Key Takeaways:

• DIY hosting saves on commission, but may cost you more in lost revenue, time and stress.
• Professional Airbnb management is backed by experience and expertise, helping properties earn higher rental income despite management commissions.
• Reputable property managers come with systems, processes, tools and resources that drive stronger occupancy and nightly rates. They have high trust ratings that attract guests who look for quality experiences and memorable stays.
• Seamless operations lead to better reviews as guests are impressed by 24/7 guest communication, hotel-level cleaning and efficient check-ins and check-outs. This leads to improved rankings on letting platforms like Airbnb.

Professional Airbnb Management vs DIY Hosting

Some London property owners think twice before getting professional Airbnb management services. They think that DIY hosting is more appealing because they don’t have to pay commission fees, allowing them to enjoy 100% of their rental income.

While it’s true that saving on management commission means you take home more of the profit, are you really earning MORE with DIY hosting?

Let’s take a deeper look at both strategies.

DIY Hosting

Hosting your Airbnb property is possible, but it comes with a huge list of responsibilities.

Remember, the private rental property market in London is fast-paced. The demand for short-term rentals may be high, but the competition is also fierce. Without expertise and experience, it will be challenging to make your property stand out. You might struggle setting a competitive nightly rate, which could lead you to either overprice or underprice your property.

On top of that, the city’s short-term rental market is heavily regulated. It requires a significant commitment to stay on top of local compliance regulations (e.g. 90-day rule, planning permission, etc.) This doesn’t even include the time you need to manage listings, respond to guest inquiries (even at odd hours), deal with urgent maintenance requests, and many more.

DIY hosting requires you to invest your time in handling all these tasks and take on the responsibility of keeping the property ready for the next guest.

Professional Airbnb management

Working with a professional Airbnb management company makes it easier to maximise your property’s earning potential. Companies like City Relay have a dedicated team to handle all the complexities of short-term letting. Over time, their expertise and experience led them to create systems designed to generate higher net income.

Professional Airbnb management companies also come with their brand power. It’s easier for guests to book your property if they know it’s managed by a reputable company.

This is what you get in exchange for the commission fee. It’s not a cost that’s deducted from your bottom line. It’s an investment that will lead to maximum returns.

A professional Airbnb management company’s commission fee is an investment that will maximise your property’s rental income potential.

Commissions fees come in different forms.

• Flat fee per booking. You only get charged every time there’s a successful booking.
• Fixed monthly fee. This is a cost-effective option for properties with back-to-back bookings.
• Percentage-based commission. The percentage would depend on the service provided. Some companies charge higher for full management of the property, while others charge less for cleaning and maintenance services only.

The Full Value of City Relay’s Professional Airbnb Management

As a professional Airbnb management company, City Relay will do more than just rent out your property. You’ll get a comprehensive service designed to maximise your income while protecting your investment.

Through strategic expertise and in-house resources, your property will become a high-performing asset that will lead to significant returns and a hassle-free hosting experience for you.

Revenue uplift and brand power

Guests rely on feedback before booking a short-term rental. They look for properties managed by a trustworthy host – and City Relay has the brand power to impress potential guests. As a professional operator, City Relay has accumulated enough positive feedback, leading to a 4.7 Trustpilot rating with thousands of 5-star reviews.

This trustworthy reputation drives higher occupancy and nightly rates. It also encourages guests to book a stay because the 5-star reviews assure them of a quality stay.

City Relay also enjoys a strong relationship with multiple booking channels like Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. This means short-term rental properties enjoy a wider distribution, seen by a broader and more diverse audience.

Dynamic pricing and yield management

Dynamic pricing ensures the highest revenue potential while staying competitive despite the fluctuating market demand. City Relay combines innovative technology and local market expertise to optimise revenue, adjusting your property’s pricing strategy based on demand, seasonality and events in London.

Our team of experts constantly monitors the market so your property is always poised to pivot and adjust to maximise revenue throughout the year.

Operational excellence

We know that operational excellence is the key to a better guest experience. From hotel-level cleaning and 24/7 guest support to personal check-ins and responsive maintenance, City Relay is committed to providing guests with a 5-star experience.

In our experience, providing exceptional stays will lead to better reviews, improved rankings and more bookings. By promptly handling guest communications and property maintenance requests, City Relay assures property owners of a steady stream of bookings and higher rental income.

Peace of mind

DIY hosting means dealing with midnight guest messages or last-minute requests. By working with City Relay, you don’t have to worry about the maintenance, compliance or logistics. You’ll have peace of mind, knowing that a capable property management expert is taking care of your property and guests. Although you won’t be involved in the daily operations, you’ll stay on top of your property through transparent reports on its performance.

City Relay will also ensure the property is 100% compliant by making sure it’s in good condition and follows the health and safety standards set by the authorities. Our team monitors the local rules and regulations to ensure all properties, including yours, are up to the imposed standards.

