When friends share a shortlet, one person books and pays for the whole stay, and everyone else pays them back. Cabans takes one payment for each booking, from the person who books. So agree who pays what before anyone books, collect the money first, and put the rules for the caution deposit and drop-outs in writing.
This guide covers the booker’s job, fair ways to split the cost, guest counts, the deposit, and what happens if someone drops out.
One booker, one payment
Every short let booking on Cabans belongs to one account: the person who books. There is no option to split the payment between several cards. That person:
- picks the dates and the number of guests, then presses “Reserve”. We hold the dates for 30 minutes while they pay;
- pays securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by the guest, and shown before paying, so include it in the total you split. It is not refunded;
- sees the booking in “My Stays”, gets the emails, and can message the host;
- sees the address, the arrival steps, and later the door code and Wi-Fi password, on their stay page;
- gets any refund, and the caution deposit, back to the card or account they paid with.
Some homes say “Instant booking”: the stay is confirmed as soon as it is paid. Others say “Host confirms”: the host has a set time to accept. If the host declines, or does not answer in time, the booker is refunded. Tell the group the trip is not fixed until the booking says “Confirmed”.
Choosing the booker
Pick someone who:
- is sure to go, and will be there on the first day;
- answers messages quickly, from the host and from the group;
- is happy to hold the group’s money and share out any refund.
Then book in this order:
- Agree the home, the dates and who is coming.
- Agree how you will split the total.
- Collect everyone’s share.
- The booker reserves the dates and pays. See how to reserve your dates.
- The booker shares the confirmation and the price breakdown with the group.
Ready to choose a home? Find a shortlet you can book online, or start with three-bedroom shortlets in Lekki, which suit many groups of friends.
Agree the split before you book
On Cabans, the price is for the home, not per person. The number of guests does not change it. So the more friends share a home, up to the host’s limit, the less each person pays.
The total you split is made of:
- The nights, less any discount the host offers for longer stays.
- The cleaning fee, if the host charges one, once per stay.
- The caution deposit, which is refundable. Agree whether everyone pays a share of it now, or the booker covers it and is paid back if anything is kept.
- Paystack’s processing fee, shown before paying. It is not refunded, even if you cancel in time.
Pick one rule, and stick to it:
| Rule | How it works | Fair when |
|---|---|---|
| Equal shares | Divide the total by the number of people. | Rooms are similar and everyone stays every night. |
| By room | Each bedroom pays one share. A couple in one room shares it. | Some people share a room and others do not. |
| Best room pays more | The room with its own bathroom pays two shares; the others pay one. | One room is clearly better than the rest. |
| By nights | Count person-nights, and each person pays their part. | People arrive late or leave early. |
Here is how “by nights” works. Four friends book three nights. One of them can only stay two. That is 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 11 person-nights. The three who stay every night each pay 3 out of every 11 parts of the total. The friend who stays two nights pays 2 out of every 11 parts.
Collect the money before the booker pays, by transfer between friends, with a clear reference such as the trip name. Keep a list of who has paid. Never pay a host directly outside Cabans, whatever they suggest.
Then write the deal down in the group chat and pin it: the home, the dates, the total, each share, the date to pay by, and the rules for damage and drop-outs. Two minutes of writing saves a lot of arguments later.
Extras bought during the stay, from the stay page, are paid by the booker’s account too. Keep a note of who ordered what.
Guest counts
The booking box has a “Guests” count with − and + buttons. Under it you see the host’s limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”. If the host has set no limit, it says “Everyone staying, children included”.
- Count everyone who will sleep there, children included.
- You cannot book for more than the limit. The box says, for example, “This property takes up to 4 guests.”
- Check the beds, not just the bedrooms. Six friends in a three-bedroom home means sharing. Our guide to choosing the right size helps.
- Ask about visitors. Friends who come for the evening but sleep elsewhere may still need the host’s agreement.
Numbers change. On the stay page, “Change dates or guests” lets the booker fix the count. Fewer guests on the same dates changes straight away. More guests needs the host to accept. The price stays the same either way. See how to change your dates or number of guests.
For bigger groups, our guide to booking a shortlet duplex for a group covers bedrooms, house rules and events.
