How booking on HostLeed works
On HostLeed you book directly with a verified local host. You see the full price, including a 7% service fee, before you book. You pay through HostLeed by PayPal or card, and the host is paid only 24 hours after your check-in, so you have time to report a serious problem.
Step by step
- Find a place. Search by area, dates and number of guests. Every listing is from a host HostLeed has approved, and every listing is reviewed before it goes live.
- Request or book. Some places are Instant book. Others are Request to book: the host has 24 hours to accept, and nothing is charged until they do.
- Pay to confirm. Once your dates are held, you have 24 hours to pay through PayPal (card payments work through PayPal too). The charge is in US dollars at the rate shown before you pay.
- Get your arrival details. The address, host phone number and check-in notes appear in your trip as soon as payment is confirmed.
- Stay. Message your host any time from the trip page.
- Host gets paid. HostLeed releases the payment to the host 24 hours after your check-in time, unless you've reported a problem.
- Review. After check-out, you and your host can review each other.
What you pay
The price you see is the nightly rate × nights, plus any cleaning fee, plus HostLeed's 7% service fee. That's the total; nothing is added at the door. Hosts pay their own 5% fee to HostLeed out of their earnings.
Cancellations
Each listing shows one of three policies:
| Policy | Refund |
|---|---|
| Flexible | Full refund up to 1 day before check-in. After that, 50% of the nightly total. |
| Moderate | Full refund up to 5 days before check-in. After that, 50% of the nightly total. |
| Strict | 50% of the nightly total up to 7 days before check-in. After that, no refund of nights. |
The cleaning fee is always refunded if you cancel before check-in, and the service fee is refunded when the refund is full. If the host cancels, you get everything back. Refunds go to your PayPal account or card.
If something is wrong
If the place is very different from the listing, unsafe, or you can't get in, use Report a problem on your trip before the payout is released. The host's payment is held while HostLeed reviews the messages and evidence, and HostLeed can pay the host, refund you in full, or split the amount.
Keep payments on HostLeed
Only payments made through HostLeed are protected. If anyone asks you to pay by bank transfer or cash outside the platform, don't, and let us know.
Common questions
How much is HostLeed's service fee?
Guests pay a 7% service fee on the stay subtotal (nights plus cleaning fee). The full price including the fee is shown before you book.
When does the host get paid?
24 hours after your check-in time. Until then the payment is held by HostLeed, so you can report a serious problem first.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes. Payment is through PayPal, which accepts most debit and credit cards as well as PayPal balances.
What happens if the host cancels?
You receive a full refund, including the service fee, back to your PayPal account or card.
When do I get the address?
As soon as your payment is confirmed. It appears in your trip with the host's phone number and arrival notes.
Find a stay with a verified local host. Full price before you book, payment held until you check in.
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