Deposits & Refunds

The security deposit is a refundable amount, set by the owner per listing, that you transfer together with the rental at checkout. It is not a fee and not income for the owner — it is a hold. Your bank slip must cover the rental plus the deposit (and any delivery fee) as a single total. On every rental we show the deposit as a clearly separate, clearly refundable line so you always know how much is coming back.

MGR holds the deposit for the duration of the rental. The owner never receives it up front. It stays in our hands until the gear is returned and inspected, at which point it is either refunded to you in full or — only where damage or loss is verified — partly applied and the remainder returned.

When you return the gear, the owner has 48 hours to inspect it and either confirm it’s fine or raise a claim. To make this fair to both sides:

• Photograph the gear at handover and again at return — this is the single best protection for a renter.
• If the owner confirms all good, or says nothing within 48 hours, your deposit is released automatically in full.
• If the owner raises a claim, it must include clear photos and a description of the damage or loss, and it must be submitted within the 48-hour window.

The deposit may be reduced only for genuine, evidenced issues, such as:

• Damage beyond fair everyday wear — a cracked dome port, a snapped fin, a torn tent, a damaged drone.
• Loss or theft of the gear or its included accessories while in your care.
• Missing items from the listed inclusions (for example, a missing battery or charger).
• Returning gear excessively dirty, salt-fouled or in a state needing professional cleaning beyond a normal rinse.

How much can be withheld

• Only the reasonable cost of repair, cleaning or replacement may be deducted — never more than the deposit itself.
• Fair wear and tear from normal use is expected and is never deductible.
• Any amount of the deposit not applied to a verified claim is always returned to you.

The deposit caps the owner’s recovery through MGR. If genuine damage exceeds the deposit, the owner may pursue the difference separately, but MGR will only ever withhold up to the deposit amount.

• No claim raised: released automatically once the 48-hour window closes.
• Claim resolved in your favour: released in full once the dispute is closed.
• Partial claim agreed or upheld: the cleared portion is returned, and you see an itemised breakdown of any deduction.
• Booking cancelled before pickup: the full deposit is returned regardless of the cancellation policy.

Refunds go back to the same bank account you transferred from and typically arrive within 3–5 business days, depending on your bank.

Our dispute path is simple and evidence-led:

• Open the rental and choose Dispute deduction within 7 days of the claim.
• Add your own photos, the handover record and any messages with the owner.
• MGR reviews both sides — the handover condition, the return photos and the listing's stated condition — and makes a reasonable decision.
• While a dispute is open, the contested part of the deposit stays held by MGR, not released to the owner.

Most deposit disputes are resolved within a few business days. Our goal is a fair outcome based on evidence, not on who shouts loudest.

Keep the two separate. A rental refund depends on the listing’s cancellation policy and on whether the rental went ahead. A deposit refund is about the condition of the returned gear and is independent of the cancellation policy. For cancellation mechanics, see the Cancellation Policy.