Question 1

How do I verify my identity?

Accepted Answer

Head to the Verification page and complete a quick government ID and selfie check through our third-party identity verification provider. The process usually only takes a few minutes, and once you're verified, a verification badge will appear on your profile for property owners to see.

Question 2

When am I charged for a booking?

Accepted Answer

You won't be charged just for sending a rental request. Once the property owner accepts your request, you'll be taken to checkout to complete your payment. Your selected payment method is charged when you complete checkout.

Payments are processed securely through our third-party payment provider.

Question 3

How do deposits work?

Accepted Answer

The property owner sets the security deposit amount and terms, and you'll be able to review them before completing your rental.

If a deposit is required, it is collected with your initial rent payment and transferred to the property owner as part of the applicable payout. Homes Away From Home does not hold security-deposit funds.

The property owner is responsible for holding, managing, returning, or lawfully withholding the deposit according to your lease or rental agreement and applicable law.

At the end of the term, the owner can mark the deposit as returned or withheld. If any portion is withheld, the owner must provide a reason along with supporting documentation or proof explaining the deduction, as required by the rental agreement and applicable law.

Question 4

What if I need to cancel?

Accepted Answer

If you haven't paid yet, simply cancel your request from the My Stays page.

If you've already paid, cancelling through the platform stops any future scheduled charges and marks the booking as cancelled. Any payment already made remains subject to the property owner's cancellation and refund terms they set.

Refunds are handled by the property owner according to the cancellation terms in the lease or rental agreement and applicable law. Property owners are required to clearly state their cancellation terms in the lease agreement or listing, so be sure to review those terms before booking.

You can also message the property owner directly from your booking to discuss a cancellation or refund. Homes Away From Home provides the tools for renters and owners to manage the process but does not adjudicate rental disputes or determine refund amounts.

Question 5

How do I message a host or renter?

Accepted Answer

Find a listing you're interested in and send the property owner a message directly from the listing. Your conversation will then appear in the Messages section of your Homes Away From Home account, where you can ask questions, share information, and coordinate rental or move-in details all in one place.

You'll also receive email notifications when you have a new message, so you don't have to keep checking the website to stay up to date.

If you submit a rental request, the related conversation will stay organized in your inbox so you and the property owner can continue communicating throughout the rental process.

Please keep all communication respectful and appropriate. Harassment, threats, discrimination, fraud, sexually inappropriate content, or other serious violations of our policies may result in messages being reviewed and the account being warned, restricted, suspended, or removed from Homes Away From Home.

Question 6

Is my payment information secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Payments on Homes Away From Home are processed securely through our third-party payment provider, used by businesses around the world.

Homes Away From Home does not store your full credit card number or bank account details. Sensitive payment information is handled directly by our payment provider using its own security and compliance standards.

This allows you to pay rent, deposits, and other approved charges through the platform without needing to exchange cash, checks, or banking information directly with the property owner.

Question 7

What does 'affiliation verified' mean?

Accepted Answer

Affiliation verification is an optional badge that helps show why you're looking for housing. Depending on your situation, you may be able to verify things like school enrollment, a travel assignment, an employer or agency contract, union dispatch, an offer letter, or military TDY orders.

Once approved, the badge appears on your profile and gives property owners additional information when reviewing your rental request. It's completely optional, but it can help owners feel more confident about who they're renting to.

Affiliation verification isn't limited to short-term renters — it can be useful for students, traveling professionals, workers, military members, people relocating for a new job, and others who want to provide additional verification.

Question 8

Can I see the calendar before booking?

Accepted Answer

Each listing includes an availability calendar so you can see which dates are currently open. Dates that are already booked will appear unavailable, and you can send a rental request for dates that are still open, but we recommend messaging the property owner to confirm that the calendar is accurate and up to date just to double-check.

Question 9

How are disputes handled?

Accepted Answer

Most disputes — such as property damage, early move-outs, payment concerns, or security-deposit disagreements — are handled directly between the renter and property owner according to the lease or rental agreement.

Homes Away From Home provides the platform that connects renters and owners, but we are not a party to the rental agreement and do not decide who is right or wrong in ordinary landlord-renter disputes.

For security deposits, the property owner is responsible for holding, returning, or lawfully withholding the deposit according to their stated terms and applicable law. Our platform provides tracking tools so the owner can document whether a deposit was returned or withheld, including the reason and supporting documentation for any deductions.

If you're unable to resolve an issue directly with the property owner, you may need to use the appropriate legal, housing, or dispute-resolution resources available in your area.

Serious concerns involving fraud, threats, harassment, safety issues, or violations of Homes Away From Home policies can also be reported to us for review.

Question 10

What's the difference between weekly and monthly rates?

Accepted Answer

Owners choose whether to price their listing weekly or monthly. Some accept both payment cadences. You'll see the rate and available payment options on each listing. Your payment is calculated based on the rate type and the length of stay you need.

Homes Away From Home — Housing That Fits Your Stay

Housing in 5 cities.

Butte, MT

Salem, OR

Dillon, MT

Whitehall, MT

Helena, MT

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Butte, MT

Bozeman, MT

Colorado Springs, CO

Different reasons. Same problem.

College students

Contract & travel workers

A new place to call home

Clinicals or internships

Displaced or Military & government TDY

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