The test most owners use: a manager pays for itself when the extra income covers the fee, or when the time it gives back is worth more than the fee. An owner who lives nearby, enjoys hosting and has time to answer guests at 10pm often does without one. Here's how the sums work.
What could your home earn?
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Key takeaways
- Full management covers listings, pricing, guests, cleaning, repairs and reports.
- Most UK managers charge 15% to 25%; ours is 12% + VAT on a three-year agreement.
- A manager pays for itself when the extra income covers the fee, or when the time it gives back is worth more than the fee.
- 76% of Brighton listings are professionally managed, according to BNBCalc.
- Compare what reaches your bank account each way, after every cost.
Contents
What does full management include?
- Listings: photos, descriptions and your home on Airbnb, Booking.com and other sites.
- Pricing: a price for every night, changed as demand moves.
- Guests: every message answered, day and night, and every guest checked before arrival.
- Cleaning and laundry: organised after every stay.
- Repairs: a local team who sort problems, often while guests are still there.
- Reports: what the home earned and what came out, every month.
What does Airbnb management cost?
Most UK managers charge a share of what each booking earns. Houst's own guide to fees says most companies charge typically 15-25%. Our fee is 12% + VAT on our three-year agreement, and we're only paid when your home takes a booking. Read How much do management companies charge?
What does management cost on a real Brighton home?
Homes we manage were booked on 66.8% of available nights in 2025, at about £160 a night. That's about £3,250 a month in bookings. At 12% + VAT, our fee is £390, plus £78 VAT, so £468 a month.
So the real question is simple: would you earn at least £468 less a month doing the job yourself, or would you pay £468 a month to never answer a guest at midnight again?
When does management pay for itself?
- You live more than a short drive away. A broken boiler at 8am on a Sunday is hard to fix from another city.
- You work full time. Guests expect replies in minutes, not hours.
- Your pricing never changes. One price for every night leaves money on busy weekends and empty nights in quiet weeks.
- Your reviews have slipped. Reviews drive bookings, and slow replies or patchy cleans pull them down.
- You have a larger home. More guests means more changeovers, more wear and more messages.
When isn't management worth it?
- You live nearby and enjoy meeting guests.
- You already have reliable cleaners and trades.
- You let the home for only a few weeks a year.
What do most Brighton owners choose?
According to BNBCalc's Brighton market data, 76% of Brighton listings are professionally managed. Most owners have decided their time is worth more than the fee.
How should you decide?
- Work out how many hours a month hosting takes you, honestly.
- Get a valuation that shows what your home could earn with full management.
- Compare what reaches your bank account each way, after every cost.
Our calculator helps with step 3.
Frequently asked questions
Will a manager earn me more than I earn myself?
Often, but not always. The biggest gains usually come from pricing every night separately, listing on more than one site, and faster replies that lead to better reviews. Ask any manager to show you results for homes like yours.
Do I lose control of my home?
No. You can block dates for yourself, set house rules and approve bigger spending. A good manager runs the day-to-day, not your decisions.
What if I try it and don't like it?
Choose a manager with a short notice period for your first year. Our month-to-month agreement needs just 30 days' notice. Read Contracts and notice: how leaving works.
Is there a setup cost?
Some managers charge for photos, listings and key safes. Our £150 onboarding fee is waived on full-time packages, and we pay for professional photos and a lockbox.
What do most Airbnb managers charge?
Most UK managers charge 15% to 25% of booking income. Ours is 12% + VAT on a three-year agreement.
Related guides
Sources
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax or insurance advice. Market figures are averages as of the date shown above and change every month. Speak to a qualified professional before you act on anything here.