Short-term rentals: understanding income and costs

Separate accommodation revenue from the payout

Airbnb explains that a payout accounts for nightly charges, applicable extra charges and deductions including host service fees and any co-host payouts. The transaction details help explain the amount received.

In your own records, keep accommodation revenue, other amounts and deductions in separate columns. A platform’s categories do not necessarily match your property manager’s commission basis.

Use a consistent reporting period

A stay and its payment can appear in different periods. State whether your report covers completed stays or received payouts. If a stay spans two months, record the allocation approach so that periods remain comparable.

Then reconcile booking references, platform statements and bank movements. Keep unmatched items visible rather than absorbing them into an unexplained total.

Name the costs included in each total

Separate distribution commissions, management, cleaning and laundry, maintenance, consumables and other documented expenses. Identify refunds and corrections. For Nomad Living, refer to the offer for the commission basis and separately charged items.

A figure after selected expenses is not automatically an all-inclusive profit. State which costs have been deducted and which are absent. Accounting, tax and regulatory treatment should be confirmed for your circumstances with an appropriate professional.

Read activity in context

Compare booked nights with nights genuinely available for rent. Personal stays and maintenance may reduce availability; record them to explain changes between months.

Before comparing periods, check duration, season, availability and the scope of included costs. One month or a different property cannot establish a promised future result for your apartment.

• Reporting period and stay allocation method stated.
• Available nights and booked nights distinguished.
• Revenue, payouts and expenses clearly named.
• Supporting documents and corrections linked to the right entries.
• Costs excluded from the stated result explicitly listed.