How can i list properties on Airbnb wihout owning them?

[Nyarko0]

I hear people talk about having properties on Airbnb without owning them and i'm like how-come all the time.please someone teach me how it is done since i am a beginner and all new to this.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Nyarko0 Listing them is easy - you just do it. Being legal doing it is entirely different as you need the owners permission. I personally would never allow anyone to arbitrage a rental I owned as the risk/reward balance is just not there. 

[Gernide0 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can absolutely host on Airbnb without owning any property—it’s called Airbnb Arbitrage! 🙌

That’s how I got started, and it’s one of the most beginner-friendly ways to get into short-term rentals.

Here’s how it works:

1. You rent a property long-term from a landlord (just like a regular apartment).
2. With permission, you re-list it on Airbnb as a short-term rental.
3. You pay the landlord rent monthly—and you profit from the nightly bookings on Airbnb.

The key is to:

• Pitch the landlord professionally.
• Use a solid rental agreement that allows short-term rentals.
• Set up your space with great photos, automated tools, and cleaning systems.

🎯I actually put everything I learned into a beginner-friendly Airbnb Arbitrage Guide, available in my Stan store! It includes:

• ✅Step-by-step checklist
• ✅Scripts to talk to landlords
• ✅Agreement templates
• ✅Tools I use for automation

*

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions—I’m happy to help beginners get started the right way. 💼✨

**[Link removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines] - Please note that it is not allowed to advertise on the Community Center.

[Elisa]

Hi @Nyarko0 😊, 

Thank you for asking this question here!

We’re delighted to hear you’d like to start hosting. When are you planning to begin? 😍

Have you had a chance to try the suggestions from our hosts?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Helen3]

@Nyarko0 @Arbitrage  isn't as easy as @Gernide0 makes out 

(likely because he wants to sell you his arbitrage training materials) 

It's hard to find landlords willing to sublet and you take a big risk by signing up for a lease when you may not get the bookings you need to even cover your costs let alone make a profit . 

and you might find  STR regulations cover the area that you want to do STR in.

Market research is key . And a profit and loss budget to estimate whether your venture is likely to be profitable.

[Gernide0]

@Nyarko0 

Hey there! 😊 I completely get where you’re coming from—@Helen3 this business model can seem overwhelming at first, especially with the risks and local regulations involved.

But once you put your mind and time into it, it’s truly doable. I started with a property I own, then learned how to secure funding to lease units without owning them. Right now, I have one I own, two I lease, and another leased unit coming soon—and I’m looking to buy STR properties in the future as I grow.

Yes, you absolutely have to follow the laws and STR rules in each city or state, and market research is a must. But when done right, this isn’t just a side hustle—it’s a real business with major income potential.

I only share what I’ve learned through experience to help others avoid the guesswork. Arbitrage works if you work it—with strategy, budgeting, and the right mindset. 💼✨

Wishing you success on your journey too!

[Helen3]

Hi @Gernide0 

I appreciate you feel you have had a measure of success with your model in the nine months that you've been an Airbnb host. 

But your listings have an average 4.2 ratings  so something is going wrong with your model and something  isn't 'being done right'

Airbnb sees 4.6 or lower ratings as poor performing  listings and can and does delete listings that don't improve  and can even ban owners from the platform.

you seem to have deleted your poor performing listings so am not sure what led to such low ratings.