Long stays in vacation rentals: are they worth it? Prices, risks, and how to manage them

Long stays (from 15 days to 2 months) are trending in vacation rentals: digital nomads, professionals on temporary projects, retirees escaping the cold... And for you, owner, they can be a goldmine or a huge headache. In this post, I explain when it's worth accepting them, what discount to offer without losing money, what legal risks they carry (yes, there are a couple of big ones), and how to safeguard yourself so that a guest doesn't become an illegal occupant.

What is considered a long stay in vacation rental

There is no single official definition, but the industry handles these ranges:

Type	Duration	Typical profile
Short	1-7 nights	Classic tourist, weekend
Medium	8-14 nights	Long vacations, families
Long	15-30 nights	Digital nomads, relocations
Very long	30-60 nights	Temporary professionals, students
Legal risk	Over 60 nights	Gray area, may become seasonal rental

The key limit to keep in mind is 30 days. Beyond that, in many autonomous communities, it ceases to be considered a tourist rental and becomes a seasonal or residential lease regulated by the LAU. And that changes everything: tenant rights, deposits, eviction... a whole different world.

If a reservation exceeds 31 days, in most regional regulations it is no longer considered a tourist use. Check your community's regulations before accepting long stays. You can find a summary at tourist rental requirements by autonomous community.

Why a long-term guest is interesting

The numbers speak for themselves. A 30-night stay gives you:

• Zero turnover: one deep cleaning instead of 4-5 between bookings.
• Guaranteed occupancy: block an entire month without gaps.
• Less commissions: if booked via Airbnb, only one service fee instead of multiple.
• Fewer check-ins: one guest registration, one key process.
• Less wear and tear: fewer sheet changes, less oven cleaning, fewer laundry loads.

Real example with numbers:

Concept	4 bookings of 7 nights	1 booking of 28 nights
Nightly price	90 EUR	65 EUR (28% discount)
Gross income	2,520 EUR	1,820 EUR
Cleanings (50 EUR each)	200 EUR	50 EUR
Airbnb commission (3%)	75 EUR	55 EUR
Amenities and consumables	60 EUR	20 EUR
Check-in management	4 processes	1 process
Net	2,185 EUR	1,695 EUR

At first glance, you lose 490 EUR. But you're saving time, wear and tear, and the risk of empty nights. And if it's low season, when filling the calendar is tough, those guaranteed 1,695 EUR might be better than the theoretical 2,520 EUR you might not achieve.

When TO accept long stays

In low season

This is the most obvious scenario. If in November you have 40% occupancy, a monthly reservation raises it to 100%. More on this in strategies to fill your vacation rental in low season.

In destinations with demand from digital nomads

The Canary Islands (especially Tenerife and Gran Canaria), Málaga, Valencia, central Madrid, and Barcelona have a strong demand for 1-2 month stays from remote workers. If you're in these areas, you should have a product tailored for them.

When your product fits

Long stay = the guest lives there. Needs:

• A real kitchen (not just for show).
• Own or accessible washing machine.
• Fast and stable WiFi. Essential. See WiFi in your vacation rental.
• A decent workspace, not just the living room table.
• Storage (empty closet, drawers).
• Some extra utensils: functioning pans, sharp knives.

If your apartment is "3 nights and done", a long stay will guarantee complaints.

When NOT to accept

• If your high season is booming and you can fill at premium prices. Blocking a whole month at 65 EUR/night when you could get 150 EUR/night is pointless.
• If the reservation exceeds 30-31 days and your autonomous community doesn't allow it as a tourist use.
• If the guest gives you bad vibes or asks for strange things ("Can I register?", "Do I need to receive mail?"). Major red flags.
• If you don't have a signed contract. More on this below.

The right discount: how to calculate it

The classic mistake is applying Airbnb's default discount (usually 20-30% for monthly stays) without thinking. My recommendation:

Duration	Suggested discount
7-14 nights	5-10%
15-21 nights	10-15%
22-30 nights	20-25%
30+ nights (if accepted)	25-35%

But beware: this discount should come from your actual cost savings (cleanings, amenities, management), not a whim. If you go below 35%, you're probably losing money compared to selling by the night in the shoulder season.

To fine-tune the price, I recommend reading how to calculate your vacation rental price.

Major legal risk: when it ceases to be tourist use

This is the point most owners ignore and then regret.

