Owner guide · Updated 28 October 2026
How much does Airbnb management cost in South Wales?
Full-service Airbnb management is usually charged as a percentage of what your property earns. EKLiving charges 15% of net revenue, with no fixed term and no VAT on our fees. Some national managers charge 18% plus VAT, which is 21.6% in total. This guide explains what the fee should cover and what sits outside it.
How Airbnb management companies charge
Most full-service managers in South Wales and Bristol charge a commission: a percentage of the income your property earns. Before you compare percentages, check three things.
- What the percentage is taken from. The same percentage costs you more if it is taken from gross revenue (everything guests pay) than from net revenue. Ask each manager exactly which income their fee applies to. Ours is taken from net revenue: what guests pay for their stay, less the booking platform's commission and the cleaning fee the guest pays.
- What the fee includes. A low headline rate can leave cleaning, linen, pricing or guest messaging as extras.
- How long you are tied in. Some agreements have a fixed term or a long notice period. Ours has no fixed term, and you can take your property back with 60 days' notice.
What full management should include
A full-service fee should cover everything needed to run the short let day to day. At EKLiving, the 15% fee covers:
- Your listing and professional photography
- Listing on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia and our own direct booking website
- Nightly prices updated every day to match local demand
- 24/7 guest messaging, ID checks and full payment before arrival
- Cleaning and fresh linen coordinated after every stay
- Maintenance arranged through our team and trusted local trades
- A monthly payout with an earnings report
Costs outside the management fee
Whichever manager you choose, a short let has costs that sit outside the fee. Ask for them in writing before you sign.
- Onboarding. Professional photographs (usually £150) and a deep clean before the first guest (usually £120 to £200, depending on the time it takes). With us, linen, towels and guest consumables come with each clean, which guests pay for. We agree any onboarding costs with you before we start.
- Per-booking fees. Some managers add a fixed admin fee to each reservation. Where we do, we tell you during onboarding.
- Running costs. On a short let, the owner usually pays the utilities, broadband, insurance, and council tax or business rates.
- The Welsh rules. Every short let in Wales must be registered by 31 March 2027, and Cardiff Council has introduced a visitor levy of £1.30 per person per night on new bookings for stays from 1 April 2027. Read our guide to registering a short let in Wales.
A worked example: a 2-bed flat in Cardiff
This is what our income estimator shows for a 2-bed flat in Cardiff with on-street parking, at a typical nightly rate of about £110 and 70% occupancy.
| A month | |
|---|---|
| Estimated booking income | £2,200–£2,460 |
| Our 15% management fee | £330–£370 |
| Estimated income to you | £1,870–£2,090 |
On this example, every extra 5% of commission would cost you about £110 to £120 a month. That is why the percentage, and what it is taken from, matters as much as the service.
Questions to ask any Airbnb management company
- Is your fee a percentage of gross or net revenue?
- What exactly does the fee include, and what is charged as an extra?
- Are there onboarding costs or per-booking fees?
- Is there a fixed term or a notice period?
- How and when will I be paid, and what reports will I get?
- Is your cleaning and maintenance team local to my property?
- Can I see reviews from your guests and owners?
We are happy to answer every one of these on a free call. This guide is general information, not financial advice.
Free estimate
What could your property earn on Airbnb?
Enter your postcode and the number of bedrooms. We will show you an estimated monthly income after our fee, and how it compares with a long let in your area.
Airbnb management costs: questions
Is 15% a good rate for Airbnb management?
It compares well. Some national managers charge 18% plus VAT, which is 21.6% in total, while EKLiving's 15% has no VAT added. Compare what each fee includes and which income it is taken from, not just the percentage.
What does net revenue mean?
Net revenue is what guests pay for their stay, less the booking platform's commission and the cleaning fee the guest pays. Our 15% is taken from what is left, so you are not charged a fee on the platform's cut or on cleaning, which guests pay for at cost.
Do you charge VAT on your management fee?
No. EKLiving does not charge VAT on its fees. Full management is 15% of net revenue.
Is there a minimum contract for Airbnb management?
Not with EKLiving. Full management has no fixed term, and you can take your property back with 60 days' notice, as long as existing bookings are honoured or cancelled.
Next step
Let's talk about your property.
A free, no-obligation call. We will tell you honestly whether short stays or a long let will earn you more.
Our long-let promise: if your first 12 months earn less than a typical long let, we pay you the difference, up to two months of our fees. Conditions apply.