Understanding long-term rentals on Airbnb

In a world where professional and personal mobility is growing, long-term rental via platforms like Airbnb establishes itself as a flexible and efficient solution. This type of accommodation responds to a rising demand from travelers seeking lodging for extended periods, ranging from one month to several months, or even a full year. Students looking for temporary housing in their university city, employees on assignments, or expatriates all benefit from this offering that combines flexibility and comfort. This form of rental provides a compromise between the rigidity of traditional leases and the flexibility of short stays, adapting to current needs of tenants and property owners.

Airbnb, traditionally focused on short-term stays, has expanded its range of services by highlighting long-term stays, defined as a minimum duration of 28 days. This development, aligned with trends observed on other platforms such as Vrbo, Booking.com, or Expedia, opens new opportunities for owners who want to maximize the profitability of their properties without the constraints of intensive management related to frequent turnovers.

In this context, long-term rental on Airbnb must be approached from several angles: specific rental conditions, advantages and limitations for hosts and tenants, as well as criteria to consider for optimizing this experience. It also involves understanding regulatory, tax aspects, and alternative options available on competing platforms such as LeBonCoin, Homelidays, Tripadvisor, Pap.fr, SeLoger, or Welkeys. This comprehensive overview enables a better understanding of the concrete opportunities that long-term rental offers in 2025.

1. What is long-term rental on Airbnb and how does it work?

Long-term rental on Airbnb refers to the possibility for a traveler to book accommodation for at least 28 consecutive days. This option, initiated in 2011 with the “Airbnb Sublet” feature, has since evolved into a strategic segment of the platform, offering greater visibility and specific optimization tools for hosts and tenants.

This category of stay now has a dedicated section during searches, facilitating access. For hosts, this means it is possible to offer personalized discounts, weekly or monthly, tailored to the needs of long-term tenants. The cancellation policy is also adjusted, taking into account the extended nature of the stay.

For example, an owner with an apartment in Paris may decide to rent it out for nine months to a student doing their university year in the capital. This type of rental ensures regular occupancy and simplified management, as occupant changes are less frequent. On average, properties listed for long-term rent on Airbnb display stable profitability, provided tariffs are well calibrated with monthly discounts and suitable cancellation conditions.

• 📌 Minimum stay of 28 days
• 📌 Possible discounts weekly and monthly
• 📌 Special cancellation policy for long-term stays
• 📌 Highlighted in a distinct category
• 📌 Simplified management of tenant rotations

This option thus allows exploring a new way to maximize the profitability of your real estate assets by reducing vacancy periods while meeting travelers’ needs. It is now important to understand the conditions and practices to adopt in order to maximize benefits from long-term rentals on Airbnb.

2. How to estimate the rental potential of your property for a long-term rental?

Before starting long-term rental on Airbnb, it is essential to correctly evaluate the potential of your accommodation. This includes several aspects: location, configuration of the property, demand in the targeted area, as well as the competition present on various platforms like LeBonCoin, Pap.fr, SeLoger, or Welkeys.

Fortunately, several online tools allow quick and reliable estimates. For example, some sites merely require the property address and number of rooms to provide an instant estimate of the monthly rent you can expect. These tools consider updated market data, prices practiced on Airbnb and competitors (Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, Homelidays, Tripadvisor), as well as typical stay durations in the region.

But it is not enough to rely solely on a raw estimate. A finer analysis must consider:

• 📍 The type of interested travelers (students, professionals, expatriates);
• 📍 Seasonality and local real estate trends;
• 📍 Quality and added services to enhance the offer;
• 📍 The level of equipment and furnishing of the accommodation;
• 📍 Direct competition on Airbnb and the other mentioned sites.

This careful preparation helps to set a competitive rent while maintaining room for maneuver. For instance, a high-end apartment in a lively neighborhood can command a more moderate discount than one located on the outskirts. Conducting thorough research ensures better rental profitability management and anticipates demand fluctuations.

3. Advantages and specificities of long-term rental on Airbnb for hosts

For property owners wishing to offer their property on Airbnb, long-term rental offers several specific advantages. One key point is the reduction of vacancy periods, which directly translates to optimized rental income. Instead of managing frequent short stays with all the work and uncertainties involved (handling check-ins/outs, frequent cleaning, listing renewals), long-term stays allow simplified management.

Here are the main benefits:

• 🛏️ Less turnover: Fewer rotations, hence less cleaning and management costs.
• 💰 Stable income: Guaranteed rent for the entire period, often coupled with advantageous monthly discounts.
• 📅 Facilitated planning: Less stress related to constant reservations and guest searches.
• 📈 Increased visibility via the new Airbnb category “Long-term stay.”
• 🔧 Flexibility in duration: You can choose to host a tenant for a few weeks or several months.

Moreover, Airbnb has adapted its cancellation policy to the constraints of extended stays, allowing to avoid certain adverse situations in case of late cancellation. The possibility of applying an incentive monthly discount is also a powerful lever to attract long-term tenants.

It is important to note that long-term rental requires a thorough analysis of your expectations and obligations, especially considering local regulations that may vary. For professional management, some hosts opt to use specialized concierge services such as those offered by companies like Concierge Angels, which provide comprehensive support.

4. Key criteria for choosing a long-term rental on Airbnb

Selecting a long-term rental on Airbnb requires careful attention to criteria that guarantee comfort, safety, and suitability for your needs. Unlike a short tourist stay, a commitment over several weeks or months involves verifying specific details:

• 🛎️ Cancellation policy: favor listings with a “flexible” or “moderate” policy for greater security.
• 📍 Location: ensure the accommodation is close to amenities, transport, and frequented places.
• 🛋️ Complete equipment: equipped kitchen, reliable internet connection, comfortable workspace, etc.
• 🔒 Safety: check reviews and the listing description to avoid unpleasant surprises.
• 📅 Availability and flexibility: ability to adjust the stay duration according to your real needs.

