Frequently Asked Questions About Airbnb Management in Los Angeles

Our standard management fee is 20% of nightly rental income. Luxury properties with an expected consistent nightly rate of $800 or more may qualify for our Luxury Select rate of 18%, and extended stays of 30 nights or longer can range from 12% to 18% depending on the length and property. We do not believe all bookings are the same, so we reduce our fee where the work genuinely scales differently. The fee applies only to the nightly rate and is not charged on cleaning fee income, which you receive from every booking and use to pay the cleaners.

See our full pricing breakdown

We are in the hospitality industry, which is much more intensive than standard property management and also involves full revenue management similar to a hotel. We communicate with guests and answer questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We organize cleaners and vendors on a daily basis. On average, we handle 6-7 bookings per month per property, field dozens of guest questions per booking, and coordinate a cleaning after every single one, making sure supplies are stocked and everything is ready for the next guest. That is roughly 20 operational tasks per month plus 70-100 or more guest messages, per property. A standard long-term property manager collects a rent check once a month and maybe handles one maintenance call. What we do and what they do is completely different, and it has to be priced differently.

No. You only pay for bookings you actually receive. If the property is not rented, there is no management fee.

Short-term rental management fees across the industry typically range between 15% and 30%. Our standard rate is 20%, which puts us right in the middle of that range, and we provide better service, better infrastructure, and higher revenue for our owners than most management companies. For luxury properties with an expected consistent nightly rate of $800 or more, we may offer our Luxury Select rate of 18%. For extended stays of 30 nights or longer, where the operational load is meaningfully lower, we reduce the fee to a range from 12% to 18% depending on length and property.

In almost all cases, it is a resounding yes. This does depend on who you hire, because there are property managers that, quite frankly, do not know what they are doing. We have 14 years of experience, over 8,000 bookings managed, and intricate knowledge of the Los Angeles market with detailed pricing strategies that other management companies cannot match.

For most homeowners, our fee is more than covered just by the professional revenue management and pricing we provide. Most owners would not achieve the same results on their own, even with third-party pricing software. That is before accounting for the time and energy that managing a short-term rental requires. The landscape is as competitive as ever. Guests expect near-immediate communication, fast resolution to issues, spotless properties, and 24/7 availability for questions. Most owners do not have the time or interest in doing all of that. Some start managing on their own, thinking they can handle it, but quickly get overwhelmed or see lackluster results, and then contact us to take over.

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We require a 3-month initial commitment. After that, you can cancel at any time with 30 days notice. The reason for the initial commitment is that we invest significant time and effort into getting your listing set up, including photography, copywriting, pricing strategy, and platform onboarding.

We have owners who like to stay involved with maintenance decisions and day-to-day details, and we have many owners who choose to be completely hands-off, reviewing only our monthly reports with full income and expense breakdowns. We cater to owners of all types. We can handle every single aspect of the operation, or you can be more involved if you prefer. Our owners have various levels of involvement based on what they desire.

Furnishing the property is not included in our management fee. We meet with every owner and provide a base design program and item list at no cost to you. Many owners hire us for a full design at an additional charge, which varies based on property size and what is required. This is a strong option because of our knowledge of exactly what drives bookings. Many owners choose to have us handle the full design to get the best results from their home.

There are basics we always supply to guests: toilet paper, soap, towels, bed sheets, trash bags, and similar essentials. We also recommend providing coffee (a Keurig at minimum) unless you already have coffee-making equipment. Beyond that, we recommend additional amenities on a case-by-case basis, because every property is different. A luxury property in the Hills has different expectations from guests than a smaller home in a different neighborhood.

The more you provide and the better the guest experience, the better the reviews. The entire business runs on getting 5-star reviews, so we encourage doing as much as possible within reason to elevate the guest experience. We guide you through the process based on your property specifically. You pay for the supplies, but we make all the purchases and bill them at month-end with a full accounting report. The purchasing and restocking is included in our management fee; you only pay for the actual items.

We recommend it, but it is not mandatory. If you do not have one, we can purchase and install it for a nominal fee through our maintenance team.

We always recommend short-term rental insurance, and in most cases, yes, you do need it. We can refer you to insurance vendors we work with. Airbnb also provides a host guarantee for liabilities and damages caused by guests, but we consider that a backup rather than a primary policy.

This completely depends on the size and scope of what is needed. Some properties are essentially turnkey, with existing furniture that is ready to go. We can have those listed in a matter of days. Other properties need to be fully furnished, or need repairs and improvements, which takes longer depending on the scope. As an example, a standard three-bedroom home around 1,700 square feet with no furnishings, where the owner hires us for full design, can usually be turned around in about two weeks.

