Compare UK’s Airbnb & Short-Let Management Companies

During a single month a host can potentially go through several different guests of all shapes and sizes, which is particularly common during peak season in popular touristic destinations and metropolitan business hubs.

So what does that mean for the host?

• Each time a guest vacates, the property needs to be turned-around (i.e. thoroughly cleaned and reorganised) in preparation for the next arrivals.
• If the short-let is for an entire property, the host (or someone working on behalf of the host) is expected to meet, greet and check each guest into the property. ZzzzzzZzz!
• With so many guests walking in and out through the doors, maintenance is typically in greater demand compared to regular long-term lets. Guess who has to deal with that? Yup, you got it!

What is an Airbnb (short-let) management service?

An Airbnb management service is provided by companies that takeover the entire management of Airbnb/short-let rental properties on behalf of the owner/landlord, which includes finding guests, checking them in and out and even providing professional cleaning services.

Despite the services being called “Airbnb management”, it’s more accurate to call them a “short-let management service”, because for all intents and purposes, these companies manage any type of short-stay let. But due to the success and popularity of Airbnb’s platform, and the fact that the Airbnb brand is so ridiculously strong that it’s become a popular synonym for “short-let rentals”, management companies have taken advantage and marketed their management services around Airbnb.

Long story short, Airbnb Management Services aren’t owned by or affiliated with Airbnb. These management companies will simply market your short-let property on Airbnb to find guests, along with several other popular short-let/holiday platforms, like booking.com, Tripadviser, Expedia etc.

So why have they become so incredibly popular? Once the whole short-term lettings/Airbnb craze kicked off and became the coolest trend since chewing bubble-gum, there was a noticeable pile-up of dishevelled landlords that needed rescuing from all the laborious hard-work that comes with being a successful short-let host and making a shit-ton of money.

Fortunately, a bunch of humanitarians recognised the crisis our most privileged in society were facing; they pin-pointed the gaping hole in the market for a much-needed Airbnb/Short-let management services, which provides a complete takeover solution.

Compare the best UK Airbnb & Guest Management Services

Short-let management services are booming in popularity, with new companies popping up every day – though, naturally, some also don’t survive the competition. To make life easier for you, I’ve curated and regularly update a list of the best and most reputable short-let and Airbnb management companies servicing major UK cities and tourist hotspots. These companies have proven their staying power and won’t be on the list if they start to falter.

Airbnb & Short-let Management Companies

Service	Rating	Services	Coverage	Price from
City Relay Top Pick	Rating 4.7 TrustPilot Reviews	Services Markets on Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Rightmove, Zoopla + more Flexible letting to optimise performance by blending all types of let (short, mid and long-term) Manages Profiles & Listings Professional Photography, 3D virtual tours and floorplans Check-in & Key exchange Housekeeping service Property Maintenance & Repairs Inspections & Certificates Price Optimisation 24/7 Guest Support	Coverage London	Price from 12%+VAT	Visit Website Arrange a callback
Smarthost	Rating 4.7 TrustPilot Reviews	Services Markets on Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Rightmove, Vrbo + more Flexible letting to optimise performance by blending all types of let (short, mid and long-term) Booking management Professional Photography Check-in & Key exchange Housekeeping and linen Maintenance Support Price Optimisation 24/7 Guest Support	Coverage London	Price from 12%+VAT	Visit Website
Guest Ready	Rating 4.7 TrustPilot Reviews	Services Markets on airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com, tripadvisor, Expedia + more Flexible letting to optimise performance by blending all types of let (short, mid and long-term) Manages Profiles & Listings Professional Photography Check-in & Key exchange Housekeeping Service Property Maintenance & Repairs Price Optimisation 24/7 Guest Support	Coverage Bath Birmingham Bristol Liverpool London Manchester Edinburgh Cardiff	Price from 12%+VAT	Visit Website
Hello Guest	Rating 4.8 TrustPilot Reviews	Services Markets on airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com, Expedia + more Flexible letting to optimise performance by blending all types of let (short, mid and long-term) Manages Profiles & Listings Check-in & Key exchange Professional Photography Housekeeping Service Property Maintenance & Repairs Price Optimisation 24/7 Guest Support	Coverage UK-Wide Coverage (including most major cities). Visit website for full list.	Price 12% +VAT	Visit Website
Pass the Keys	Rating 4.8 TrustPilot Reviews	Services Markets on airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com + tripadvisor Flexible letting to optimise performance by blending all types of let (short, mid and long-term) Manages Profiles & Listings Professional Photography Housekeeping Service Property Maintenance & Repairs Price Optimisation 24/7 Guest Support	Coverage UK-Wide Coverage (including most major cities). Visit website for full list.	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.