Another important aspect is comparing rates across multiple long-term rental platforms, notably Airbnb, but also LeBonCoin, Pap.fr, Vrbo, Homelidays, or SeLoger. This approach helps you better understand the market and identify the best offer in terms of quality/price ratio.

The use of advanced search tools on Airbnb also allows filtering listings dedicated to long-term stays. These filters facilitate the selection of a property that meets expectations for a commitment of several weeks or months. To go further, you can explore detailed advice on selecting long-term rentals.

5. Regulations and tax considerations for long-term Airbnb rentals

Renting a property for long-term on Airbnb is subject to legal and tax constraints. In France, rules vary depending on whether you offer your primary residence, a secondary residence, or a property exclusively for rental. The law governs, among other things, the duration of stays, declaration obligations, applicable tax status, and urban planning rules specific to large cities.

It should be noted that the minimum duration of 28 days corresponds to a threshold beyond which certain rules change, especially regarding the taxation of furnished rentals. Indeed, long-term rental is often classified as non-professional furnished rental (LMNP) under certain conditions, which offers tax advantages, including the possibility of depreciating the property.

Here are the key points to know:

• ⚖️ Legal minimum duration: 28 days to be considered long-term on Airbnb;
• 🏠 Declaration at town hall: some urban centers require prior authorization for transformation into tourist rentals;
• 💼 Taxation: LMNP regime often preferred, with declaration of non-professional furnished income;
• 📝 Lease and contract: not always a traditional lease, but a rental agreement via Airbnb;
• 📅 Maximum duration: in principle, long-term Airbnb contracts do not exceed 6 months to a year depending on the situation.

Before offering a property for long-term rental via Airbnb, it is recommended to consult an expert or a notary specializing in this area, for example through sites like Notaire Immobilier, to ensure full compliance.

6. Comparison between long-term and short-term rentals on Airbnb

Short-term and long-term rentals on Airbnb serve different needs and entail specific implications for hosts. This comparison helps in considering the best rental strategy based on your profile, your property, and your availability.

• ⏳ Stay duration: several days for short-term, minimum 28 days for long-term.
• 🔄 Logistical management: high frequency of hosting for short-term, low for long-term.
• 💸 Pricing: higher daily rates for short stays, often with discounts for long-term stays.
• 🧹 Cleaning: frequent cleaning required for short-term, less frequent for long-term.
• 📈 Profitability: short-term may be more profitable over short periods, long-term offers stability.

Choosing between these two options also depends on your lifestyle. If you have limited time to dedicate to property management, long-term rental may be more suitable. Conversely, if your property is in a highly visited tourist area, short-term rental can generate higher income during specific periods.

To deepen these differences, several specialized articles address the topic, notably those available on Concierge Angels.

7. How to optimize management of a long-term rental on Airbnb?

Effective management of a long-term rental involves careful preparation and rigorous organization. There are several dimensions to consider to maximize tenant satisfaction while making property management easier.

Here are recommended practices:

• 🗓️ Set clear rules from the moment the ad is published, especially regarding respecting the property and using shared spaces.
• 📑 Use the appropriate cancellation policy for extended stays to reduce uncertainty.
• 🧹 Plan periodic maintenance to maintain quality without disturbing the tenant.
• 🔧 Offer additional services such as concierge services for remote management or occasional cleaning.
• 📞 Ensure a responsive follow-up to respond quickly to requests and avoid frustrations.

Calling upon an Airbnb concierge service, such as Concierge Angels, enables delegating entire management: from guest reception to billing, as well as maintenance and cleaning. This outsourcing offers peace of mind and guarantees a worry-free experience for both host and tenant.

8. Perspectives and trends in long-term rental in 2025

The long-term rental on Airbnb fits into a broader evolution of the real estate market and travel habits. By 2025, the demand for adaptable temporary residences is increasing, stimulated by professional mobility and hybrid lifestyles such as remote work on the move. This trend is reinforced by the growth of long-duration travel, with tenants seeking to settle for several weeks in a complete living environment, contrasting with simple tourist stays.

Among notable observations:

• 🚀 Greater flexibility in rental durations and conditions;
• 🤝 Enhancement of additional services such as concierge, quick maintenance, and personalized welcome;
• 🌍 Expansion of tenant profiles, including entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and families in transition;
• 🔍 Multiplication of platforms offering similar services to Airbnb, increasing competition and opportunities (Welkeys, SeLoger, Pap.fr);
• 📊 Optimization of rental income through artificial intelligence for dynamic pricing adjustments.

These trends suggest a harmonious evolution of the sector, beneficial for both owners and tenants. In 2025, long-term rental on Airbnb becomes an essential lever to leverage real estate in a more flexible and accessible way.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Long-term Rental on Airbnb

• ❓ What is the minimum duration for a long-term rental on Airbnb?
  The minimum is 28 consecutive days.
• ❓ Can a discount be applied for long-term stays?
  Yes, it is possible to adjust rates with weekly and monthly discounts to encourage extended stays.
• ❓ What are the risks associated with long-term rentals?
  Risks include vacancy, unpaid rents, or damages, although an appropriate cancellation policy and good tenant selection reduce these risks.
• ❓ How to optimize management of a long-term rental?
  It is recommended to set clear rules, plan periodic maintenance, and optionally use a concierge service.
• ❓ Is long-term rental more profitable than short-term?
  The profitability depends on various factors. Long-term offers income stability, while short-term can generate higher revenues but less regularly.