Seasonal holiday house rental

Families and groups on holiday, plus couples on weekend getaways, booking through rental platforms or directly with you.

A nightly or weekly rate, plus a cleaning fee. Income is seasonal, so summer weeks or ski weekends usually bring most of the revenue.

• Friendly, quick communication with guests
• Good photos and clear listing descriptions
• Organising cleaning and changeovers

• Short-term rental rules differ by province, municipality and sometimes condo board. Some places need registration, and Quebec has its own tourist accommodation rules, so check locally
• Standard home insurance may not cover paying guests, so check before your first booking
• Whether you need to register for GST/HST, and any municipal or provincial accommodation taxes on stays
• Winter access, heating, frozen pipes and off-season empty periods
• Damage, noise complaints and neighbours, so set clear house rules and consider a damage deposit

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500 CAD, depending on how much furnishing, equipment, photography and preparation your property needs before the first guests arrive.

Check short-term rental rules in your province, municipality and condo board, including any registration (Quebec has its own tourist accommodation rules). Also check your home insurance, GST/HST registration, accommodation taxes, and winter access and heating.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000 CAD, depending on location, the season, your nightly rates and how often the property is booked. Expect at least about 4 hours a week for guest messages and changeovers.