The major restrictions with using Airbnb Management Services!

Let’s talk roadblocks.. Because yes, there are a few big ones that might make Airbnb management services a complete non-starter for you. Yup, what I’m telling you is that your excitement may have been in complete vain.

The bomb-shell (which you may have already clocked)… is that most reputable management companies only operate in major UK metropolitan areas (think: London, Manchester, Edinburgh) and popular tourist destinations (like Brighton, Bath, or parts of Devon). On top of that, they typically only manage entire properties, so if you’re a live-in landlord hoping to rent out a spare room under a fully managed service, you’re likely out of luck.

In fact, many of these Airbnb management companies are exclusively London-focused, because that’s where the big money is.

So while I totally get why the market is geared this way, it does mean that Airbnb management services are really only suitable for landlords with prime real estate in the UK’s most lucrative locations. If you’ve got a modest studio in the middle of Fanny Barks (yes, it’s a real village in Durham), then… yeah, you’ll almost definitely be out of luck.

The good news? As demand grows, more management companies are expanding into new cities, so if your area isn’t covered yet, it might be soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

The FAQs

Yup, I know, I know, there’s a lot to take in, so before you drop 12% of your rental income on a Airbnb management service, you’ll most likely have a few pertinent questions swooshing around in that cranium of yours!

One disclaimer I do want to launch down your gullet before I start working through the FAQs is that I’m going to answer each question on a general basis. The answers I provide will apply to the services most Airbnb management companies at this current time, but not to all, and things may change, so it’s up to you to do your own due diligence!

1) What does an Airbnb (short-let) management company actually do?

• Marketing and guest acquisition i.e. management of all advertising on holiday and short let marketplaces like Airbnb.com and Booking.com to fulfil guest bookings;
• Management of reservations, check-ins, check-outs, and everything in between 24/7, all year round;
• Professional cleaning services, some similar to “hotel” experiences e.g. thorough cleaning between stays, folded toilet paper on rolls, nice smelling aromas, fresh towels & sheets, and fully stocked soaps, shampoos and conditioners etc.
• Repairs & maintenance management;
• Buying and repairing broken items;
• Regular pricing review to maximise returns;
• Optional cost-effective in-house interior design makeovers, which drags properties to their full glory so they can achieve maximise returns.

The Airbnb management companies basically handle everything… in return for a fee, of course, but the profits generated from the average Airbnb / short-let typically cover the fees and still beats the ass off of traditional long-term tenancy returns.

A short word on “Flexible lettings” – a key feature!

I’d be remiss not to mention the flexible letting approach, a strategy that many Airbnb management companies in London use to help landlords boost their returns. Honestly, it’s one of the more compelling reasons to use them in the first place, which is why every company I’ve listed includes it as a feature of their service.

There’s a strong link between occupancy and income: the more your property is booked, the more you earn. Simple. The challenge? The short-let market tends to be seasonal – demand spikes during holidays, but can dip significantly in winter and spring.

That’s where the beauty of “flexible letting” comes in. Instead of relying solely on short stays, Airbnb management companies can keep a property consistently occupied by blending short, mid, and long-term bookings.

For example, a typical flexible letting calendar might include:

• Holiday bookings of just a few nights.
• Longer visits of 2-3 weeks.
• Corporate reservations of several weeks or months.
• Longer-term tenancies of multiple months.

This hybrid approach balances high nightly rates from short stays with the stability of longer bookings, so you get the best of both worlds: strong occupancy and solid returns.

Actually, flexible letting is essential for Airbnb properties in London specifically, thanks to the 90-day rule – a restriction I dive deeper into in my Airbnb management guide for properties in London.

As you can imagine, juggling all of this as a private landlord is a lot of work.

2) Which is the best Airbnb management company?

Straight for the jugular, huh? I knew you’d ask.

