VAKA Shield: protection lives in the process
Verified identity, a security deposit charged at handover, photo and GPS evidence, clear claim deadlines and a Neighbor Backer who backs you up. Five protections that work together in every rental — at no extra cost.
The 5 protections of the process
VAKA Shield isn't a money promise: it's the name of the process that protects both neighbors, step by step.
Verified identity
Only neighbors with an approved identity — an official document plus a selfie, reviewed by our team — can rent or accept rentals. You know who you're dealing with.
Security deposit
The neighbor who rents pays a deposit that's charged at handover — a real charge, not a promise. If the rental ends with no claims, it's returned in full once the 48-hour claim window closes.
Mandatory evidence
Photos with GPS location when handing over and when receiving the item. The item's condition is documented in the booking, not in anyone's memory.
Claim process with clear deadlines
Whoever listed the item has 48 hours from the return to report damage; the other neighbor has 72 hours to respond. The VAKA team reviews both sides' evidence and resolves it.
Neighbor Backer
A real person who backs up the neighbor who rents. If a claim is approved and the deposit isn't enough, the Neighbor Backer covers the difference, up to the amount they agreed to.
The detail of each piece lives in its own documents: Claims Policy, Payments Policy and Neighbor Backer.
If something goes wrong, this is how the claim works
Clear deadlines and evidence from both sides. The full process is in the Claims Policy.
The neighbor reports
Whoever listed the item reports the damage from their booking within 48 hours of the return, with photos and a description.
The other neighbor responds
The neighbor who rented has 72 hours to give their version with their own evidence. If they don't respond, the claim is resolved in favor of whoever reported it.
VAKA reviews the evidence
The team compares the photos from handover and return, the listing and the chat conversation.
The deposit responds first
If the claim is approved, the amount comes out of the security deposit. If it's not enough, the Neighbor Backer covers it up to the amount they agreed to.
Your deposit drops with your track record
The security deposit depends on your trust level. With an active Neighbor Backer it drops to 15% at any level.
| Level | Deposit | Requirements | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| New neighbor | — | Account created, identity not yet approved | Can explore and list; to rent, they need to get their identity approved |
| Verified neighbor | 50% of the item's value | Identity approved | Can rent and accept rentals from day one |
| Trusted neighbor | 30% of the item's value | 3 or more completed rentals with no claims | Reduced deposit for a good track record |
| Top Neighbor | 15% of the item's value | A sustained track record: clean rentals, seniority and high ratings | The lowest deposit on the platform |
The minimum deposit is USD 25 and never drops below 15% of the item's value. No track record removes it: there's always a deposit. How it's charged and returned is in the Payments Policy.
Frequently asked questions
VAKA Shield isn't insurance or a policy. VAKA isn't an insurer. It's the set of protections in the rental process. Whoever funds an approved repair is the deposit of the neighbor who rents and/or their Neighbor Backer, up to the amount they agreed to.
The first step is your identity
Verify your identity just once and rent with the process protections from day one.
Verify my identity