Landlord Products / Services
Airbnb in London is big business!
While Airbnbs and short-lets generally perform well in major UK cities and popular tourist hotspots across the UK, it’s London that consistently delivers the big bucks (for all the obvious reasons).
That said, managing an Airbnb is no joke, especially for landlords (“hosts“) juggling multiple properties. Keeping up with a revolving door of guests is hands-on and a far cry from the traditional buy-to-let model, which is generally much more passive. But the old way doesn’t come close to delivering the juicy returns short-term lets can offer (which is why so many buy-to-let landlords are making the switch to Airbnb, a topic I’ve previously explored in depth in my Landlord’s Guide to Switching from BTL to Airbnb).
This where Airbnb Management companies can help, and fortunately London is littered with them.
Since Airbnb in London is lucrative business, there is no shortage of Airbnb management companies operating in the capital – and more entering the market every day. It’s an extremely competitive market; over the years, I’ve watched many go tits-up, get acquired, or rebrand in an effort to stay in the game.
Yup, it’s a minefield.
That’s exactly why this blog post exists: to spotlight what I believe are the best and most reputable Airbnb management companies in London – the ones not just surviving, but thriving. These companies take care of every aspect of short-term letting, from guest marketing and communication to check-ins, housekeeping, and more – making the entire process virtually hands-off for landlords. Isn’t that the dream?
| Service | Rating | Services | Founded | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City Relay Top Pick | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Services
| Founded2015 | Price from 12%+VAT | Visit Website Arrange a callback |
Smarthost | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Services
| Founded2016 | Price from 12%+VAT | Visit Website |
Guest Ready | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Services
| Founded2016 | Price from 12%+VAT | Visit Website |
Hello Guest | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Services
| Founded2015 | Price 12% +VAT | Visit Website |
Pass the Keys | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Services
| Founded2016 | Price from 20%+VAT | Visit Website |
Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
What makes them your recommended Airbnb Management Companies in London?
Good question.
- Established Reputation – As mentioned earlier, this is a tough market to survive in. I’ve seen several companies fold over the years, especially the newer ones that pop up promising to “disrupt the market” – they don’t. Most don’t last more than a few years.
The companies I’ve listed here are tried and tested, with over a decade of experience operating in London. That longevity speaks volumes: they know what they’re doing, and they’re not going anywhere.
I’m always cautious of newer entrants that try to lure landlords with alluring rock-bottom rates – it rarely ends well, as running a service like this on razor-thin margins just isn’t sustainable.
- Highly Rated – I know, I know — review platforms like Trustpilot can be gamed (and often are). That said, these companies consistently receive positive feedback across multiple review sites, and the reviews stretch back years. In my view, that consistency counts for something, but of course, take it with a pinch of salt if you must.
- End-to-End Service – You can literally hand over your keys and let these companies take care of everything. From marketing and guest communication to check-ins, cleaning, and property turnover, these companies handle the entire operation on your behalf, making the process as hands-off as possible for landlords.
- Price Optimisation – Any Airbnb management company worth its salt uses a combination of smart tools and in-house expertise to optimise nightly rates based on seasonality, demand, local events, and real-time market trends – all with the goal of maximising occupancy and revenue. To be fair, most companies do this. However, I’ve come across a few that don’t (for reasons I still don’t quite understand). Just to be clear: every company I’ve listed here does use dynamic pricing strategies to help you get the best possible returns.
- 24/7 Guest Support – This isn’t something all management companies offer, but it’s an absolute must to make my shortlist. Guests should have round-the-clock support in case anything goes wrong, it’s a key part of delivering a smooth experience. Honestly, if I were paying 14% (or more) in management fees and 24/7 support wasn’t included, I’d be seriously unimpressed.
- Flexible lettings strategy – Every Airbnb management company I’ve listed offers a flexible lettings approach, which is crucial for London properties due to the 90-day rule (I dive into this in more detail below).
How to Choose the Best Airbnb Management Company in London for You
Honestly, this is a tough question, because I’ve tried to list the best of the best (specifically for Airbnbs in London), and I don’t have a horse in this race.
So I can only suggest you weigh up the most obvious two factors:
- Compare fees – Most Airbnb management companies in London charge somewhere between 10% – 20% of your rental income for their standard package. But make sure you’re comparing like-for-like, as some companies include essentials like guest communication, cleaning, and maintenance in their base fee, while others charge extra. So the cheapest option isn’t always the best value if it doesn’t include everything you actually need.
That said, the companies I’ve listed all seem to offer fairly similar services at fairly similar price points, so this might not end up being the deciding factor for you. Still, it’s worth double-checking, as there might be small differences that fill an essential need for you.
You probably noticed that Pass the Keys stands out with a significantly higher 20% fee. Personally, I don’t think this is because they offer more bang-for-your-buck, it’s more likely down to the fact they operate as a franchise, while the others don’t. I go deeper into this theory (conspiracy or not) in my Pass the Keys overview blog post, where I try to make sense of the price gap.
- Check reviews and ratings – Look up real customer feedback on Google, Trustpilot (I’ve linked to all their TrustPilot profiles), and property forums – all the usual places. Pay close attention to recurring complaints or praise.
Side note: I’d have included more factors here if this list wasn’t already the result of a personal screening process. In other words, the companies I’ve featured have already passed the basic sniff test. For example, if this were a general guide to any Airbnb management company in London, I’d definitely be shouting about making sure they offer flexible letting, which is crucial for navigating the 90-day rule in London. But since all the companies I’ve listed already do that, I’ve skipped over it here.
London’s Airbnb 90-day rule explained
The 90-day rule – in case you’re not familiar, it’s a pretty big deal, and one of the main reasons Airbnb management companies are in such high demand in London.
As a result of the Deregulation Act 2015, the “90-day Airbnb rule” was introduced in January 2017 across Greater London. This rule limits entire homes to being rented out as short-lets for no more than 90 nights per calendar year, unless the property has special planning permission from the local council (which is quite rare and difficult to obtain). Essentially, this means you can’t treat your London Airbnb like a hotel year-round.
Airbnb management companies cannot bypass this 90-day limit, but they have found effective ways to help landlords maximise rental income throughout the year by combining different types of lettings – short, mid, and long-term stays. Once a property hits the 90-night short-let cap, it can be shifted over to medium or long-term rentals, like corporate lets or monthly leases, to cover the rest of the year and maintain high occupancy.
While the rental income during the long-term tenancy may be lower compared to short-lets, it still tends to be significantly more profitable than having just one single long-term tenancy for the entire year.
A reputable Airbnb management company (like the ones I’ve listed) will handle this entire process seamlessly for you, switching rental types and managing tenants as needed – a major advantage of using a professional management company in London’s regulated market.
Right, I’m done.
Hope that’s been useful. Any questions, feel free to drop them below.
Landlord out xo
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
