Student Guests in Your Vacation Rental: Erasmus, Courses, and Training Stays

In Spain, there are over 50,000 Erasmus students each year, thousands of international master's students, and a steady flow of people coming for short courses, language studies, or vocational training. Most end up in shabby shared apartments or expensive residences. But some are willing to pay well for a decent tourist accommodation for stays ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months. And most property owners don't even consider this market. Let's see how to work this market without complicating your life.

Why students are good clients (if you do it right)

It's often thought that students = parties, damage, and little money. The reality is more nuanced.

Students seeking tourist accommodation (not traditional shared flats) are usually:

• Erasmus students from wealthy families seeking independence and comfort
• International master's students (MBA, 9-12 month programs)
• Intensive language course students (2-8 weeks)
• Participants in vocational training programs funded by companies or scholarships
• Researchers and doctoral students on short stays

All have something in common: they need something better than a shared room but don't want the price of a hotel. And they pay by weeks or months, not by individual nights.

Advantages of working with students

Longer stays = less work

A 4-week booking is equivalent to 8-10 short stays in terms of cleaning, check-ins, and management. Less rotation means lower operational costs. I explained this in more detail in the post about long stays in vacation rentals.

Low season filled

Language and training courses usually operate when tourism is slow: October, November, February, March. These are the most challenging months to fill, and students can save the day. Check the post on low season strategies.

Paid in advance

In most cases, they pay for the entire stay upfront or in 2 installments. Guaranteed cash flow.

Less demanding in some aspects

They don't expect hotel services, towel changes every 2 days, or luxury amenities. They want a clean, functional place with good WiFi and close to their study center.

Real disadvantages and risks

Not everything is perfect. There are things you should be clear about:

• You charge less per night than for short tourist stays. But you get more days in a row.
• More wear and tear on furniture due to intensive daily use (cooking daily, showering daily, sofa always occupied)
• Risk of inviting people (partners, visiting friends)
• Problems with neighbors if the student socializes at home
• Possible legal conflict if the stay exceeds 32 days in some communities (may fall under the Urban Leases Law instead of tourism regulation)

This last point is key. We discuss it further below.

The legal limit of 32 days

This is important: in many autonomous communities, tourist rentals have a maximum stay limit (usually 31 consecutive days). Beyond this limit, it ceases to be considered tourist rental and is governed by the Urban Leases Law as seasonal or even habitual residence.

The consequences are significant: tax implications, tenant rights, eviction protections, and the obligation or not to report to the Travelers Registry.

Check requirements by autonomous community before accepting long stays. In some regions:

• Catalonia: maximum 31 days as tourist
• Madrid: specific regulation for stays over 5 days
• Andalusia: limit of 2 months as tourist, then switches to seasonal lease
• Balearic Islands: strict limits depending on municipality

My recommendation: if you're going to accept students for 2-3 months, inform yourself well and consider signing a seasonal lease instead of a tourist rental. It offers more protection for you and the tenant.

Prices: how to charge students

Students compare with shared flats and residences. Your competition isn't a 4-star hotel.

Market references (2026)

City	Shared flat room	Student residence	Your tourist accommodation (studio)
Madrid	€500-700/month	€900-1,400/month	€1,100-1,600/month
Barcelona	€550-750/month	€1,000-1,500/month	€1,200-1,700/month
Valencia	€350-500/month	€700-1,000/month	€800-1,200/month
Seville	€300-450/month	€600-900/month	€700-1,100/month
Granada	€250-400/month	€500-800/month	€600-900/month

The advantage you sell: your own space, no sharing with strangers, cleaning included (or not, depending), expenses included, flexibility.

Discount for long stays

This is standard. If your normal rate is €80/night, for a 1-month stay you can offer:

• 1 week: -10% to -15%
• 2 weeks: -20% to -25%
• 1 month: -30% to -40%
• 2-3 months: -40% to -50%

It sounds like a lot, but do the math: €80/night with 50% occupancy is €1,200/month. A student paying €1,600/month every day is more money and less work.

What students ask for (and what you should have)

Essentials

• Powerful and stable WiFi. They will attend online classes, do homework, call home. Minimum 100 Mbps real speed. See the post on WiFi in tourist accommodation.
• Decent desk with a comfortable chair. Not a stool. They will spend hours studying.
• Fully equipped kitchen. They will cook daily to save money. Oven, microwave, large fridge, complete cookware set.
• Washing machine in the property. Non-negotiable. Nobody wants to go to the laundromat every week for 3 months.
• Good lighting. Bright desk lamp.
• Heating and air conditioning. They will spend many hours at home during winter.

