Mid-term stays in holiday rentals
June 2026
You may think that holiday rentals are all about very short stays, but some landlords have chosen to tap into the lucrative mid-term stay market. Learn about what defines a mid-term stay and how it can be beneficial for your business.
What is a medium-term rental?
A medium-term holiday rental is defined as a stay longer than one month but less than six months. Essentially, it’s for people who aren’t going to be living in your rental but will stay longer than the average holidaymaker.
Medium-term duration stays are popular with a few different markets:
- Digital nomads. These people travel from country to country, but they don’t change jobs as they move around. Instead, they work remotely, bringing their work with them wherever they go.
- Businesspeople. For a number of reasons, companies may send workers to a destination for a month or more.
- Seasonal workers. These people will usually be looking for accommodation near their work for a few months. Seasonal workers aren’t just in the tourist industry, by the way. People in the field of education often require a mid-term rental.
- Students. If your property is located near a university or other educational institute, you may find that students are particularly interested.
Why rent out your house for months instead of short-term stays
As a holiday rental landlord, it’s natural to focus on tourists. However, there are some major benefits to looking at medium-term holiday rentals as an alternative market. Here are some reasons why landlords should consider mid-term rentals:
- You’ll have a consistent income. This is the biggest benefit, of course. There’s no need to try to search for new guests all the time, as you’ll be collecting money every month without doing any extra marketing.
- Your property can stay occupied during the low season. Some landlords plan around this — for example, they offer a property to students or workers during the academic year, then rent it out as a holiday home in the summer months. If your property is located in an area where this is viable, it could be an excellent way to maximise revenue.
- There’s less frequent maintenance and cleaning involved. You’re probably used to cleaning and inspecting your property after each guest departs. With a mid-term rental, you’ll only have to send in the cleaners every few months.
- You’ll have less on your plate. Dealing with bookings, scrambling to sort out last-minute cancellations, and organising check-ins are all part of the job. That’s not the case when you rent out your holiday home for months at a time.
- You may have better neighbour relations. Many popular tourist destinations are experiencing a backlash against holiday rentals. Mid-term tenants may well keep the neighbours happy.
The drawbacks of mid-term rentals
Of course, mid-term rentals aren’t totally perfect. If they were, no landlord would ever advertise holiday homes, right? Some disadvantages associated with mid-term rentals include:
- You may miss out on profitable opportunities. If there’s a big concert or a festival in your city, you can usually raise the price of your holiday rental. That’s impossible when you have a mid-term rental.
- You’ll earn less money per night. To make mid-term rentals viable, you’ll have to lower your nightly rates. Do some number-crunching to see how this will affect your bottom line.
- There are higher turnover costs involved. Yes, turnovers are less frequent, but you can expect far more wear and tear when renting your holiday home for months at a time.
- You may need to purchase extra amenities. Mid-term guests will expect laundry facilities and well-equipped kitchens when staying in your rental.
- You won’t be able to use your holiday home yourself. Many landlords like to stay in their property from time to time or let friends and family stay there for free. That’s impossible with a mid-term tenant.
There’s also one major drawback which every landlord should consider extremely carefully:
Mid-term rentals and the law
Before you even consider renting your property out for months at a time, check the relevant legislation in your area. In some countries, such as Spain, renting your property out for a month at a time will invalidate your holiday rental licence.
You’ll also have to check to see if mid-term renters are afforded any extra rights over short-term renters. Again, to use Spain as an example, Spanish law considers mid-term renters to be tenants, not holidaymakers, which gives them greater protections. In fact, you may find it almost impossible to evict a mid-term renter who decides to stop paying rent because Spanish law prioritises squatters’ rights.
All this is to say that you should think very carefully before offering a mid-term rental. It’s best to seek advice from your lawyer, as you should check that offering longer stays won’t jeopardise your holiday rental business in any way.
How to rent out your house for months
The normal ways that you advertise on a holiday rental website may not work here. Here are some things to consider as you prepare to rent your holiday flat to mid-term tenants:
- Who is your target audience? Students will usually have a low budget and may be messy but not picky. Businesspeople will have a much higher budget, but they’ll also be more demanding in terms of amenities. Digital nomads require an excellent internet connection throughout your property.
- Do you have enough storage space? There should be enough for someone to effectively live in your home. Are there areas where they can store suitcases out of sight?
- Is your kitchen fully equipped? Have cutlery, plates, glassware and other essentials for guests to use.
- Do you have a washing machine? A tumble dryer or a clothesline may also be needed, depending on the climate. If you don’t have laundry facilities, can you arrange a deal with a local laundrette?
- Is your holiday rental suitably decorated for a mid-term tenant? Mid-term tenants usually want simple, neutral décor that is easy to live with.
- Do you have a space for people to work? You should provide a desk with a comfortable (ideally ergonomic) chair and good lighting.
Some holiday rental portals will allow you to advertise your property for mid-term lets. However, you may prefer to market it elsewhere. Social media is particularly useful for medium-term rentals. Look for Facebook groups dedicated to rentals in your city, or sign up for some pages specifically aimed at digital nomads.
Think about the maximum length of time you’re willing to let out your property to mid-term tenants. For example, you may still want to cater to tourists during the lucrative summer months. Discuss your limits with your tenants beforehand so that everyone is on the same page, ensuring you can all have a harmonious experience.