You do not need to be local. We also do remote management for select properties across California. We review each remote situation individually and do our best to work with you if the property fits our criteria.

For remote properties, the usual requirements are that the owner has an existing cleaning team in place and some base maintenance contacts, depending on the location and whether we already have people in the area. For rural vacation destinations, the owner would need to provide contacts for cleaning and maintenance, and we coordinate everything with them for the on-the-ground work. We handle all of the guest bookings, screening, pricing, and communication the same way we do for our local listings.

Contact us to discuss your property

Almost all of our properties are listed across multiple platforms, including Airbnb, VRBO, Google Vacation Rentals, Booking.com, and our direct booking website. Direct bookings save you on platform fees, which means more income. The platform mix can change based on the vacation rental landscape, but these are the primary channels we currently use.

We have in-house cleaning teams assigned to our properties, and generally the same crew handles your property every time. Because they work directly for us and get to know your home, the standard of cleaning is consistent on every turnover.

Every booking includes a cleaning fee charged to the guest, which you receive 100% of (we do not charge our management percentage on it). We set the cleaning fee slightly above actual cleaning costs, and the difference covers guest supplies like soap, toilet paper, and coffee. At month-end, your report shows the actual cleaning charges incurred. You are not expected to arrange or coordinate any of this.

Yes. We have skilled maintenance staff who work for us full time, and we also have strong relationships with specialists for every type of repair, from HVAC to plumbing and everything in between. Any issue, big or small, we have the resources to address it. Routine maintenance under one hour is included in our management fee.

Rarely is it anything more serious than small scuffs in the walls from luggage. If a guest damages something, we make a claim on their security deposit and use the funds to handle the repair. We coordinate everything with our maintenance team and trusted vendors. You do not need to do anything; we take care of the entire process and restore it to the same condition.

Yes. Dynamic pricing means constantly adjusting the nightly rate based on demand, availability, seasons, events, and local occupancy. There is no single "price" for your property. Rates update regularly based on changing conditions, and we combine pricing software with manual adjustments based on what we see in the market.

We also use dynamic minimum-night stays, which is just as important. For example, if someone tries to book a weekend six months out, they will see a 4-5 night minimum. If that same weekend is two weeks away and still open, the minimum drops to 2-3 nights. This ensures you always get the best combination of rate and booking length. It is one of the most advanced revenue strategies in short-term rental management, and it is built into everything we do.

Yes. You have your own owner portal where you can log in and view exact bookings, revenue, and expenses in real time. You can also block out the calendar directly for your own use. Full transparency at all times, with institutional level owner reporting and dashboards.

Yes. You can block out the calendar whenever you like and have full flexibility to use the property, subject only to existing bookings at the time of your request.

The owner pays monthly utility bills, gardener, pool service, and similar recurring expenses. These are not part of the management fee.

Owner payouts are processed monthly at the beginning of the calendar month, after all platform payouts have settled from the previous month. We pay via direct deposit to your bank account by default, though we can also pay through PayPal or by check if you prefer.

Every property is unique, and we cannot give you an exact number until we evaluate your property specifically. What we can tell you is that nightly rates in Los Angeles typically range from the mid-$300s to well over $900 depending on the neighborhood, season, property size, and amenities. Summer months (June and July) command the highest rates across all areas, while January is typically the lowest. Properties in Beverly Hills and the Westside command significantly higher rates than the San Fernando Valley.

We will give you a realistic revenue projection during our initial property evaluation based on your specific home and neighborhood.

Find out how much my home can make

Our properties consistently outperform market averages on occupancy. Summer months, particularly July, see the highest demand, and Los Angeles benefits from being a year-round destination with no severe off-season. The main factors that affect occupancy are location, pricing strategy, property quality, and how the listing is optimized. Professional revenue management makes a significant difference. Most self-managed properties do not achieve the same occupancy levels because they do not adjust pricing dynamically or optimize their listings continuously.

In most cases, from what we have seen over 14 years in the business, the answer is yes. However, we do get approached by owners whose properties would not make strong short-term rentals. In those situations, a long-term tenant with stable income is the better path.

For properties that have something to offer and are in good to excellent condition, most can be turned into a profitable short-term rental after investing in furniture, design, and setup. Los Angeles is a year-round vacation destination, and the properties we manage benefit from that. We position each one to capture the largest share of its market.

