Short-term property management is a service that takes over the day-to-day running of a rental property let out on a short-stay basis — typically a few nights to a few weeks at a time, via platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com — instead of to one long-term tenant.
The Core Tasks Involved
1. Listing and pricing
The property is listed across relevant booking platforms, with pricing adjusted continually to reflect demand, seasonality and local events — rather than left at one fixed rate.
2. Guest management
Every enquiry, booking, check-in and check-out is handled on the landlord’s behalf, along with any guest issues that arise during a stay.
3. Cleaning and turnover
Between every stay, the property is professionally cleaned, restocked and checked, so it’s guest-ready for the next booking.
4. Maintenance
Repairs and general upkeep are coordinated proactively, so small issues get resolved before they affect guest experience or income.
5. Compliance
Short-let regulation varies by area — in London, for example, there’s a 90-night annual cap on whole-property lets without planning permission. A managed service keeps track of this on the landlord’s behalf. See short-term rental regulations in London for detail.
6. Reporting
Landlords receive regular visibility into occupancy, income and performance, without needing to track it themselves.
What This Means for a Landlord
In practice, a landlord using a full-management service should see the income potential of short-term letting without taking on the operational workload that comes with self-managing it. That’s the trade a management company like Ichiban Stays exists to make.
Learn more about our short-term property management service, or get a free income projection for your property.