If you’re comparing short term rentals companies, you’re probably trying to balance three things: income, time and guest experience. On one hand, the short-let market in cities like London and Dubai can be very attractive. On the other, running a professional, guest-ready property every week can quickly turn into a second job. That’s why many owners look for a specialist partner to handle operations while they stay focused on bigger financial and lifestyle goals.
This guide walks through what short-term rental companies actually do, when it makes sense to work with one, and how to compare providers in a structured way. You’ll also see how an award-winning, #1 ranked management partner like Keey positions itself so owners can enjoy a genuinely hands-off approach to short-lets without losing control of performance or guest standards.
What do short term rentals companies actually do?
Most short term rentals companies are designed to run your property like a small hospitality business rather than a traditional long-let. Instead of just finding a tenant and collecting rent, they typically provide a full operational setup for short stays.
In practice, that can include:
- Creating and managing listings on platforms such as Airbnb and other booking sites
- Professional photography so your property stands out in search results
- Dynamic pricing and occupancy optimisation
- Guest communication before, during and after each stay
- Check-in and check-out coordination
- Cleaning, hotel-quality linen and restocking essentials
- Coordinating basic maintenance and trades
- Reporting so you can track revenue, occupancy and key metrics
If you’d like to see how a full-service setup works in real life, you can review Keey’s core property management services or explore the dedicated Airbnb Management London page for a city-specific view.
When does working with short term rentals companies make sense?
Not every host needs help, but short term rentals companies are often a good fit if:
- You live far from the property or split your time between locations
- You have a demanding job and limited time for guest messages and logistics
- You manage multiple properties and want a consistent, scalable setup
- You’d prefer income to be as hands-off and predictable as possible
If you’re on the fence about whether to self-manage or outsource, it’s worth reading educational resources such as Keey’s guide on managing short term rentals. Comparing your current workload to a professionally managed model can help clarify whether now is the right moment to partner with a specialist.
Key criteria to compare short term rentals companies
Once you start speaking with different short term rentals companies, it helps to use a checklist so you’re comparing like-for-like.
1. Service scope and operations
Look at how complete the service really is. A genuine end-to-end partner should cover listing creation, photography, pricing, guest communication, cleaning, linen, inventory and basic maintenance coordination. You can use Keey’s overview on the Services page as a benchmark for what a full-service offering looks like.
2. Local expertise and regulation
Short-term rental companies with on-the-ground experience in your city are better placed to navigate regulations and advise on what’s realistic. For example, Keey’s focus on London is reflected in its dedicated Airbnb Management London service page and supporting content about topics like rules for renting short term in the UK.
3. Pricing, fees and value
Instead of only asking “What percentage do you charge?”, look at what is included, how fees are structured and how performance is reported. Transparent fee structures and clear reporting make it easier to judge value over time. Keey’s Airbnb property management pricing page is a useful example of how a management company can set out costs and inclusions in a straightforward way.
4. Technology, reporting and visibility
Short term rentals companies should give you an easy way to understand how your property is performing. That usually means tech and reporting that show bookings, revenue, occupancy and key costs. Specialist providers such as Keey emphasise performance tracking for revenue, occupancy and expenses so owners can monitor results without getting involved in day-to-day tasks.
5. Guest experience and reviews
Consistent five-star reviews don’t happen by accident. They’re usually the result of well written listings, fast communication, clear check-in information and reliable cleaning. As you compare short term rentals companies, ask how they manage guest experience from enquiry to checkout, and look at their track record in delivering high guest satisfaction.
How Keey compares to other short term rentals companies
Among short term rentals companies in the UK and UAE, Keey positions itself as an award-winning, #1 ranked, full-service partner for short-lets and serviced accommodation. The company specialises in turnkey solutions that cover listing creation and management, professional photography, pricing and occupancy optimisation, guest communication, cleaning, linen and inventory management, and performance reporting.
If you want to understand Keey’s approach in more depth, the Why Keey? page explains how the team focuses on maximising income while reducing the operational burden on owners, and the About Us page shares more about the company’s background and values. Together with the main Services and Pricing pages, these give a clear view of how Keey structures its offer for hosts and investors.
Next steps for choosing between short term rentals companies
Choosing between short term rentals companies is ultimately about clarity: what you want from your property, how involved you want to be, and which partner is best equipped to deliver that outcome. Start by defining your income targets, how hands-off you’d like to be, and any constraints around regulations or building rules. Then speak with a small shortlist of providers and compare their service scope, local expertise, pricing structure, technology and guest experience.
If you’re ready to see what a fully managed, performance-focused setup looks like in practice, you can explore keey.co.uk, review the core services and check current pricing options. That way, you can benchmark other short term rentals companies against a proven, data-led model and choose the partner that best aligns with your goals as a host or property investor.
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