Innovative technology and transparent reporting

One of the things that sets City Relay apart is the Opago platform we use to manage multiple properties. This smart proprietary platform serves as a 24/7 online portal that gives property owners full visibility of their property’s performance. They can view bookings, revenue and maintenance schedules.

It also shows cost and revenue breakdowns, allowing property owners like you to make decisions that can improve your property’s occupancy rate and income potential. 

These transparent reports will also show you how City Relay’s commissions serve as an investment to help your property earn more than when you do DIY hosting.

A Case Study: From DIY to Award-Winning Hosting

When you think about the expertise, systems and processes that professional Airbnb management companies bring, it starts to feel like an investment in maximising returns.

One of the strongest examples of this is the journey of one of our partners, Joseph, who owned a short-term rental in Central London. Before partnering with City Relay, Joseph struggled with guest management due to the 10-hour time difference. Sometimes, he would get calls during odd hours because the guest misunderstood the instructions to pick up the keys. This compromised the guest experience and threatened the property’s ratings and reviews.

When Joseph partnered with City Relay, the company’s property management systems and expertise came as a welcome relief. City Relay’s high-trust rating gave Joseph’s property a boost in reputation. His guests now enjoyed efficient check-ins and prompt responses. Joseph was also impressed by the technology the company used, allowing him to monitor the performance of his property remotely.

“They made the management of my apartment a seamless experience for me. They also use an online system that strikes a good balance between demand and price of booking, thus maximising the amount of bookings per month… I essentially only see the cash flow at the end of the month, without the headache of managing the property.” – Joseph

City Relay also ensured the property was compliant and kept in good condition. Not only did the property enjoy higher occupancy rates, back-to-back bookings and better rental yields, but Joseph was also one of the recipients of a 2024 Booking.com Traveller Review Awards.

This proves that professional Airbnb management isn’t just about convenience. It can unlock the full earning potential of your property, allowing you to enjoy maximum returns.

Read more about Joseph’s hosting experience with City Relay.

FAQs: Professional Airbnb Management in London

Find out more about professional Airbnb management companies like City Relay and how you can use them to maximise your short-term rental’s performance and income potential.

Is professional Airbnb management worth it in London?

Yes. London has a highly competitive short-let market. The demand is high and local regulations are constantly evolving. Professional management companies like City Relay help maximise occupancy, optimise nightly rates, boost rental income and elevate guest satisfaction. This leads to a stress-free hosting experience for the property owner and a higher net revenue.

Find out more about City Relay’s Airbnb management services.

How much does City Relay charge for Airbnb management?

City Relay charges 20% + VAT per booking under 3 months (short-term letting). We offer different commission rates for mid-term and long-term letting strategies.

This percentage commission scheme means our fees are performance-based. We will get paid based on the income your property generates.

What makes City Relay different from other London property managers?

What sets City Relay apart is our in-house housekeeping and maintenance service, 24/7 online portal and our dedicated accounts management team. All these allow us to respond to property issues promptly while keeping property owners updated on their property’s performance.

Our team also has decades of experience in the rental property market, giving us the insight and expertise to market across multiple listings like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc. This gives your property maximum exposure and booking opportunities.

We are committed to operational excellence, which leads to better guest satisfaction, higher property ratings and maximum rental income.

How does City Relay protect my property’s condition?

City Relay has an in-house cleaning and maintenance team, allowing us to respond to property issues promptly. We also conduct regular property inspections to ensure all properties maintain their premium condition and compliance checks to ensure compliance with current health and safety standards.

All these ensure the protection of the properties and the guests staying in them. In effect, the property’s ability to keep generating rental income is also preserved.

How does City Relay help comply with local regulations?

City Relay’s team of experts constantly monitor the rental regulations in London’s short-term rental market (and the property market in general). Our online platform also tracks the compliance certificates and licenses of every property. This helps us track upcoming compliance check schedules to ensure renewals are done before the expiration date.

Get the latest updates about London’s rental property market.

Invest in a Profitable Future in Short-Term Letting

Deciding to short-let your property in London is a smart and profitable move. However, without expertise, DIY hosting makes it challenging to maximise your property’s earning potential.

Professional Airbnb management companies like City Relay may ask for commission fees, but it’s worth the expense since they bridge the gap between efficient Airbnb hosting and professional property management. London property owners should change their mindset about commission fees and start thinking about them as an investment to get higher rental yields.

Remember, you are not just renting out your short-term rental, you’re building a sustainable asset that has the capacity to earn massive profit in London.

Let City Relay handle every detail of your short-term rental property. Our expertise, technology and commitment to excellence will help your shortlet earn more net income without giving you stress.

Unlock your property’s full potential. Get a free rental estimate.