Short-term vacation rental surcharges are additional fees charged on top of the base rental rate when booking a vacation property. These fees help cover various operational costs and services related to maintaining and managing your short-term vacation rental property for guests.
Surcharges can serve multiple purposes, such as cost recovery, which allows property owners to recoup specific expenses that vary based on occupancy or guest behavior; risk mitigation, which protects owners from potential damages or excessive use; and service enhancement fees, which may fund additional amenities or services to improve the guest experience. Separating these costs from the nightly rate may appear lower and make listings more attractive in search results.
Unlike the nightly rental rate, which mainly covers the property, surcharges are usually designated for specific purposes. They have become more common in the industry as the short-term rental market has evolved and become more professional. Some hosts might even choose to include surcharges in the total rent.
Most surcharges fall into either mandatory fees that all guests must pay, such as cleaning fees or taxes, or conditional fees that only apply in certain circumstances, such as pet or additional guest surcharges.
Understanding and configuring your surcharges is crucial for effectively budgeting and assessing the costs of your short-term vacation rental business. To start configuring your surcharges, navigate to Settings > Pricing > Surcharges.