Nightly rates vary significantly based on the number of bedrooms, neighborhood, season, and property quality. A well-positioned property in Beverly Hills or the Westside commands a very different rate than a home in the San Fernando Valley. Summer months (June and July) are peak season with the highest rates across all areas, while winter months are the lowest. The best way to get a realistic estimate for your specific property is to contact us for a free evaluation. We will give you projected nightly rates based on comparable properties in your area.

Find out how much my home can make

This is rarely an issue. The majority of bookings come through Airbnb, which holds the guest's payment before accepting the booking. Payment comes from Airbnb directly, not from the guest. For bookings outside Airbnb, we process the guest's credit card and security deposit before the stay. Credit card chargebacks are extremely rare, and when they do occur, we provide all documentation needed to resolve them, which we almost always do.

Our guest communication team is trained to engage with guests in a friendly manner while asking the pointed questions needed to ensure everything runs smoothly. We especially scrutinize short-notice bookings, where the majority of problems originate. By asking the right questions and requiring additional documentation or increased security deposits when warranted, we prevent most issues before they start.

In addition to manual screening, we use AI-based technology to run social media background checks, verify identities, search criminal databases, and flag fraud-related risks. We were the first in our industry (that we know of) to combine manual vetting with AI-driven verification at this level. The result is that we turn down between 2-10% of bookings depending on the property, and the guests we decline are the ones most likely to cause problems.

We take every step to prevent that and have a strong track record of it. We use noise monitoring software, install cameras at entrances, and take variable security deposits from guests based on risk. We do not tolerate parties under any circumstance and will deny bookings where we see party-related red flags. Guests are informed at booking that they forfeit their deposit if excessive noise is an issue, which solves most situations before they start.

We layer multiple security measures across every property. All guests go through our manual and AI-powered screening process. We install cameras at property entrances (exterior only) for monitoring arrivals. For properties where noise is a concern, we offer indoor and outdoor noise monitoring equipment for $25/month, which alerts both guests and our team in real time. We take variable security deposits based on the assessed risk of each booking, and we can set minimum age requirements for guests at your request. Between 2-10% of booking requests are declined outright based on our screening. The goal is always to preserve the property and neighborhood.

Yes, and we generally advise it. We can set a minimum booking age for your property, and we factor age into our overall screening criteria.

If your property is in the City of Los Angeles, yes. The City requires a Home-Sharing registration for any rental under 30 nights. The property must be your primary residence (where you live at least six months of the year), and it cannot be subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). A Regular registration allows up to 120 days of short-term rental per year. An Extended Home-Sharing registration removes the 120-day cap but has additional eligibility requirements.

The application requires valid photo ID, proof of primary residence, and (for tenants) a notarized landlord affidavit. We walk every owner through this process during onboarding and handle the paperwork so you do not have to figure it out on your own.

Read our complete guide to LA short-term rental permits

The City of Los Angeles regulates short-term rentals under the Home-Sharing Ordinance. The key rules are:

• You must register through the City's Home-Sharing program before listing your property
• The property must be your primary residence (you live there 6+ months per year)
• Regular registration allows up to 120 days of short-term rental per year; an Extended permit removes this cap
• Your registration number must appear on every listing across all platforms
• The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) applies to all short-term rental income
• A per-night fee is paid to the City for each night hosted
• No parties or events are permitted
• Safety equipment (fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors) is required
• The City actively scans listing platforms for unregistered properties

Read our complete guide to LA short-term rental rules

The City of Los Angeles charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of approximately 14% on short-term rental stays. If your property is booked through Airbnb, they collect and remit the TOT directly to the City on your behalf. You do not need to do anything for those bookings other than report the number of nights rented outside of the Airbnb platform monthly to the City.

For nights booked through other platforms like VRBO, or through direct bookings, you as the property owner are responsible for paying the TOT separately. We help our owners understand and stay compliant with these tax obligations as part of our management service.

Most HOAs do not allow short-term rentals, although some do. You will need to check your CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions) or contact your HOA directly to find out whether short-term rentals are permitted. We can review your situation during onboarding and advise based on what we have seen, but the HOA's rules are the final authority.

Yes, if you meet the requirements. You need a Home-Sharing permit through the City, the property must be your primary residence, and you must comply with the Home-Sharing Ordinance. We help homeowners through the permitting process and handle ongoing compliance as part of our management.

Learn about the permitting process

Yes. You can rent your property seasonally or block out periods for personal use. If you want to make the property available for fewer than 4 months per year, please contact us, as we handle those situations on a case-by-case basis.

We only provide management services for complete homes. If you are looking to rent a single room while living in the property, you would need to manage that independently.