Airbnb long-term stays or monthly stays can be a game-changer for property hosts. They promise consistent income, fewer turnovers, and less stress compared to constantly juggling weekend or short-term guests. But before diving in, it’s crucial to understand Airbnb’s rules, policies, and the risks involved. Offering monthly stays isn’t for everyone, and a misstep can cost hosts both time and money.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about hosting Airbnb monthly stays, including tips, potential pitfalls, and strategies to protect yourself.
Why Consider Monthly Stays?
Long-term stays on Airbnb typically refer to reservations of 28 days or more. They attract a different type of guest, often digital nomads, business travellers, or people relocating for work.
Benefits of hosting monthly stays:
- Steady income: Fewer empty calendar days and reliable payouts.
- Reduced turnover: Less cleaning and management compared to short-term bookings.
- Long-term relationships: Guests are often more respectful and stable.
However, hosting monthly stays also comes with unique responsibilities and risks, which we’ll explore in detail.
New Hosts Should Avoid Airbnb Monthly Stays Initially
If you’re new to Airbnb, your first goal should be to gain 3–5 bookings with 5-star reviews quickly. Airbnb gives new listings a temporary boost in search results for about four weeks. This “New Listing” period is crucial to establishing your reputation and search ranking.
Accepting a long-term booking during this early stage can be risky. A single negative review can significantly impact your listing’s visibility. Most experienced hosts recommend waiting until you’ve completed a few short-term stays successfully before offering monthly bookings.
How Airbnb Handles Payouts for Monthly Stays
Monthly stay payouts differ from standard short-term bookings:
- Guests pay monthly, not upfront for the entire stay.
- New hosts may experience payout delays for up to 30 days after their first booking.
It’s essential to plan your cash flow and understand how Airbnb disburses payments before committing to long-term guests.
Understanding Policies and Risks
Tenant Rights
In many regions, guests staying 28 days or more may be considered tenants rather than visitors. This designation can complicate evictions if a guest refuses to leave. Some guests may also attempt to receive mail at your property to strengthen tenant claims.
Host tips:
- Clearly state in your listing that mail or packages are not allowed for guests.
- Familiarise yourself with local tenant laws to avoid legal issues.
Cancellations and Reservation Alterations
- Long-term stay cancellations override your standard cancellation policy. Set a specific long-term cancellation policy in your listing.
- Guests may alter their long-term reservations under certain circumstances without needing host approval.
Price Verification
Pricing errors are common for monthly stays, especially if weekly or long-term discounts are set incorrectly. To avoid losses:
- Verify each booking’s price manually.
- Include cleaning fees, pet fees, and other charges.
- Consider using Special Offers for long-term stays.
Managing Potential Damage
The longer a guest stays, the more wear and tear your property may experience. To protect yourself:
- Document your property with time-stamped photos and videos before the guest arrives.
- Request guests to report any pre-existing damage within 24–48 hours.
This practice ensures that your property is considered in good condition when the guest checks in.
Rental Agreements and Security Deposits
While hosts can request a rental agreement, it must be fully posted in your listing description before booking.
Key points:
- Guests must be informed that a rental agreement is required.
- Agreements sent after booking give guests 48 hours to review and refuse, potentially leading to cancellation.
- Security deposits are only allowed if your listing is linked to 3rd-party property management software.
Utilities and Smart Management
Guests staying for months can significantly impact utility bills. Consider installing smart home devices to monitor and control:
- Electricity, heating, and cooling.
- Smart thermostats and mini-split remotes.
- Usage limits for washing machines or hot water.
Clearly state utility rules in your House Rules and House Manual to avoid disputes.
Watch Out for Scams
Some guests may try to book a discounted long-term stay but only pay for one month and cancel the rest. Common strategies include:
- Asking for a steep discount for a 3-month stay, but only staying one month.
- Cancelling the next month’s payment or using a credit card to void the reservation.
The average discount for monthly stays is around 20% don’t over-discount in hopes of securing a long-term guest.
Airbnb monthly stays offer hosts the opportunity to create a reliable income, build occupancy rates, and attract long-term guests, i.e. digital nomads or professionals relocating for work. With that, some unique responsibilities and risks come with hosting long-term guests, including tenant rights to protections on long-term bookings that can make it more difficult to remove guests if there’s a problem, managing utilities, exploring damage liability, and delays in payouts.
The key to success is preparation: start with short-term bookings to build your reputation, understand Airbnb policies, set clear house rules, document your property, and stay vigilant against scams. By taking these steps, hosts can confidently offer monthly stays and enjoy a more predictable, profitable, and stress-free hosting experience.
Offering long-term stays is not for everyone, but well-thought-out planning and savvy strategies can change your Airbnb graph from small dips in income to something substantial and consistent for your hosting business.