Honestly, I don’t know. The one’s I’ve listed above, in my opinion, are the most popular and reputable UK management companies, and their TrustPilot scores seem to verify that. So in theory, just go with the one that makes most sense for you, which could mean you need to go through a process of elimination:

• If price is your biggest concern you can immediately eliminate the most expensive options.
• Location, location, location! Where your property is based might be the deciding factor, since not all Airbnb management companies operate everywhere. For example, Pass the Keys is currently the only company covering York, so your options could be limited from the get-go.
• From what I’ve seen, they all mostly offer the same level of service, but there are slight differences between them. So look through the offerings because maybe a ‘slight difference’ is all it takes to win over your confused little melon!

3) How much do Airbnb management companies cost?

The starting price for Airbnb management services typically ranges from 12% to 15% of your rental income, though some companies charge up to 20% (which may or may not include premium features).

Most providers offer a mix of standard and premium tiers, along with optional add-ons, so the final cost really depends on two things: how hands-off you want to be, and how much you’re willing to pay for convenience.

4) Does Airbnb offer property management services?

Nope. If they did, external management services probably wouldn’t exist.

Airbnb don’t directly provide management services, and I doubt they ever will, so you’ll need a third-party management company (like the ones listed above) if you want your short-let fully managed. For now, Airbnb just provide a platform for hosts and guests to create bookings and process payments, the rest is outside of their scope.

5) Do I need an Airbnb management service?

No, of course not. Just like regular BTL landlords don’t need a letting agent for fully managed letting services.

However, they are a super convenient solution for landlords that don’t want to deal with any of the headaches that notoriously come with managing rentals, especially if:

• You have no or little time to spend on the business
• You live far away from the property. Although, some hosts do successfully manage their Airbnb rentals remotely.

Funny thing is, I normally tell regular long-let landlords not to bother with management services (because it’s usually a massive waste of money), but I have a completely different opinion when it comes to landlords that short-let, because they, by definition, have a much higher tenant-turnover, which means there’s a lot more work involved e.g. servicing, cleaning etc. So it generally makes much more sense for Airbnb landlords to use management services. Ya’ dig?

6) Will Airbnb management companies earn me more money/rent?

Potentially, yes. In fact, most likely they will, and for a couple of reasons:

1. They work with you to agree a minimum price per night and then adjust that figure in line with demand to maximise monthly occupancy rates.
2. It’s in their best interest to achieve the highest rent possible and minimise void periods, because that ultimately means they will earn more commission from you. They are constantly monitoring the market rates to ensure maximum returns.
3. They specialise in making compelling adverts to maximise enquiries i.e. they will use professional photos, optimise descriptions etc.
4. As mentioned, some of the management companies offer guaranteed monthly revenue regardless of void periods.
5. One of my friend’s used a ‘interior design’ service by one of the management companies; he paid approx £6,000 to have his entire apartment furnished and styled. Here’s a peak of the end result:

   

   Not too shabby, right?

   While the initial outlay for the fabulous makeover may seem gut-wrenching, it was actually an effortless and cost-effective way of transforming his property into a much more appealing proposition (so my friend tells me!). The makeover resulted in a massive boost in interest and consequently a boost in his rental income to match, so the ROI was positive.

6. They will syndicate your property advert across several marketplaces like Airbnb and manage all the listings and enquiries. Most people just use Airbnb, but there are several other alternatives to Airbnb which can massively enhance bookings and rates.

7) Will an Airbnb management company achieve a better occupancy rate?

Probably. Mostly for the same reasons I mentioned for why they’re likely to make you more cheese!

8) What happens if your Airbnb guests cause damage?

Ahh, that dreaded fear!

Airbnb management companies should check the property before and after each guest, so they will notify you if there any damages. They also have their own maintenance team that can quickly resolve issues if needed.

Are you still thirsty for knowledge? Do have anymore questions about Short-let/Airbnb management services? Pick up the mic via the comment box and I’ll see what I can do…

Extra Tips

The following tips are based on feedback I have received from other landlords that either currently or previously used a short-let/Airbnb management company…

• Carefully review your online statements – make sure all costs are properly itemised and charged for correctly (e.g. fees associated with repairs and maintenance).
• Minimum rates per night – ensure you are comfortable with the rates they set! For example, they may maximise opportunity by letting the nightly rate fall lower than you would like, so you should use your own intuition as a landlord on whether you want to “risk” setting a higher minimum.
• Maintenance & repairs – don’t blindly agree to any maintenance work fulfilled by their team without getting a full assessment of the problem, and an estimate of how much it will cost.