Wunderflats

First Month's Rent - Info for Landlords

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. How does Wunderflats’ new payment flow benefit me as a landlord?

Wunderflats now collects the first month’s rent from tenants as soon as you complete the booking. This simplifies your process and increases security, reliability, and speed for both landlords and tenants. The funds are secured before the rental begins.

This means:

  • Guaranteed first month’s rent: Payment from the tenant is locked in when you confirm a booking.
  • Automated payments: Your first month’s rent gets transferred 48 hours after the rental start date.
  • No manual transfers: The Wunderflats service fee is automatically deducted: no need to pay it upfront.

In rare cases where the service fee exceeds the first month’s rent, the difference will be invoiced separately after the booking is completed. You’ll receive a separate invoice for the remaining amount, following our regular billing process. For more details, click here.

2. How do I activate the new payment flow?

To activate the new payment flow, complete a short one-time onboarding with our secure payment provider Stripe. This includes verifying your identity and bank account and takes only a few minutes.

You can manage this in your Landlord Dashboard via the banner, or under My Account → Booking Preferences. You can also activate the new payment flow per bank account and link it to your listings directly in the Dashboard.

Note: A temporary double verification applies. Even if you’ve already verified your ID via Veriff on My Account, you’ll need to verify it again in Stripe when activating a bank account for this payment flow.


3. When and how will I receive the first month’s rent?

We release the first month’s rent (minus your service fee) 48 hours after the official start date of the rental. The money will usually arrive in your account shortly after, depending on your bank. The payout is sent automatically to the bank account you registered with Stripe, no action needed.

Please note: If your Stripe Connect account is verified but you haven’t received your payout after this timeframe, please reach out to us.

Important: If the tenant reports an issue shortly after move-in and initiates a review under our First Month’s Rent process, the payout is temporarily paused while we assess the case. This pause is automatic and does not indicate a decision or judgment. We’ll review the situation promptly and contact you if we need more information.


4. Can I change the rental duration after the tenant has paid?

In most cases, yes. But since your service fee is calculated based on the original duration, our team needs to review any changes first. Please contact us before making adjustments.


5. Do I still need to transfer the Wunderflats Service Fee manually?

No. We deduct the service fee directly from the first month’s rent before transferring the payout to you.

If the service fee exceeds the first month’s rent, you’ll receive an invoice for the difference, payable within 14 days. This is rare but can occur with longer bookings.


6. Are tenants informed about this payment process?

Yes. Tenants are informed during the booking flow that the first month’s rent is collected in advance and held securely by Wunderflats until the start of the rental period.


7. How are additional payments like deposits, cleaning fees, or rent for longer stays handled?

Wunderflats currently only collects the first month’s rent as part of the booking process to secure the booking and ensure a smooth move-in. Additional payments (security deposit, final cleaning fee, monthly rent beyond the first month) will be made directly between you and the tenant, as usual. 


Note: We’re working on streamlining additional and recurring payments in the future. Stay tuned.


8. What if my tenant wants to extend their stay?

Tenants can request an extension directly through the Wunderflats platform. Wunderflats does not collect any additional rent payments for the extension, but we issue an extension agreement to confirm the new rental period.


9. Do I have to use this new payment flow, or can I continue with the old one?

Right now, the new payment flow is available only for selected landlords and standard booking types.

Over time, it will replace the old payment process and become the standard for all bookings. You’ll be informed in advance before it becomes active for your listings.


10. How does this booking flow affect my listing performance?

Landlords using the new payment flow benefit from:

- Faster bookings

- Higher ranking in search (better responsiveness & acceptance rate)

- Increased trust with verified tenants


11. What if I need to change my bank account later?

You can update your bank account anytime in your Landlord Dashboard, in the “Edit Listing” tab. Changes made after a booking request has been created won’t affect that booking. The payout will go to the account linked at the time the request started.


All future bookings will use your updated bank account automatically.


12. What happens if a tenant cancels, moves out early - or if I need to cancel the booking?

Once a booking is confirmed, it becomes legally binding for both parties. Any cancellation or early move-out must be mutually agreed upon between you and the tenant.

Wunderflats does not cancel invoices or automatically release bookings. If a tenant asks to cancel or move out early, you can agree on a cancellation fee or end the contract once a new tenant is found. Many landlords choose this approach to avoid vacancies.


If you need to cancel a booking yourself, please contact our Support Team as soon as possible. We’ll review the situation and help communicate with the tenant to find a fair solution.

Please note: Wunderflats service fees are non-refundable, as services have already been provided.