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.
Weighing up whether to do this yourself? Read short-let management vs managing it yourself.
What Landlords Usually Ask First
Most landlords want to know three things before they start: what it costs, how the 90-night rule affects them, and how much work they will still have to do. Fees are usually a percentage of what the property earns, and our fees guide explains what to compare. The 90-night rule limits whole-home short lets in London, and our 90-day rule guide explains how to plan around it. If you want to weigh up the work involved, read short-let management vs managing it yourself.
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.