The deposit in a group
The caution deposit is a fixed amount set by the host, shown before you pay as “Caution deposit” with the word “refundable”. It is never discounted. The booker pays it with the booking, and it comes back to the booker’s card or account after check-out.
Agree these points before you go:
- Who pays for damage. The simplest rule: whoever breaks it, pays for it. Shared losses, such as a stained sofa, are split equally.
- When the booker shares the deposit out. As soon as it arrives, not before.
- Who takes photos on arrival. One person photographs every room before anyone unpacks.
- Who does the final tidy. Wash up, take the rubbish out and follow the host’s check-out list.
If something is broken when you arrive, the booker uses “Report an issue” on the stay page, so there is a record from day one.
After check-out, the host checks the home and either returns the deposit or raises a question about it. If they raise one, the booker can reply with photos and an explanation. Nothing is kept until the Cabans team decides. If the host has not settled the deposit 14 days after you leave, the booker can ask our team to release it. Refunds reach the booker within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. See how to get your caution deposit back.
If someone drops out
Plans change. Agree the drop-out rule before anyone pays, so nobody argues later. A common rule: if you drop out after the booking is made, your share is not paid back unless someone takes your place, or the whole booking is cancelled in time.
Before the trip
- One friend drops out. The price does not fall when the guest count does, so the others pay more unless your rule says otherwise. The booker can lower the guest count on the stay page.
- The group wants fewer nights. A shorter stay inside your booked dates, made before the free-cancellation deadline, changes straight away, and the difference is refunded to the booker.
- The whole trip is off. The booker presses “Cancel booking” before the free-cancellation deadline. No approval is needed. The refund covers the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit, and goes to the booker. See how to cancel a booking.
- The deadline has passed. The booking can no longer be cancelled. Check the deadline, shown before you pay, and plan around it.
During the stay
- Someone leaves early. Unused nights are not refunded unless the host approves a refund. The group’s price stays the same.
- The group wants to stay longer. Once checked in, the booker can ask to extend. The host must approve, and the extra nights must be free. The extra nights are paid through Paystack, so agree who pays before asking. Our guide to extending a shortlet stay explains more.
If the booker cannot come
The booking stays on the booker’s account, with the stay page, the arrival steps and the codes. Choose a booker who is sure to go. If they cannot come after all, message the host before check-in to agree what happens.
Your group checklist
- Choose the booker.
- Agree the home, the dates and the guest count, children included.
- Agree the split rule, and write each share down.
- Agree the damage rule and the drop-out rule.
- Collect every share before booking.
- Check the free-cancellation deadline before paying.
- Share the confirmation and the house rules with everyone.
Find a home for your group
Find a shortlet you can book, compare a few homes for the same dates, and share the links in your group chat before you choose. Good places to start are three-bedroom homes in Lekki, Ikeja and Abuja. Want a film night too? See shortlets with a cinema or games room.
Own a big home that friends would love? List your shortlet and reach groups planning their next trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can we split the payment for a shortlet between several cards?
No. On Cabans, one person books and pays for the whole stay. The rest of the group pays that person back. Agree the split and collect everyone’s share before the booking is made.
Does the price change if more friends come?
No. The number of guests does not change the price on Cabans. But you cannot go over the host’s guest limit, and adding guests after you book needs the host to agree.
Who gets the refund if we cancel?
The person who booked. The refund covers what was paid for the stay, but not Paystack’s processing fee. It goes back to the card or account they paid with, and they pay everyone else back. Refunds reach them within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days.
Who gets the caution deposit back?
The person who booked, to the card or account they paid with. Agree beforehand that they share it out as soon as it arrives, less the cost of anything the group broke.
What if one friend leaves early?
Unused nights are not refunded unless the host approves a refund. So the price for the group stays the same. Agree in advance whether someone who leaves early still pays their full share.
Should friends pay before or after the booking?
Before. Then the person booking is not left out of pocket if someone changes their mind. Keep a simple list of who has paid and how much.
Can a friend arrive before the person who booked?
Tell the host who is arriving first, and when. The arrival button, the stay page and the door code are all on the booker’s account, so the booker must be reachable on arrival day.
Related guides
Shortlet duplex for a group · Which size shortlet do you need? · How to extend a shortlet stay · What if a shortlet host cancels? · Shortlets with a cinema or games room
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