The 30-31 day limit

Most regional regulations define tourist use housing as that rented for periods less than a month (Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia, Valencia, among others). If you exceed that period:

• The tourist regulation no longer applies.
• It becomes regulated under the Urban Leases Law (LAU), usually as seasonal lease.
• The tenant gains tenant rights: protection against eviction, mandatory deposit in the regional authority, etc.
• If you don't sign a written seasonal lease contract, they can claim it as habitual residence with a 5-year extension. Yes, you read that right.

The trick that doesn't work

Many think: "I'll make two reservations of 25 days each and that's it". No. If it's the same person, courts look at the economic reality, not appearances. They can consider it a seasonal lease.

How to protect yourself

If you're going to accept stays over 30 days:

1. Sign a seasonal lease contract (not tourist). Specify the reason for the temporary nature: temporary work, studies, etc.
2. Request a written justified reason from the tenant and keep it.
3. Collect a deposit equivalent to 1 month's rent (mandatory under LAU).
4. Don't let them register at your address.
5. Clearly define the move-out date and consequences if they don't leave.

More details about contracts at is it mandatory to sign a contract with guests?.

How to manage a long stay without surprises

Before accepting the reservation

• Verify guest profile: previous reviews, identity verification.
• Call or video chat if you have doubts. It may seem excessive, but it filters a lot.
• Ask the reason for the trip. It's not illegal and gives you context.

At the start of the stay

• Register travelers in SES Hospedajes (still mandatory regardless of duration if it's a tourist stay). See how to send traveler reports to SES Hospedajes.
• Signed inventory: especially important for long stays, where wear and tear will be greater.
• Read meters if you will bill utilities.

During the stay

• Schedule a courtesy visit (towel change, quick check). Every 2-3 weeks.
• Be clear about noise, pets, visitors rules. In writing.
• Maintain communication. A message after 10 days can detect problems early.

Extra services you can charge

• Intermediate cleaning: 25-40 EUR depending on size.
• Change of sheets and towels: 15-20 EUR.
• Utilities (if the stay is long, consider billing electricity and water after a certain consumption).

How to position your listing for long stays

To attract this profile:

• Activate weekly and monthly discounts on Airbnb (key to appearing in filters).
• List your property on specialized platforms: Flatio, Spotahome, Nomad List, Blueground.
• Highlight words like "monthly stay", "remote work ready", "long stay" in the title.
• Place a photo of the desk first.
• Mention WiFi speed in the description (with concrete numbers, not "fast WiFi").

Quick summary: to accept or not

Ask yourself	If the answer is...	Action
Is it low season?	Yes	Accept with a 20-25% discount
Exceeds 30 days?	Yes	Mandatory seasonal contract
Is your product ready?	No	Improve first, then accept
Does the guest give you doubts?	Yes	Reject, no rush
Blocks premium dates?	Yes	Only if the price compensates the opportunity cost

How Auto-registration fits in

A long stay still requires traveler registration in SES Hospedajes on check-in day. It doesn't matter if they stay 3 nights or 28. Even a single communication, doing it manually through the Ministry's portal, is a hassle.

Auto-registration automates this: the guest receives a link, fills in their details from their phone, and the reports are sent to SES Hospedajes automatically. Costs 1 euro per property per month. Less than a coffee. And for long stays, it has an extra advantage: you already have the guest's data stored in case any management is needed during the month.

Frequently asked questions

Can I accept a 45-day stay as a tourist rental?

In most autonomous communities, no. If it exceeds 30-31 days, it ceases to be tourist use and becomes a seasonal lease under the LAU. You need a specific contract and the tax situation changes.

Do I have to register the guest in SES Hospedajes if they stay a month?

Yes, as long as it's a tourist use. The registration obligation is per stay, not per nights. A 28-night stay generates a single registration at the start.

Can I bill electricity and water separately for long stays?

Yes, as long as you agree in writing before the reservation. It's common practice from 30 days onward. Define an "included" consumption and bill excess with initial and final meter readings.

What deposit do I ask for a long stay?

For tourist stays (up to 30 days), you can ask for 150-300 EUR as a security deposit. For seasonal stays (more than 30 days), LAU requires a one-month deposit, which must also be deposited with the regional authority.

What if the guest doesn't leave at the end of the long stay?

If you have a tourist contract and they stay beyond the date, it's technically an occupant without title. But eviction isn't immediate: you'll need to go through judicial channels. That's why it's vital to have everything in writing and, if over 30 days, sign a seasonal contract with a clear reason. More at how to avoid illegal occupations and stays.