Airbnb Versus Traditional Renting: Which Is Better For The Short Term

If you need to rent a home or apartment for fewer than six months, you’ll quickly find your options are limited. Very few landlords and leasing offices will allow tenants to move in for less than a six-month commitment. However, in addition to traditional renting, you can use various short-term rental platforms typically used to book vacations, including Airbnb. But which option is better?

Renting a home for the short term through Airbnb is a great choice for those who want a furnished apartment, and you have added benefits like guest reviews and customer support. The downside is you often lose out on amenities, including mail delivery, and have to pay service fees. Signing a lease gives you more rights and can be cheaper, but you often need to provide a substantial deposit.

Short-term renting can be stressful, and it’s historically been more challenging and expensive than long-term renting. But nowadays, there are more options than ever for those seeking an accommodation for any length of time. The key is understanding the benefits and downsides of each rental method so you can choose which is right for you. Keep reading to learn all the pros and cons of traditional renting versus Airbnb when seeking a short-term rental.

Pros And Cons Of Using Airbnb For Short-Term Renting

Pros Of Using Airbnb For Short-Term Renting

1. Usually, No Security Deposit

One of the best parts about booking with a platform like Airbnb is that you don’t need to throw down a giant security deposit. Instead, when you book an Airbnb, you just pay the rental price, taxes, and fees up front. 

There is no need to include extra money for a security and damage deposit. These deposits are notoriously difficult to get back from some landlords, so this is a bonus.

2. Free Third-Party Customer Support 

Another benefit of booking through a platform like Airbnb is the free customer support and advocacy you receive. If the host is not providing the services he or she promised, or if the place is not as it was advertised, you can call customer support.

This is a great added benefit, as you can request compensation and relocation if there are major problems.

3. The Benefit Of Previous Guest Reviews

One of Airbnb’s best features is the plethora of user reviews. When you shop for a short-term rental on this booking platform, you have access to all the guest reviews before you decide whether to book.

These reviews can point out any potential issues with the property, neighborhood, and even the Airbnb host. This is valuable information that renters who use traditional renting methods don’t have.

4. Furnished Apartments

Sometimes, the need for a short-term lease coincides with the need for a furnished place. Almost every apartment and home on Airbnb is completely furnished, which means you don’t need to buy a single thing for the home. 

This can save you money you may otherwise have to spend on kitchen utensils, bedding, and other home essentials.

5. Fast And Easy Move-In

When moving into an Airbnb, you don’t need to take trips to a leasing office, write checks or money orders, and wait for credit approval.

Instead, you just wait for your booking to be confirmed, and you can pay instantly. You pay with a credit card as well, which means you don’t have to ensure you have a huge chunk of cash in your checking account on move-in day.

6. Deep Discounts For Monthly Stays

If you are planning to spend more than 28 nights in your rental, then many Airbnb rentals might be perfect for you. Several hosts offer huge discounts (sometimes 60% or more) when you book for more than 28 nights. This can make booking an Airbnb even cheaper than renting an unfurnished apartment.

Cons Of Using Airbnb For Short-Term Renting

1. Added Service Fees

Perhaps the biggest downside to Airbnb is the added fees that come with it. Airbnb charges fees for just about any rental (unless the host absorbs these fees, which is rare). This can add more than 10% to the cost of an already expensive rental. Airbnb does lower its fees on longer stays, which can help.

2. Sometimes Lack Standard Amenities

When you rent through Airbnb, you are staying in someone else's home. In other words, it is not your place. Therefore, you don’t have the same rights and access as a person who signed a lease would have.

For example, in many cases, you can’t receive mail, and in some cases, your home may lack access to laundry, the kitchen, and even parking.

3. Not Ideal For Last-Minute Renters

Since Airbnb is a booking platform that anyone in the world can use, this means good places book up fast. If you are looking for a rental for more than a month, you must find a place that is vacant for the entire month (or longer) you want to stay. 

4. Might Need To Pay The Entire Bill Up Front

While you don’t need to pay a security deposit with Airbnb, you often have to pay the entire bill in advance. This isn’t a huge issue when you book for one month, but if you book for five months, it can be a big bill. 

Pros And Cons Of Signing A Traditional Short-Term Lease

Pros Of Signing A Short-Term Lease

1. Often Better Prices

One major benefit of a short-term lease is the pricing. Unfurnished apartments and traditional short-term rentals can be lower than a lot of furnished Airbnbs. They are also usually available to rent immediately, which is great for those who need a place last minute.

2. You Have Tenant’s Rights

When you sign a lease, you are a tenant with rights. You have several rights by law that Airbnb users don’t have. This can leave you with a stronger sense of freedom in your dwelling, without fear of being kicked out.

3. You Have Access To All Amenities, Including Mail

If you need basic living amenities like a parking spot and mail, these are usually more standard with traditional renting than they are with Airbnb rentals. If having a mailing address is essential, then traditional renting is ideal.

4. Ideal For Those With Furniture

It is much easier to find an unfurnished traditional rental than it is to find an unfurnished vacation rental. If you plan to bring all your own belongings to your short-term rental, then using traditional renting methods to find an unfurnished apartment is likely the better option for you.

Cons Of Traditional Renting In The Short-Term

1. Harder To Find Furnished Units

If you need to move in a hurry and don’t have a lot of belongings, then traditional renting can be a challenge. There aren’t nearly as many furnished dwellings when you search for homes with leases as when you search a booking platform like Airbnb. 

2. Often Require Large Deposits Up Front

Traditional rentals usually immediately require first and last month’s rent, and a security deposit for potential damage to the home, all in the form of cash or check. This is thousands of dollars you must have readily available in your checking account.

If you don’t have this kind of cash, then Airbnb, and its ability to accept a credit card, might be better.

3. Landlords Can Be Difficult

Since there is no customer support to act as an intermediary, you often have to deal directly with your landlord. Landlords can be great, but they can also be difficult, lazy, and downright mean. Every time you sign a lease with a landlord, you are rolling the dice.

4. Leases Shorter Than Six Months Aren’t Common

It has become increasingly difficult to find apartments and homes to rent for less than six months. Mostly this is because if a landlord thinks he can find a tenant for six months, why would he or she rent it for a shorter time?

In turn, if you are looking to rent for three months or less, you may find a very limited inventory, and you can usually expect higher prices.

Summing Up Airbnb Versus Traditional Short-Term Renting

If you are looking for a short-term rental, then you can take the traditional approach of signing a lease or use a modern booking platform like Airbnb. Airbnb allows you to use a credit card, and you have customer support. You also have access to more furnished apartments and can read user reviews to get a better idea of the rental, neighborhood, and owner.

Traditional renting can be cheaper, and if you have your belongings, it’s easier to find an unfurnished place. The problem is that you often need to hand over large sums of cash before moving in, and it’s not always easy to find a landlord who will rent their property for less than three to six months.

Related Guides:

• 13 Things To Look Out For When Renting An Airbnb
• Can My Landlord Come Into My Apartment Without Notice?
• Can A Landlord Put A Lock Box On My Door? (Find Out Now!)