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Glossary

Damage Control

Damage Control is Velaris's per-reservation guest damage program. Guests pay a damage fee at booking, the property manager keeps the fee revenue and retains predictable damage up to a chosen retention, and insurance responds above it. Velaris administers enrollment, escrow, and claims for a flat $9 per reservation plus the actual damage.

By Andrew Bate, Co-founderReviewed by Stuart BateUpdated

Why this matters for property managers

Damage Control is the productized form of the damage waiver program described throughout this glossary: the waiver, the retention, the escrow account, and the insured layer, connected to the manager's PMS so every reservation enrolls automatically across every channel.

Related terms

Damage waiver
A damage waiver is a non-refundable fee a guest pays at booking — typically $69–$199 per reservation for vacation rentals — in exchange for being released from liability for accidental damage up to a stated limit. Unlike a security deposit, the guest never gets the fee back, and the property manager keeps it as revenue.
Self-insured retention (SIR)
A self-insured retention is the amount of loss a business agrees to handle itself before its insurer becomes involved. It resembles a deductible, but with a deductible the insurer manages the claim from the start; with an SIR the insured manages and pays claims until the retention is reached.
Liability Control
Liability Control is Velaris's liability program for managed properties. Every home in a manager's portfolio is enrolled in liability coverage at onboarding, with limits from $100K to $1M per occurrence and an opt-out for owners who show equivalent coverage.

Browse every term in the insurance glossary for property managers.

Damage Control: common questions

What does Damage Control cost?

$9 per reservation for administration, plus the damage the manager retains below the selected retention. Guest fees ($69–$199 per reservation is typical) are the manager's revenue.

How quickly are claims paid?

Guest damage claims are documented with booking data already in the system and are typically reviewed and paid within 2 business days.

Related guides

Vacation rental damage waiver program
Read the full Velaris guide.
Security deposit alternative
Read the full Velaris guide.
Program pricing
Read the full Velaris guide.

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