Tips on long-term rentals

[Stephanie]

Hi everyone, 

With short-term rentals temporarily on hold in several places due to Covid, we’re seeing ever-more hosts offering long term rentals. After all, it can be easier to deal with less- frequent changeovers, and have more time to get to know your guests too. 

But there might also be extra factors to consider: for example, making sure your guest is a good fit or that their schedule matches yours, or perhaps offering a weekly or monthly cleaning service. Those of you who have tried it might also have tips on how to attract these guests to your listing in the first place, by creating an office nook

Have you hosted long-term guests, and if so, what are your top tips?

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Lauren2737]

Hi there, I’m Lauren, and I’m looking for a place to live temporarily, or long-term depending on the situation.

I would love to find a tiny house/dwelling to stay in, around the Bournemouth/Hampshire area.. and I am aware of the impact that Covid may have had on your ability to rent out your space as a holiday let.

I have a budget, however it’s worth mentioning that I would also be interested in a part-exchange (offering help with house/garden/growing food/DIY/animal care) in order to stay in and look after your beautiful space. It may be helpful to keep it lived in, loved and warm during the last of the winter months.

I am hoping to eventually renovate a van to live in, so it would be especially ideal if there was a road space/driveway from which I could do that.

I am a professional 34 year old woman, working as a counsellor at a University. I am creative and love art, music, and spending as much time in nature as possible. Please do get back to me if you feel this could work, and would like to find out more. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Lauren2737 Approaching the community centre is unlikely to work I am afraid. I suggest you use the booking inquiry function on Airbnb to contact suitable looking properties in the area. Search for dates in the future as people may have blocked near term bookings.

[Fern2899]

Hi there @Mike-And-Jane0  I can see from this feed that you have in depth knowledge of long term stays in the UK, so I was wondering if I could ask you some questions. 

I have found an amazing place in London, the landlord is based in Spain and wishes to rent through Airbnb which is new territory for me. I would want to rent for minimum 6months, I was wondering if you knew about my rights as a tennant in this situation or if you have any advice? 

Thank you very much! 

Fern 

[Sarah977]

@Fern2899  NO! This is a well known scam. The person you are dealing with is a cybercriminal. The listing is fake. So many people have lost thousands of dollars getting scammed by these people. 

Theey create fake Airbnb websites  that look almost like the real thing. But the URL will not be an Airbnb URL.

Do a search on this site for "Scam listings". There are many lengthy threads on this. Stop communicating with this person and report them to the site you found the ad on. 

Airbnb does not work like these scammers say it does and they rely on the naivity of people who don't know any better. 

Airbnb does not have long term rental agents, they don't give guests keys or show them listings and you never send money. 

When you book an Airbnb, Airbnb charges the credit  card you have on file with them. The guest makes the booking, not the host. And Airbnb hosts don't send guests emails telling them stories about hpw they live in Spain and bought the apartment for their daughter, or whatever.

When you find a deal that's too good to be true, it is. It's a fake.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Fern2899 Please listen to @Sarah977 . This is highly likely to be a scam. 

[Laura2592]

My tip? Don't do long term rentals through Airbnb in the US. I can't speak for other jurisdictions but after so many days (28-31 depending on the state) the "host" becomes a landlord and the "guest" becomes a tenant or squatter. 

I have been a landlord and a host. They are different. Guests are looking for a vacation stay. Tenants need a long term place to live. Guests might tolerate  furnishings or paint color they don't like for a few days. Tenants want their own stuff, furniture arranged the way they want it, and perhaps to paint.  Guests will leave shortly. Tenants are there for the long haul. Tenants can be evicted. Guests will give you terrible scores if they don't like your location or think you charge too much. Tenants usually call only when something needs fixing. Guests call all the time-- they saw a spider. They can't find paper towels. What should they do in the area? Again, these are two totally different kinds of experiences. 

Airbnb does not provide leases, support for evicting squatters or even CS for a guest turned tenant who is now nitpicking every little thing. DO NOT blur the line between these two categories and save yourself legal headaches by just saying no to long term "hosting" on Airbnb. Sorry @Stephanie I know that is probably not the direction you want this to go, but if Airbnb wants to support long term "guests" and "hosts" they really need to make significant changes to many of their policies. 

[Stephanie]

Honestly @Laura2592 , just because the feedback isn't positive, doesn't mean I don't want it just the same. With this many concerns, it's perfectly understandable hosts not wanting to go down the LTR route. 

As always, I appreciate the honesty and valuable experience all hosts share on these topics!

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Sarah977]

@Stephanie  I hope you'll bring this to Airbnb's attention. It's pretty obvious from all the responses here that if Airbnb wants to encourage guests to book long term stays, they need to put the kind of safeguards in place that would make hosts comfortable with accepting LTRs.

[Gary-And-Rose0]

We have only done monthly rentals in the past two years and it’s fantastic. They pay monthly and if they want to stay another month it’s prepaid. I live in BC Canada and normal rentals are a nightmare with all the rules. 

if someone doesn’t check out lock code is changed and stuff is on the door step. No money no stay pretty straight forward. 

Everyone’s stayed for temp work in area or looking to buy a house etc so guess we have been pretty lucky. 

we do a thorough clean of the place every two weeks to keep an eye on things. We also have our washer dryer in the suite so we do laundry weekly checking house as well.

This is discussed before booking and no issues. Any hint of a problem at booking we take a pass. We’re busy busy no month hasn’t been booked and very good income.

Less work too. In and out in and out with short stays during Covid season.