Policies & Terms
Clear, compliant policies for both guests and hosts. We treat short stays and mid-term rentals differently to ensure legal compliance.
Two Types of Stays
Roomeru classifies every booking based on length of stay. This determines which policies apply and ensures we comply with local landlord-tenant laws.
Short Stay
1–29 nights
- Treated as travel/lodging
- Travel-style cancellation policies
- Full payment at booking
- CA 24-hour protection applies
Mid-Term Tenancy
30+ nights
- Treated as residential tenancy
- Tenancy-style protections
- Monthly billing in some states
- Early termination rules after move-in
Why 30 nights? Most US jurisdictions treat stays of 30+ consecutive days as residential tenancies, which grants guests additional legal protections and requires hosts to follow landlord-tenant law.
Cancellation Policies
Short Stays (1–29 nights)
Hosts choose one of three cancellation policies for their listing:
| Policy | Full Refund | Partial Refund | No Refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible | 24+ hours before check-in | Within 24 hours | After check-in |
| Moderate | 5+ days before check-in | Within 5 days | After check-in |
| Strict | 14+ days before check-in | 7–14 days | Within 7 days |
Mid-Term Stays (30+ nights) — Before Move-In
If you cancel before your scheduled move-in date:
- 14+ days before: Full refund
- 7–13 days before: 50% of first month retained as liquidated damages
- Less than 7 days: First month retained as liquidated damages
These retained amounts are framed as "reasonable liquidated damages" covering relisting costs and lost opportunity—not as penalties.
Early Termination (30+ Nights, After Move-In)
This is NOT Cancellation
Once you've moved in on a 30+ night stay, you have tenant protections. Leaving early is called "early termination," not "cancellation." Different rules apply.
How Early Termination Works:
- Provide 30 days notice: Submit your early termination request through the platform.
- You owe rent through the notice period: Even if you leave immediately, rent is owed for 30 days from your notice date.
- Re-let reduces your obligation: If the host finds a new guest before your notice period ends, your obligation stops at the re-let date.
- Refund is calculated: Any prepaid rent beyond your obligation is refunded.
Example:
- 90-night booking at $100/night = $9,000 total
- Move in January 1, request termination January 20
- Notice end date = February 19 (30 days later)
- If not re-let: You owe 50 nights = $5,000
- Refund = $9,000 - $5,000 = $4,000
- If re-let on February 10: You owe 41 nights = $4,100
- Refund = $9,000 - $4,100 = $4,900
With Monthly Billing:
If you're on monthly billing and leave early, the settlement may result in:
- Refund: You prepaid more than you owe
- Balance due: You owe more than you've paid
- Even: Your payments exactly match what you owe
Security Deposits
Key Principle
Security deposits are for documented damages only. They can never be used as a cancellation penalty or early termination fee.
Deposit Lifecycle:
- Collected at booking (typically 1 month's rent)
- Held securely during your stay
- After checkout: Host has 3–7 days to file damage claims
- If claim filed: Itemized statement with photos required
- Remaining deposit refunded within state deadline (14–30 days)
State Return Deadlines:
| State | Return Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 14 days | HSTPA 2019 |
| California | 21 days | Itemized statement required |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | Strict handling requirements |
| Washington | 30 days | RCW 59.18.280 |
| Oregon | 31 days |
Massachusetts Note: MA has one of the strictest deposit laws in the US. We may use alternative protection methods (card authorization holds) for MA properties to ensure compliance.
California 24-Hour Protection
SB 644 Rule
For California short stays (≤30 nights) booked 72+ hours before check-in, you get a 24-hour free cancellation window after booking—regardless of the host's cancellation policy.
When it applies:
- Property is in California
- Stay is 30 nights or fewer (≤30)
- Booked at least 72 hours before check-in
What you get:
- Cancel within 24 hours of booking = full refund
- After 24 hours = standard cancellation policy applies
- Refunds issued within 30 days
Important:
This rule applies to exactly 30-night stays too (the law says "30 consecutive days or fewer"). However, once you move in on a 30+ night stay, you're subject to tenancy rules, not this lodging protection.
Regulated Cities (30-Night Minimum)
These cities have strict short-term rental regulations. To ensure compliance without requiring hosts to obtain STR licenses, we enforce a 30-night minimum stay for all properties in these areas.
New York City, NY
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Santa Monica, CA
Boston, MA
Cambridge, MA
Washington, DC
Seattle, WA
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Note: This list is not exhaustive. Many other cities have STR regulations. We add cities to this list based on enforcement risk and regulatory requirements.
Monthly Billing
For mid-term stays (30+ nights) in certain states, local law limits how much can be collected upfront. We use monthly billing to stay compliant.
States with Monthly Billing (Mid-Term):
Massachusetts
First + Last + 1mo deposit
New York
First + 1mo deposit only
California
First + 1mo deposit only
How it works:
- At booking: First month's rent + security deposit
- Monthly: Rent charged automatically every 30 days
- At checkout: Final month prorated if needed
Payment method:
We save your payment method securely for automatic monthly charges. You'll receive a receipt each month.
If a payment fails:
- We retry for 3 days
- You receive a notification immediately
- Day 7: Overdue warning sent
- Day 14: Final notice before escalation
Frequently Asked Questions
Short Stays
Mid-Term Stays
Billing
Have Questions?
Our support team is here to help with any policy questions.
Contact Support