France is among the top global tourist destinations. It attracts about 80 million foreigners each year. It is not surprising that seasonal rentals are flourishing almost everywhere in the country.
More and more owners are embarking on this adventure to generate more income. Just like the sale of a property, this rental formula is governed by strict rules.
To learn more about the subject, we suggest you consult this article. First and foremost, it is important to provide you with the definition of seasonal rental.
📋 📋 The essentials at a glance: Personally, I consider seasonal rental an excellent idea to boost profitability, which can be 2 to 3 times higher than that of a traditional lease. It is a strategy that offers great flexibility to use your property a few weeks per year. However, I recommend carefully calculating your management time, as 15% of the income is generally absorbed by cleaning and concierge fees if you do not delegate.
What is a seasonal rental?
🌟 The advantages
- Very high rental income
- Almost no risk of unpaid rent
- Availability of the property for yourself
🔍 Reservations
- Time-consuming logistical management
- Faster wear and tear of furniture
- Strict urban regulations
You have just bought a country house, a functional studio in the city, a chalet in the mountains, or a seaside accommodation.
You decide to rent this property, but only during the tourist season. Then you consider profiting from it once it is unoccupied.
It is in this context that we speak of seasonal rental. It aims to rent your property to vacationers for a short duration. It is therefore intended only for transient clients.
🗣️ 📍 My experience: In 2024, I assisted an owner who hesitated to switch his studio to seasonal rental. After investing 4,000 euros in a “love at first sight” decoration, he rented his property for 95 euros per night instead of 600 euros per month. The lesson learned is fundamental: seasonal rental is not real estate, it is hospitality. The opinion of the first three clients determines 80% of your future success on the platforms.
Unlike some rental options, this one requires that the accommodation is already furnished with furniture, kitchen utensils, appliances, bedding, storage shelves, and many other items ensuring tenant comfort.
As a result, they can settle in immediately. They just need to drop their suitcases and enjoy the house, even temporarily.
Seasonal rental is generally located in a tourist area, namely near the sea, in the mountains, or in the countryside. It can be done for one day, but also for one or several weeks without exceeding 3 consecutive months.
If the apartment for rent is located in cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, this duration extends up to 120 days. If the owner does not respect this deadline, they face a significant fine.
| Type of area | Occupancy rate | Gross profitability | Legal constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Area (Sea/Mountain) | 45% to 65% | 8% to 12% | Medium |
| Large Metropolis | 70% to 85% | 6% to 9% | Very high |
| Rural / Quiet Area | 30% to 50% | 5% to 7% | Low |
| Long-term Rental (Comparison) | 95% | 3% to 5% | None |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of seasonal rental?
If this type of investment is hugely successful, it is because it abounds with multiple advantages. Financially, it is defined as an additional source of income. With rents, it optimizes the profitability of your real estate purchase.
The property constitutes your second home and during the key seasons of the year, you decide to make it a vacation rental. Your property therefore allows you to earn more money. The more touristy the area, the more the property is rented at a high price.
Besides that, a house located in a sought-after city limits vacancy periods. It is easy and quick to find new travelers to rent the apartment.
Unlike other rental options, seasonal rental allows you to avoid unpaid rent. Before moving in, tenants generally pay the indicated amount. This investment also keeps the property alive. It does not leave it empty by hosting tourists one after another.
As for its disadvantages, it requires the owner to have great availability. They must constantly manage their listing on the site or dedicated platform. They have to respond to every request from potential tenants instantly.
After the vacationers leave, they are obliged to maintain the house inside and out to welcome new arrivals. The passage of different tourists only causes wear and tear to the property. Therefore, it must be restored several times.
🌍 Did you know? Installing a key box or a connected lock increases your booking rate by 20%. Travelers now favor total autonomy upon arrival, especially for business trips or late arrivals.
How to find tenants for a seasonal rental?
Since this form of rental is highly successful, competition in the real estate market is fierce. It is therefore more difficult to spot good tenants.
In any case, every problem corresponds to concrete solutions. Having the apartment labeled or the studio is one of them. It is about boosting its visibility on the web.
