chuck249

I recently booked an apartment through sleepinitaly. There was a 30 euro deposit which I paid to book the apartment. Now I get a confirmation email stating that there is a 200 euro deposit payable upon arrival along with the 270 euro. I would have never booked the apartment if they would have informed me of the 200 euro deposit. Our flight leaves rome at 8:30am. So we'll probably leave the apartment at 5:00am. I don't feel comfortable about leaving a large deposit and relying on someone to be there at 5:00 am to give it back. Is this normal procedure for sleepinitaly? Do they always sneak in the 200 euro deposit after you book?

ira

Hi chuck,

If you check the posts here about apartment rental, you will find that just about everyone requires a security deposit payable upon arrival.

I suggest that you contact sleepinitaly about how to get your deposit back.

chuck249

Its not so much leaving a security deposit. It's getting it back at 5:00am. Has anyone done this before?

Statia

I used www.sleepinitaly.com in March and I had to only send in a small deposit to secure the apartment. I was never asked for any type of further deposit on arrival. I only had to pay my week up front upon arrival and that was for the remainder due after the deposit I'd already sent.

It sounds like there is an error somewhere. I have yet to be asked for a deposit on an apartment in Italy that doesn't go toward the total due for the week which is paid on arrival.

KathleenMc

I stayed in an apartment through sleepinitaly this summer, and didn't have to put down a deposit. But I know a lot of apartments do require this. I think it is probably the owner of the apartment's, rather than sleepinitaly's, policy.

chuck249

to someone who did have to pay a deposit:

Did they make you aware of an additional deposit before you booked?

kismetchimera

I rented an apartment with sleepinitaly,and was never asked for a secure deposit but only a small amount to secure the apartment, and paid the remainder week rent upon arrival.

Statia

chuck249, from the experiences posted here with sleepinitaly.com, maybe you could email them back and confirm that there was not an error in what they told you. Are you dealing with Giulia?

I agree that certain individual owners might require a deposit to be returned upon departure, but even if that's the case, couldn't it all be done by credit card? Of course, I have to admit I'd be a bit leary of getting that back, too.

It just seems that most experiences with apartment rentals in Italy in general, and especially those with sleepinitaly.com, only require a small deposit to secure the dates and then full payment of the remainder due on arrival.

I'd email them and ask about this.

Hagan

Also just had to pay a 50 euro deposit to hold an apartment for next March. I'd definitely question this, as it does not appear to be the norm.

Judi

I put down a €100 deposit for a new (at least newly listed) apartment with sleepinitaly. I was then told that the owner required a €200 deposit on our arrival. I am okay with that.

I hadn't thought of how we will get our deposit with the owner back. Perhaps he will come to inspect the night before we leave. Either way, I am not concerned.

Statia

That is good to know, Judi. Especially since I'd never heard of a separate deposit other than that to hold your dates. Thanks.

Sarvowinner

Just looked at our booking with Sleep in Italy.

"At the check-in you will be requested to pay a guarantee deposit of euro 250,00 that the owner will give you back at the check-out.
Electricity and gas extra cost to be calculated at the check out."

We are leaving the day before our friends so it will be up to them to recoup the money - I will email Sleep in Italy to figure out the logistics as my friends are also leaving early in the morning.

Statia

There we go. It is obviously dependent upon the owners wishes when renting. I've just never run across it myself. I have also never paid for the cost of gas or electricity usage in renting apartments in Italy...sleepinitaly.com included. But, I do make sure that is included in the price before sending my deposit to hold my dates.

I guess it all comes down to reading that fine print before booking.

tcreath

If you are unhappy with the deposit amount, I would just find another apartment. As mentioned above, each apartment owner has their own preferred arrangments. We had to pay a small deposit, and the rest was due in cash when we met our apartment owner at the hotel. After that we did not see him. We just left the keys in the room and shut the door on our way out when it was time to check out and that was it. Overall we were very pleased with the whole experience.

Tracy

Judi

Utilities are included but there is a €45 charge for final
cleaning.

Our apartment looks very nice and is reasonable so I don't mind the extra charge.

You are right, Statia. It is good to read the fine print or ask a lot of questions. It appears that there is no consistency in the rules for sleepinitaly apartments.

kismetchimera

I cant believe that the owner charges extra for using the electricity and the gas.

Statia

Judi, final cleaning is another good point to look into. I have always made sure the apartments I rent include electric, gas, final cleaning, etc., (in other words, no extra charges). All of these things can come into factor, however, and I've seen apartments that charge extra for such. It's just something we have to all look at in what the overall cost will be upon depature.

sardog10

We just booked a VRBO apartment and will be paying a 200 euro security deposit upon arrival. The owner has said she will refund it when we leave if there's no damage. I wasn't aware of it ahead of time, but have no problem with it either. That's in addition to the 30% deposit for the rent that I wired to her.

I did notice that the other apartment in Sorrento we're renting has a cleaning fee listed on two websites but not on the one that we booked through.

I seems that I looked at hundreds of apartments trying to find these two on short notice and I'd say that most required a refundable security deposit. I'd say that about a quarter also had separate charges for electricity and gas, and some just charged extra if the air conditioning was used.

Sarvowinner

Hi

Sleep in Italy has just replied to my emailsaying that I should arrange the appointment with the owner teh night before.

Sarvowinner

Oops - just proof read my post. Let's stat again:
Sleep in Italy has just replied to my email saying that I should arrange the appointment with the owner the night before.