Between nightly vacation rentals and year-long leases lies a growing market segment: mid-term rentals. These 30-90 day stays attract different guests, require different strategies, and can complement your short-term rental business effectively.
Understanding this market helps you maximize revenue and reduce the operational intensity of pure short-term rental operation.
What Are Mid-Term Rentals?
Defining the Category
Mid-term rentals typically:
- 30 days to 6 months duration
- Fully furnished
- All utilities included
- Flexible lease terms
- Month-to-month or fixed term
How They Differ from STR
| Factor | Short-Term | Mid-Term |
|---|---|---|
| Stay length | 1-29 nights | 30+ days |
| Turnover | High | Low |
| Nightly rate | Higher | Lower |
| Revenue per night | Higher | Lower |
| Operating costs | Higher | Lower |
| Regulations | Often restricted | Often unrestricted |
How They Differ from Long-Term
| Factor | Mid-Term | Long-Term |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished | Yes | Usually no |
| Lease length | 1-6 months | 12+ months |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Rent premium | Higher | Standard |
| Turnover | Moderate | Low |
Who Books Mid-Term Rentals?
Corporate Relocations
The largest segment:
- Employees relocating for work
- Waiting for permanent housing
- Testing new city before committing
- 1-3 month typical duration
What they need:
- Functional workspace
- Full kitchen
- Reliable internet
- Professional environment
- Easy lease terms
Travel Nurses and Healthcare Workers
Growing demand:
- 13-week typical assignments
- Repeating contracts
- Steady, reliable tenants
- Often multiple bookings
What they need:
- Proximity to hospitals
- Quiet for shift workers
- Comfortable beds
- Parking
- Pet-friendly often preferred
Insurance Displacement
Temporary housing needs:
- Home damage or renovation
- 1-6 month typical stays
- Often families
- Urgent timeline
What they need:
- Space for family
- Similar to home environment
- School proximity
- Quick availability
- Insurance-friendly documentation
Project-Based Workers
Contract professionals:
- Construction managers
- Consultants
- Film/entertainment crews
- Seasonal workers
What they need:
- Month-to-month flexibility
- Workspace capability
- Proximity to job site
- Reasonable rates
Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
Location-flexible professionals:
- 1-3 month stays common
- Testing different locations
- Working remotely full-time
- Seeking experiences
What they need:
- Excellent internet
- Dedicated workspace
- Interesting location
- Local recommendations
- Community access
Visiting Academics
University connections:
- Sabbaticals
- Visiting professors
- Research appointments
- Semester-based stays
What they need:
- Quiet work environment
- Proximity to campus
- Academic calendar alignment
- Professional setting
Benefits of Mid-Term Rentals
Reduced Operating Costs
Lower turnover means:
- Fewer cleanings (major savings)
- Less wear from constant turnover
- Reduced supply costs
- Less administrative work
- Lower platform fees
Cost comparison (example):
30-day period:
- STR (10 turnovers): $1,500 in cleaning
- Mid-term (1 turnover): $150 in cleaning
More Predictable Income
Stability benefits:
- Guaranteed monthly income
- No vacancy anxiety
- Easier budgeting
- Reduced booking effort
Less Operational Intensity
Time savings:
- Fewer guest communications
- Less scheduling complexity
- Reduced maintenance calls
- Simpler operations
Regulatory Advantages
Many jurisdictions:
- Exempt stays 30+ days from STR regulations
- No permits required for monthly rentals
- Fewer restrictions apply
- Simpler compliance
Quality Tenant Pool
Mid-term guests tend to be:
- Employed professionals
- Responsible with property
- Less party risk
- Longer booking history available
Challenges of Mid-Term Rentals
Lower Revenue Per Night
The trade-off:
- Monthly rates significantly discounted
- May earn 40-60% of peak STR rate
- But with much lower costs
Longer Commitment
Considerations:
- Property tied up for months
- Can’t capture peak season rates
- Less flexibility
- Harder to schedule maintenance
Different Guest Expectations
Mid-term guests expect:
- Everything to work perfectly
- Quick issue resolution
- Privacy and independence
- Home-like experience
Furnishing Requirements
Higher standards for longer stays:
- Full kitchen equipment
- Adequate storage
- Quality mattresses essential
- Comfortable workspace
- More like home setup
Pricing Mid-Term Rentals
Monthly Rate Strategy
Typical discounting:
- 30-day rate: 30-40% off nightly
