If you're new to the short let scene, it can be confusing to cut through all the marketing and understand what's what. Here's a simple guide in table format categorising the 3 main types of short let.
| Conventional | Serviced Apartment | Self Catering (Airbnb) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Stay Period |
Weeks | Days | Days |
| Contract | Assured Shorthand Tenancy printed agreement | Terms on booking Website | Terms on booking Website |
| Marketed by | Estate agents | Serviced Apartment Web Sites | Airbnb [list other Web sites] |
| Cleaning Included | No | Yes | No except by special arrangement |
| Payment | Prepayment or arrears | Prepayment | Prepayment |
| Popular with | Business and corporate travellers | Business and corporate travellers | Anybody including tourists and holidaymakers |
| Property | Whole property | Whole property | Room(s) or whole property |
| Summary | A conventional short long let is largely based on the same terms as a long let but the property is furnished with all necessary items to just walk in and starts living. | A serviced apartment has the facilities and convenience of a hotel room but in a more residential environment. | The differentiation between serviced apartment and self catering is narrowing, although Airbnb maintains a distinctive theme of staying in homes rather than soulless accommodation and driving cultural exploration and new travelling experiences. |