The first thing to do is to carefully choose a label site. Your property is published there and appears in the search results of vacationers and tourists. Labels gain credibility. They offer a certain guarantee to future tenants that they will find a house of good quality.
To quickly find tenants, turning to a real estate agency is also another interesting idea.
By giving them a mandate, they take care of finding tenants, conducting inspections, handling insurance, signing a lease contract, and even collecting rent. It should be noted that you owe them up to 30% of the rent.
If these fees do not suit you, the word-of-mouth method works just as well to find a tenant. Use your network of acquaintances. Do not hesitate to inform your neighbors, friends, or colleagues that you are looking for a tenant for your secondary residence.
How to set the price for seasonal rental?
Estimez votre gain net après frais de plateforme.
Revenu net estimé :
*Après commission plateforme de 15%. Hors frais de ménage et taxes.
More and more owners struggle to define the rates for their seasonal rental. If you are one of them, start by determining the identity of your accommodation. Identify the city where it is located.
Know that homes located in tourist areas are highly sought after. Their price thus remains higher. Regardless of the location, you must take this parameter into account when calculating the price of your property.
That said, do what is necessary to stand out from the competition. If the house needs some improvements, do not hesitate to make them.
If you have a substantial budget, adding a jacuzzi or a pool is a better idea. Otherwise, you can simply improve the furniture or equipment.
Alternatively, bring a fresh touch inside by replacing household linens such as the duvet, sheets, towels, pillowcases, and more.
Renovating wall and floor coverings also makes a big difference. All these changes help you set the price of your seasonal rental.
Do not forget to compare competitors’ rates. Check prices on the web, in real estate listings, and in newspapers. This allows you to get an idea of the rental market in your city.
How to manage seasonal rental remotely?
Owners do not necessarily live near the rental property. They might even be very far away. If they do not properly manage the distance between the rental and their home, it likely requires regular trips back and forth.
To solve this problem, it is strongly recommended to collaborate with one or more trusted people. Since you are not always present on site, you can delegate some important tasks to them.
Make a list of craftsmen to contact in case of emergency, for example the plumber, electrician, heating engineer, locksmith, and more.
When new tenants arrive, be sure to inform them of your absence. Nevertheless, a trusted person can welcome them.
This person is responsible for passing on all important information about the accommodation. They also provide all the contacts for the main services. A cleaning service provider must ensure the cleanliness of the house daily.
⚠️ Warning: The common mistake is to start your activity without checking the condominium regulations. If an exclusive bourgeois residence clause is included, your neighbors can legally ban your vacation rental due to repeated disturbances. Always check this document before investing.
What are the risks related to vacation rentals?
The frequent unpleasant surprise awaiting the owner concerns the deplorable condition of the premises after the tenants leave.
Since the owner invests a lot of money in improving the accommodation before their arrival, they hope to see their property impeccable after their stays. In the worst cases, furniture is broken, appliances break down, and much more.
To avoid this situation, it is recommended to call upon a bailiff to inspect the premises before the tourists leave the house.
The owner can mention this procedure in the rental contract, even for short-term rentals. Thus, the costs are shared with the tenant.
💡 Practical tip: Respond to 100% of comments, even negative ones, within 24 hours. A courteous and constructive response to criticism shows future travelers your professionalism and defuses the impact of a bad rating on your search algorithm.
How to insure your vacation rental and protect yourself from damages?
Before answering this question, it should be noted that vacation rental insurance is not mandatory. However, it is strongly recommended.
Otherwise, the owner or tenant is held responsible for damages caused to neighbors or third parties during the rental period.
Just like a primary residence, a vacation rental can be covered by a multi-risk home insurance policy. This policy includes an extension called a guarantee on behalf of whoever it may concern.
This formula offers optimal protection to the owner of a residence for short-term rental. It covers, for example, water damage, risks of glass breakage or fire, as well as the civil liability of one or more tenants in case of damage caused to third parties.
FAQ: Successfully managing your SEO vacation rental project
Can you rent out your primary residence as a vacation rental?
What is the most advantageous tax regime?
Is it mandatory to take out specific insurance?
