How does paying in instalments work?

You’ve found the perfect place, but would prefer not to pay for everything at once? Good news: on Roomlala, you can pay for your booking in instalments, at no extra cost. Here is how it works.

Am I eligible for instalment payments?

The option is offered to you automatically when your arrival date is sufficiently far in the future. The timeframe depends on the cancellation policy chosen by the host:

• Strict policy: your arrival must be at least 33 days away.
• Moderate or flexible policy: your arrival must be at least 7 days away.

If this condition is met and you have not yet paid anything for this booking, the choice will be offered to you at the time of payment. For stays longer than 45 nights, the instalment payment applies to the first month of your schedule: subsequent months are paid as normal, on the scheduled dates.

How do I choose instalment payments?

From your Messages, open the conversation with the host, then click on "Proceed to payment". The "Payment method" section offers you two options:

• Pay in instalments: you pay the booking fee and a first deposit of 20% of the rent now, then the rest according to a payment schedule.
• Pay in full: you pay the total amount immediately.

Instalment payment is selected by default. Check the schedule displayed just below, then click the "Pay [amount] to book" button. This first payment confirms your booking.

How is the payment split?

The principle is simple: you pay a first deposit when booking, a second deposit before the listing's cancellation deadline (for strict and moderate policies), and then the balance 4 days before your arrival.

Strict policy: 3 payments

• At booking: the booking fee and a 20% deposit of the rent, paid in a single payment.
• No later than 32 days before your arrival: a second deposit of 40% of the rent.
• No later than 4 days before your arrival: the balance, i.e., the remaining 40% of the rent, any cleaning fees or additional tenant charges, and the tourist tax if it applies.

Moderate policy: 3 payments

• At booking: the booking fee and a 20% deposit of the rent, paid in a single payment.
• No later than 16 days before your arrival: a second deposit of 40% of the rent.
• No later than 4 days before your arrival: the balance, i.e., the remaining 40% of the rent, any cleaning fees or additional tenant charges, and the tourist tax if it applies.

Flexible policy: 2 payments

• At booking: the booking fee and a 20% deposit of the rent, paid in a single payment.
• No later than 4 days before your arrival: the balance, i.e., the remaining 80% of the rent, any cleaning fees or additional tenant charges, and the tourist tax if it applies.

If your arrival is soon, the second deposit may be grouped with the first payment: you then pay the commission and 60% of the rent at booking, then the balance 4 days before your arrival. The schedule displayed before paying always shows you the exact amounts and dates.

How much do I need to pay to book?

The first payment includes the booking fee and the 20% deposit of the rent. The commission corresponds to the Roomlala service fee: for a stay of 45 nights or less, it represents 20% of the booking amount, with a minimum of €8. If you have no commission to pay (Premium Pass, or service fees covered by the host), your first payment is limited to the 20% deposit.

An example with a rent of €600 and a strict policy:

• At booking: €240, consisting of €120 commission and €120 deposit (20%)
• 32 days before arrival: €240 deposit (40%)
• 4 days before arrival: €240 balance (40%)

That is €720 in total, exactly the same amount as if you had paid everything in one go.

Where can I check my payment schedule?

Once your booking is confirmed, open the conversation with the host in your Messages, then click on "Payment schedule". You will find the "Your payment schedule" section there, with details for each instalment:

• The payment type: "Booking fee", "Rent deposit" or "Balance"
• The amount to pay
• The status: "Paid" with the payment date, "Before [deadline]" or "Overdue"

A "Pay" button appears next to the next instalment due. Instalments must be paid in order, but nothing prevents you from paying the next one in advance.

What happens if I miss a deadline?

To help you avoid missing any payments, Roomlala sends you a reminder by email, SMS, and notification 7 days and 3 days before each deadline, as well as one last reminder on the day itself.

Please note: if an instalment is still not paid by its deadline, your booking is automatically cancelled the following day. This cancellation is treated as a cancellation on your part: the cancellation conditions of the listing apply to the amounts already paid, and the property is made available for rent again.

My booking has been cancelled: can I reinstate it?

A booking cancelled due to an unpaid instalment cannot be reactivated. Don't panic: you can still secure your accommodation in three steps.

• Discuss it with the host from your Messages: it is up to them to decide whether or not to accept a new booking.
• Make a new booking for this property and pay for it.
• Once this new booking is confirmed, contact our support team: we will refund the instalments already paid on the cancelled booking.

This refund is reserved for tenants who make a new booking for the same property. The easiest way is, of course, to pay each instalment before its deadline.

Are there any fees for paying in instalments?

No. Paying in instalments is free: the total amount is the same whether you pay at once or in instalments. No surcharge applies.

If you have any questions at all about your payment schedule, please do not hesitate to contact our support team. We are here to help.