Choosing an Airbnb manager is a decision about how your property will be run, not just the commission percentage. Use these questions to compare proposals on the same basis and understand what you will remain responsible for.
This checklist is written by Stay In London, an Airbnb management provider. It is a practical interview guide, not an independent ranking of competitors. For our own service, see Airbnb management in London and our management plans.
1. Is my property a good fit for your service?
Ask which areas, property sizes and letting arrangements the company actually manages. Explain when your property is available, whether you need personal use and how involved you want to be.
Ask for: a written explanation of why the proposed service suits your property, including any limitations. A useful assessment should explain when another letting arrangement may be more suitable.
2. What does your management fee apply to?
A percentage alone is not enough to compare quotes. Ask whether the calculation uses gross accommodation revenue, the platform payout or another amount. Check whether cleaning charges are included in the fee base, whether VAT is additional and which services cost extra.
Ask for: a worked example showing guest revenue, platform deductions, management charges and other costs separately. Compare the same revenue assumptions across providers. Our pricing page is the starting point for discussing Stay In London's plans.
3. Which costs remain my responsibility?
Discuss setup, photography, cleaning, linen, consumables, utilities, maintenance, insurance and replacement items. Ask who pays when a cleaning charge is not recovered from a guest, and whether repairs carry an administration charge.
Ask for: an itemised list of inclusions and exclusions. An amount remaining after management commission is not necessarily your profit.
4. How do you prepare an income estimate?
Ask which comparable properties support the estimate and how their location, size, condition and availability match yours. Separate nightly rate, available nights and expected occupied nights. Ask how seasonality and operating costs affect the result.
Ask for: a range with assumptions and a lower-demand scenario, rather than one headline annual figure. Use a property assessment to discuss your circumstances.
5. Who checks property permissions and compliance?
Ask what the manager checks, what documents you must supply and when specialist advice is needed. Have the provider explain how it assesses your proposed letting arrangement before accepting an income forecast.
Ask for: a written allocation of responsibilities and a list of unresolved checks. A sales promise that the company “handles everything” should not replace a property-specific review.
6. How will pricing and bookings be managed?
Ask who reviews rates, minimum stays, gaps between bookings and discounts. Find out which channels will be used and how calendars are coordinated. Ask how the manager balances rate, occupancy and the amount remaining after operating costs.
Ask for: an explanation of the review process and a sample performance discussion. See our dynamic pricing service for the role pricing plays in management.
7. Who handles guest problems and maintenance?
Ask who responds during and outside office hours, how urgent issues are escalated and what happens if a contractor is needed. Clarify which work requires your approval and how spending is recorded.
Ask for: an example of the communication and approval process, including the contact available to you as the owner. Do not assume that guest support and owner account management are the same service.
8. How is the property checked between stays?
Discuss cleaning checks, linen, inventory, photographs and the reporting of damage or missing items. Ask what happens when a guest raises a problem and how evidence is retained.
Ask for: a sample inspection or housekeeping report. A screening process can help manage risk, but it cannot guarantee that damage will never occur.
9. What reporting and access will I receive?
Ask whether you can view reservations, blocked dates, charges and payouts. Request an explanation of the statement: what period it covers, how adjustments appear and when payments are made.
Ask for: an anonymised owner statement and a dashboard demonstration. You should be able to understand the figures without reconstructing them from several unrelated reports.
10. What happens if I need my home back or want to leave?
Check the contract term, notice requirements, personal-use arrangements and treatment of existing reservations. If switching managers, establish who controls listings, photographs, accounts, keys and booking information, and what can actually transfer.
Ask for: the relevant contract clauses before signing. Do not rely on verbal descriptions such as “fully flexible”.
A simple way to compare the answers
For each provider, mark every area as documented, partly answered or unanswered. Record the document or example supplied. Resolve unanswered questions about fees, permissions, repairs and exit terms before choosing.
- Property fit and availability
- Fee calculation and additional costs
- Estimate assumptions
- Compliance responsibilities
- Pricing and booking operations
- Guest support and repair approvals
- Property checks and reporting
- Owner access, personal use and exit arrangements
Discuss your London property with Stay In London
We focus on personalised management for London property owners. Read about our management service, compare plans and fees, or request a property assessment. Bring this checklist to the conversation so we can discuss the service, costs and questions relevant to your property.
