Writing a short-term let advert is a little different from posting a regular spare room advert. Here are the main differences between normal ads and short term let ads, and what you need to do to find the perfect short term let tenant!
Bills
If someone is only taking your room for a week, they’re probably not expecting to contribute to the broadband, council tax and electricity bills! If paying bills is something you expect from your short term let tenant, it’s best to mention it in the ad.
Deposits
In theory, the amount of damage someone could do to your spare room over two weeks is the same they could do over a whole two-year tenancy. But often, short-term lets don’t include a deposit.
Couples
A lot of people don’t want to rent out their room to couples. But if it’s only a short-term let, this is something you could afford to be flexible on. It’s not like they’re going to be there all year.
Tourists
A lot of short term lets go to people exploring the city. Because of this, when it comes to short-term lets, London, Glasgow and Manchester are the UK’s leading cities due to their tourist pull. If you’re happy to take in tourists, make this explicit on your ad – it’ll help you get more replies from the large contingent of holiday makers looking for accommodation. If you’re happy to show them round and help them find things to do, all the better!
Give the Exact Dates
When a contract is a year long, it makes sense to advertise a “room for let from August”, but when it comes to short lets, it pays to be a bit more precise. Consider:
“Short Let London Bridge. 16th August – 1st October.”
Whereas a potential tenant is probably willing to give a room they really want a week or two’s leeway in terms of move-in date, for short term lets, London renters are less willing to compromise. Basically, the shorter the let, the less leeway tenants are prepared to give over the dates.
Now you know how to write a knock-out short-term let advert, upload yours today on EasyRoomate’s dedicated short-lettings page! It’s free, and you’ll have your room filled in no time.
