Long-stay furnished rentals (2026): Airbnb, Flatio, Spotahome and more

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For a one- to six-month stay, most nomads choose between Airbnb monthly stays (easy, but fees are built into the price), mid-term platforms in Europe such as Flatio, Spotahome, HousingAnywhere and Uniplaces (cheaper per month, but a one-off booking fee), Blueground for serviced apartments, and Furnished Finder in the US. On Airbnb, a “monthly stay” is 28 or more nights, it is paid in monthly instalments, and it comes with stricter long-stay cancellation rules. Pay only through the platform.

This is a wiki: members can edit this first post to add options, prices and experiences. Please keep it factual and say when you last used a service.

Last checked: October 2026

In short:

  • Airbnb’s guest service fee under the split-fee model is 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal; under the single-fee model, most hosts pay 15.5% and build it into the nightly price. Airbnb is moving all hosts to the single fee.
  • HousingAnywhere charges tenants about 25% to 40% of the first month’s rent (minimum €175) outside the Netherlands. Flatio, Spotahome and Uniplaces show their one-off fee at checkout rather than publishing a flat rate.
  • Long stays can create tenant rights. Airbnb tells US hosts that in California, Illinois and New York a residential tenancy may be created after 30 consecutive days.

Comparison table

Fees from each platform’s own help or pricing pages, checked 6 October 2026.

Service What it’s for Price from (checked 6 Oct 2026) Notes
Airbnb (monthly stays) Furnished homes worldwide, 28+ nights Guest fee 14.1%–16.5% (split fee), or host-paid fee of usually 15.5% included in the price (single fee) Hosts can set weekly (7+ nights) and monthly (28+ nights) discounts. Paid in monthly instalments. Long-stay Firm and Strict cancellation policies
Flatio Mid-term rentals, mainly Europe One-off service fee, shown before you book; percentage falls as the stay gets longer Includes a Move-in Guarantee and a lease agreement. Any deposit is paid on move-in day
Spotahome Mid- and long-term rooms and flats in Europe, booked without a viewing One-off booking fee, not published; non-refundable once confirmed Report a mismatch within 24 hours. First month’s rent released to landlord 48 hours after move-in. “Deposit protected” listings refunded by Spotahome if not returned within 3 months
HousingAnywhere Mid-term rentals in Europe, popular with students and expats About 25%–40% of first month’s rent, minimum €175 (no booking fee in the Netherlands) Full refund only if you cancel within 24 hours of booking
Uniplaces Mid-term rooms and flats, Southern Europe One-off service fee, shown at checkout Non-refundable unless the landlord cancels. 24-hour safety period to report problems
Blueground Serviced furnished apartments, business cities Monthly price covers rent, utilities and Wi-Fi (price varies by city) Corporate-style, usually pricier per month. Says “no hidden fees”
Furnished Finder Monthly furnished rentals in the US Free for travellers Landlords may require a tenant screening paid by you. Card fees may apply on online rent payments

How to choose

Under two months, somewhere new: Airbnb is the easiest. Compare the total including fees with the same flat on a mid-term site.

Two to six months in a European city: Flatio, Spotahome, HousingAnywhere and Uniplaces usually give you a written lease and a landlord rather than a host. Read the fee at checkout and the refund rules. HousingAnywhere’s minimum fee of €175 makes it poor value for cheap rooms.

In the US: Furnished Finder has no traveller fee, but you deal directly with the landlord, so treat it like any private rental.

Need an address for a visa or tax residency: Ask before you book whether the landlord will sign the paperwork. In Germany, for example, registering your address needs a landlord’s confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), and Berlin’s welcome centre says the landlord must provide it no later than 2 weeks after you move in. For a mailing address only, see the virtual mailbox wiki.

Downsides to know

  • Scams. The US Federal Trade Commission’s red flags: payment by wire transfer, gift cards or crypto; pressure to decide quickly; rent well below market; an “owner” who is abroad and can’t show the property; and the same address listed under different names. Keep all payment and messages inside the platform.
  • Deposits. Most platforms leave deposits to the landlord. Spotahome’s deposit protection applies only to listings labelled “Deposit protected.” Photograph the flat on arrival and departure.
  • Tenancy law. Rules differ by country and city. Airbnb warns US hosts that guests staying one month or longer may establish tenant rights, and lists special cancellation rules for South Korea, Germany and California (Italy’s separate rules applied only to stays before 1 October 2025).
  • Cancellation. Airbnb’s long-stay Firm policy gives a full refund only if you cancel at least 30 days before check-in; after that the host keeps payment for nights stayed plus 30 more nights.

Member experiences

Reply below with which one you use and why. Please include the city, dates, monthly rent, total fees paid and whether you got your deposit back.

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Quick answers

Q: How much does Airbnb charge for monthly stays?
Under Airbnb’s split-fee structure, guests pay a service fee of 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal and hosts pay about 3%. Under the single-fee structure, most hosts pay 15.5% and include it in the price. Hosts can add monthly discounts for stays of 28 nights or more.

Q: Is HousingAnywhere or Spotahome cheaper than Airbnb?
It depends on the stay. HousingAnywhere charges about 25% to 40% of the first month’s rent once, with a €175 minimum, so it gets cheaper per month the longer you stay. Spotahome’s one-off fee is shown at booking and isn’t published. Compare the total cost for your exact dates.

Q: Can a long Airbnb stay give the guest tenant rights?
In some places, yes. Airbnb tells US hosts that in California, Illinois and New York a residential tenancy may be created after 30 consecutive days of occupancy. Rules elsewhere vary, so check local law or ask a local lawyer if you plan a long stay.

Sources

This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before acting.

Over to you: Which platform got you the best monthly rate on your last long stay, and what did fees add to the total? Has anyone used a mid-term rental to register an address for a visa?

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