- 60-day rate: 35-45% off nightly
- 90+ day rate: 40-50% off nightly
Example:
- Nightly rate: $150
- Monthly rate: $2,700-$3,150 (vs. $4,500 at nightly rate)
Calculating Your Break-Even
Consider:
- Lost revenue vs. nightly
- Cleaning savings
- Reduced platform fees
- Lower turnover costs
- Occupancy improvement
Often mid-term wins when:
- STR occupancy below 70%
- High cleaning costs
- Significant platform fees
- Operational capacity limited
Market Rate Research
Research comparable:
- Furnished Finder listings
- Airbnb monthly rates
- Corporate housing companies
- Local furnished rental market
What to Include
Standard inclusions:
- All utilities
- Internet
- Basic cable/streaming
- Regular cleaning (optional, varies)
- Linens and towels
Consider charging extra for:
- Pets
- Additional occupants
- Premium parking
- Extra cleaning frequency
Where to List Mid-Term Rentals
Furnished Finder
Best for:
- Travel nurses
- Healthcare workers
- Direct bookings
- No commission model
Airbnb (Monthly)
Advantages:
- Existing listing
- Built-in audience
- Payment protection
- Lower fees for monthly
VRBO/Extended Stays
Good for:
- Relocation market
- Family stays
- Insurance placements
Corporate Housing Platforms
Options:
- Corporate Housing by Owner
- Zeus Living
- Blueground (if applicable)
- Local corporate housing connections
Direct Marketing
Target:
- Local hospitals HR departments
- Major employers
- Relocation companies
- Insurance adjusters
- University housing offices
Setting Up for Mid-Term Success
Property Preparation
Storage essentials:
- Empty dresser drawers
- Closet space available
- Pantry storage
- Bathroom cabinet space
Kitchen upgrades:
- Full dish sets
- Adequate cookware
- Storage containers
- Quality appliances
- Organized pantry space
Workspace requirements:
- Desk with comfortable chair
- Good lighting
- Multiple outlets
- Monitor-friendly setup
Lease Agreements
Key terms to include:
- Monthly payment schedule
- Utility responsibilities
- Guest policies
- Early termination terms
- Renewal options
- Maintenance responsibilities
Recommended:
- Have attorney review lease
- Clear pet policy
- Damage deposit terms
- Insurance requirements
Screening Tenants
Verify:
- Employment/income
- ID verification
- Rental history (if available)
- References
- Background check (if permitted)
For corporate bookings:
- Company verification
- Direct billing options
- Corporate guarantee
Hybrid Strategy: Mixing STR and Mid-Term
When to Offer Mid-Term
Best during:
- Slow seasons
- Extended vacancies
- Market downturns
- Shoulder seasons
When to Prioritize STR
Stick to nightly when:
- Peak season demand high
- Events driving premium rates
- Strong occupancy expected
- Maximum revenue period
Seasonal Strategy Example
Year-round approach:
- Peak summer: Nightly only
- Shoulder spring/fall: Flexible
- Winter: Target mid-term
- Event periods: Block for nightly
Blocking and Availability
Platform management:
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally
- Block mid-term during peak
- Open availability strategically
- Communicate clearly with inquiries
Guest Experience for Mid-Term
Check-In Process
More thorough than STR:
- Property walkthrough
- Systems explanation
- Local orientation
- Emergency procedures
- Contact information exchange
Ongoing Communication
Different cadence:
- Initial check-in follow-up
- Monthly check-ins
- Responsive to issues
- But respect privacy
Mid-Stay Maintenance
Consider:
- HVAC filter changes
- Routine inspections
- Exterior maintenance
- Appliance checks
Move-Out Process
Schedule:
- Final walkthrough
- Damage assessment
- Deposit return timeline
- Feedback collection
Legal and Tax Considerations
Lease vs. License
Understand the difference:
- Short stays: License to occupy
- Longer stays: May create tenancy
- Implications for eviction
- State-specific rules
Security Deposits
Requirements vary:
- Deposit limits (by state)
- Return timelines
- Documentation requirements
- Interest requirements
Tax Treatment
May differ from STR:
- Different deduction rules
- Passive activity considerations
- State tax variations
- Consult tax professional
Measuring Mid-Term Performance
Key Metrics
Track:
- Average monthly rate
- Occupancy rate
- Revenue per available month
- Cost per turnover
- Guest acquisition cost
Comparison to STR
Analyze:
- Total revenue comparison
- Net income after costs
- Time investment
- Stress and complexity
- Long-term sustainability
Mid-term rentals can diversify your income and reduce operational demands. Contact us to discuss how mid-term strategies might fit your property portfolio.
