Long-term Airbnb rentals: What to know about discounts, fees, and cancellation policies

Airbnb has a booking portal just for sublets, and longer stays are often discounted. Here's what to know before booking a long-term Airbnb.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• Many Airbnbs offer discounted rates for monthlong and weeklong stays. 
• Airbnb also has a separate search portal specifically for sublets.
• We break down key info on booking long-term Airbnbs, including fee and cancellation policies.

If you're thinking about relocating your home office, you're not alone. According to Airbnb, more travelers are now searching the platform for stays longer than 28 days, and as of 2020, over 80 percent of hosts are now offering long-term stay options.

On Airbnb, hosts are free to set stay limits and minimums, as well as discount options for anyone booking their listing for weeks or even months at a time. Not only does the discount incentivize someone looking for a longer stay to choose a particular listing, but it also means that the hosts will have a lower turnover rate, which often translates into less work for them.

While long-term Airbnb listings will show up in a standard search, you can also more easily find them by going directly through the website's sublet hub. This will bring up only listings where hosts have agreed to allow stays of a month or longer, but be aware that not every long-term stay is discounted.

Renting an Airbnb for a longer stay has numerous benefits. First, it can be cheaper than a typical lease and is adjustable to your travel plans. For example, if you're arriving somewhere on March 18 and leaving on April 28, you can often still enjoy a discounted stay without needing to pay for any unused days. On top of that, hosts must prove that their listing is really livable for a long-term stay, which means all long-term Airbnb listings come equipped with a full kitchen, strong WiFi, and essentials like bed linens and soap at a minimum. 

You'll also enjoy the benefit of knowing that every listing must adhere to Airbnb's Enhanced Cleaning. Airbnb introduced its Enhanced Cleaning policy in 2020, and you can rest easy knowing that hosts are cleaning and sanitizing the space between visitors. Not to mention, booking a long-term Airbnb is an easy way to earn travel points on your credit card.

Overall, booking your next sublet through Airbnb can be a great deal, but there are a few things you should know ahead of time.

What's the minimum number of days needed to book a long-term Airbnb?

Long-term Airbnb discounts start at bookings of 28 days or more. You don't have to book for the first of the month, but the days do have to be continuous, so if someone's already booked a weekend in between your desired dates, it won't work. It is entirely up to the host to decide whether they will offer their listing for longer stays and they can set the minimum stay for 30 or 31 days if they are specifically targeting long-stay visitors. 

Airbnb hosts also have the option of setting weekly or monthly discounts and the percentage of that discount is entirely up to them. Airbnb recommends that hosts offer a discount equal to their expected vacancy, so discounts can vary wildly. When browsing Airbnb with your dates selected, you will be able to tell which listings offer discounts because of the strikethrough in the price. When you click through to the listing, you'll be able to see the percentage discount displayed in the price summary.

How much is the discount for a long-term Airbnb?

Discounts can vary immensely. For example, this studio apartment in Seattle offers a 10% discount while in New York City, this Brooklyn studio is 52% off, and discounts can go even higher than that. Just look at this four-bedroom home in Bellville, Kansas, which normally goes for $85 per night but is offering a 71% discount if you book for the month. Of course, it's always possible that a host could be inflating the price to attract bookers with a big discount number, so you'll have to do your due diligence to determine if the listing is really worth what they're saying.

Do you still have to pay fees on a long-term Airbnb rental?

The discounted rate does not apply to any extra fees, including the service fee, which can be higher depending on how long you book your stay. Occupancy taxes may apply depending on the state and these will also increase depending on how many days you book. If there is a cleaning fee, this should be similar to what you'd pay for a short-term rental, but the host may increase the cost if they are exclusively listing for long-term stays.

Can you visit an Airbnb sublet before you book?

While booking a sublet through Airbnb has its benefits beyond the discount (like not having to pay a security deposit or worry about utility bills), it's also not a traditional rental situation. Unlike an apartment that you might see in-person before making a decision, you often are not able to see a particular listing before you decide to book.

Airbnb encourages users to ask the hosts questions about the listing through their private messaging system and complete their booking before meeting in-person. You could always try asking your host if you could visit in person before you commit, but they don't have to comply.

Do you have to pay for a long-term Airbnb rental upfront?

Unlike many short-term stays, you don't have to pay for your whole stay upfront if you are staying for multiple months. After you've booked your reservation, you'll pay for the first month as a down payment. Then, after you check-in, you'll then be charged monthly throughout your stay. The price is locked in when you book, so you don't have to worry about rates going up halfway through your reservation. 

What if you need to cancel your long-term Airbnb?

Cancellation policies depend on the individual host. An Airbnb host can opt to allow cancellations up to a month before your visit or 48 hours after you book, so be sure to pay attention to the cancellation policy when booking. This doesn't give you much wiggle room to change your mind and if you do cancel outside of that short window, you will still have to pay for the first 30 days of your reservation and the service fee.

If you check-in and decide to cancel after your trip has begun, you will not be refunded for the next 30 days after your cancellation. If you have extenuating circumstances that fall under Airbnb's Major Disruptive Events Policy, it may be possible to appeal for a full refund. If you are not confident in your travel plans, booking an Airbnb for a month or longer can be risky. 

Are there any legalities to take into account?

Because of varying tenant laws, your host may ask you to sign a contract before confirming your reservation. If this is the case, the host will be required to disclose this information to you before confirming your booking. If your host asks you to sign a contract after the fact, it's within your right to decline and to ask them to cancel your reservation without a cancellation penalty.

Local legislation regarding how hotels and long-term apartments should be run vary widely and Airbnb hosts in different cities may need a different level of commitment from guests before the stay is confirmed. Because your host will be required to disclose this to you before you commit to the booking, make sure you take ample time to review the document and seek counsel or find another booking if something doesn't seem right. Airbnb recommends that guests review the contract within 48 hours after booking, so be sure you are prepared when you book. 

Book a long-term Airbnb here