuest hosts, not published to the guest. Guests see their overall LekkerGuest Score, and can request a full breakdown of their information at any time under POPIA, with a fair correction process. You can be honest without triggering a retaliation loop on the platforms your listing lives on.
The practical stuff
What does LekkerGuest cost?
Free to join and use, no subscription, and in most cases the guest pays the fee, not you. One 15% service fee applies when protection money moves: on damage waiver fees collected (you keep 85%) and on claims (auto-added on top and charged to the guest, so you receive your full claim amount). Security-deposit bookings carry a small verification fee (R47 in South Africa, $2.50 equivalent elsewhere), paid by the guest at pre-check-in. Full details and worked examples on the pricing page.
Is LekkerGuest insurance?
No. LekkerGuest is not an insurer and does not underwrite or guarantee payouts. You set your own protection terms per property; LekkerGuest verifies guests, collects and holds protection on your behalf, and facilitates settlement. Waiver funds you collect belong to you.
Security deposit or damage waiver, which should I choose?
Deposits suit higher-value properties: nothing is charged unless you claim, and the hold releases automatically after a clean stay. Waivers suit high-volume stays: guests pay a small fee you set, and the 85% you keep builds a cover pool for wear-and-tear incidents that never justify a deposit claim. You can choose per property.
When is the guest's card actually charged?
For deposits, never, unless you lodge a claim; the hold simply releases after checkout. For waivers, the fee is collected at pre-check-in. For claims, capture happens only after the guest's 72-hour response window closes or the dispute is resolved.
What happens if a guest disputes a claim?
Disputes are item-by-item. The guest responds to each line of your incident report with their own evidence; you review and finalise; settlement captures only the resolved amount. Both sides see the same documented record throughout.
Does LekkerGuest integrate with my property management system?
You can run LekkerGuest standalone today by adding bookings directly, it takes seconds per booking. PMS connections are rolling out for Boom, Guesty, Hostaway & Lodgify, more coming soon, with bookings syncing automatically once connected.
How do payouts work?
Payments run on Stripe. Waiver income and claim settlements are transferred to your connected account at collection or capture and paid out to your bank on your payout schedule. Every transaction shows the fee breakdown transparently.
What countries and currencies are supported?
LekkerGuest is an international platform with a multi-currency engine: guests are charged in the local currency of the stay, with ZAR, USD, EUR and GBP supported today. If your currency isn't listed, get in touch, we are expanding by demand.