[quote user="Jenny P"]What do other gite owners consider reasonable as a security deposit ? For the past three years we have asked for 150 euros as damage deposit, by cheque which we hold and send back after we have inspected the property. This year we have decided to increase it but are not sure to how much. 700 euros seems excessive to me. Jenny [/quote] We have just returned from 10 days in the Limousin, staying near Bellac - http://www.absolutely-elsewhere.com Our security deposit was E160, payable on arrival, along with balance of rent, in cash :) Having dealt with both UK based and French based landlords, either privately or through an agency over the years, paying the Security Deposit on arrival, and receiving it back on departure has always been the norm.