Highly valued

• Close to the study center or with good transport links
• Supermarket less than 10 minutes walk
• Smart TV with Netflix and YouTube (they can log in with their account)
• Storage space (wardrobes, drawers) for unpacking
• USB sockets and enough power outlets

Nice to have

• Terrace or balcony
• Common area (if in a building)
• Bicycle available
• Dishwasher

How to attract students

Airbnb and Booking are not the main channels for this audience. They are expensive, and students look elsewhere.

Specific platforms

• Uniplaces: leader in accommodation for international students in Spain
• Spotahome: flats and studios for medium stays (1-12 months)
• Housing Anywhere: very strong in Erasmus
• Erasmusu: large Erasmus community with a flat section
• Nestpick: aggregator of long-term accommodation

Commissions vary (10% to 25%) but are usually cheaper than Airbnb for long stays. I explained this in the post about platforms to promote your rental.

Direct bookings

This is gold. Contact directly with:

• International relations offices of nearby universities
• Language schools (give them a brochure or contact via email)
• Business schools with international MBAs
• Vocational training centers

An agreement with a language school can fill your property 8-10 months a year.

Airbnb with long-term discounts

Activate monthly discounts on Airbnb (20-30%). You will appear in "long stays" searches, and students also look there.

Contract and documentation

For stays of 1-30 days, apply the normal tourist regulation: Travelers Registry, SES Hospedajes, traveler’s report. For stays over 31 days, it’s recommended to sign a seasonal lease.

The seasonal lease:

• Is governed by the LAU (article 3)
• Has clear start and end dates
• Specifies the reason for the stay (studies, temporary work)
• Can include a deposit (1 month is usual)
• Does not grant renewal rights as habitual residence

If in doubt, consult a lawyer. It saves big problems.

And the Travelers Registry

If the stay is less than 32 days and managed as tourism, you must register the guest as usual in SES Hospedajes. If managed as a seasonal lease, it does not apply.

Security deposit: always charge it

With students, the deposit is not optional. Minimum 1 month’s rent (or €500-800 for short stays).

More info in the post about deposits and guarantees.

Common problems with students:

• Stains on sofa and mattress (food, drinks)
• Breakage of dishes
• Damage to furniture from intensive use
• Humidity from poor ventilation and frequent showers
• Burns on countertops or appliances

A decent deposit covers almost everything.

Specific house rules for students

Be clear from the start:

• Visitors: how many people can stay overnight and for how many nights
• Parties: prohibited (and install a noise sensor if possible)
• Kitchen: reasonable hours to avoid disturbing neighbors
• Cleaning: whether weekly/biweekly cleaning is included
• Trash: how and when to take it out
• Tobacco: prohibited indoors (provide a terrace area if applicable)

Have everything in writing in the welcome manual and get it accepted in the contract.

Practical case: real numbers

Study of 35 m² in Valencia, near the university.

Option A: only short tourism

• Average price: €75/night
• Annual occupancy: 65%
• Gross income: 75 x 365 x 0.65 = €17,790
• Operating costs (cleaning, amenities, channels): €4,500
• Net: €13,290

Option B: mix of tourism + students

• May-September (5 months): short tourism, €85/night at 80% = €10,370
• October-April (7 months): students at €950/month = €6,650
• Gross income: €17,020
• Operating costs (less cleaning in winter): €2,800
• Net: €14,220

Similar gross but less work and lower risk of gaps. And if you manage to increase the student rate to €1,100/month, you clearly earn more.

How Autoregistro fits

If you manage your property as tourism (up to 31 days stays), you must register each student in SES Hospedajes like any other guest. The process is the same: personal data, ID, signature.

With Autoregistro, the student fills out an online form before arrival, data automatically goes to SES Hospedajes, and you don’t have to type anything. It costs €1 per month per property, less than a coffee, and saves you the hassle of manual registration each time. If you work with students arriving in October and leaving in November, you register once and forget for weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent an Erasmus student for 9 months as tourism?

No. In almost all autonomous communities, you cannot maintain the tourist regime for more than 31 consecutive days. For 9 months, you need a seasonal lease contract under the LAU regulations.

Do I have to register the student in SES Hospedajes if they stay 2 weeks?

Yes. As long as the stay is under tourist regulation (less than 31 days in most communities), traveler registration is mandatory, just like with any other guest.

What are the tax implications if I rent to a student by the month?

If you do it as tourism, it is taxed as an economic activity or rental income depending on whether you provide services. If as a seasonal lease, it is taxed as property income but without the 60% reduction (which only applies to the tenant’s habitual residence). See the taxation of tourist rentals for more details.

Can I ask for a deposit even if I’m on Airbnb?

Yes, you can request a separate deposit via bank transfer or Bizum before check-in, or use Airbnb’s deposit system (which is less useful). Make it clear in the listing and messages.

What if the student wants to extend their stay once inside?

If they have already been there for days and want to stay beyond 31 days, you must switch to a seasonal lease contract. You cannot keep it as tourism if it exceeds the legal limit. See guests wanting to extend their stay.