Posted on Friday, April 14th, 2017

Should I Rent my Naples Home Seasonally or Annually?

One of the FIRST questions we always encourage a homeowner to ask is, “What are my rental restrictions?”

Vacation rentals are close cousins but very different beasts to traditional tenant rentals. It’s better to associate the requirements with a vacation rental to that of a hotel stay. Every convenience you experience at a hotel should be emulated at your property.

Those types of services include, but aren’t limited to; maintenance, concierge services, cleaning services, laundry services etc etc.

Different Types of Vacation Rentals Options

As the property owner, its important to understand the difference and navigate accordingly. We will navigate the different types of rental options available in Naples and Collier County. Before you begin the process, it is essential to be informed of the ordinances or HOA rules governing your property.

What are Vacation Rentals?

Rentals less than 30-days. Fully-furnished. Demand for vacation rentals is 10+ months per year. Limited supply on the market. Simply put, demand for these vacation rentals is skyrocketing. Great alternative to hotels for travelers of all ages from all over the world. Average stay is 6 – 7 nights. Utilities and maintenance are paid by the owner, but revenue far outweighs that cost. Vacation rentals are subject to sales and tourist tax. Proper registration of the unit with is essential for protecting owner/property manager rights. We at Naples Florida Vacation Homes take care of the details for you.

#1: Seasonal Rentals

Not the most profitable, but has good returns

Rentals of 30 days or longer. Fully-furnished. Demand for seasonal rentals is 3 – 4 months per year. Competitive supply on the market. Demand in February is peak, but demand in July is virtually none. Customers are snowbirds. It’s easy to rent your house for February and March, but if you’re not careful your rental could very well be left sitting empty for the remainder of the year. A complete understanding of the dynamics of supply and demand for seasonal rentals is vital! Utilities and maintenance are paid by the owner. All rentals less than 180 days are subject to sales and tourist tax, but no worries, we handle all of that on the owner’s behalf. 30-day or longer lengths of stay are governed by the Division of Real Estate (Section 475 of Fla. State Statutes).

#2: Annual Rentals

Least profitable

Year-round contract. Usually unfurnished. Demand as well as rates are low relative to the value of real estate in our market. Utilities and maintenance typically are paid by the renter. If a tenant fails to pay the water or other utility bill, the payment and late fees falls to the owner. Non-taxable, provided the rental is 181 days or greater. If a guest fails to leave or pay, formal eviction processes are required by law. And in our experience, annual rentals take the greatest beating. The wear and tear tends to be more extensive by far than short-term rentals.

#3: Nightly and Weekly Rentals

Significantly increase return

Of course, rates for short-term, vacation rentals are higher with built-in, expected expenses of utilities and such; therefore, vacation rates are far more profitable to the owner than seasonal or annual rentals.

By far, renting by the week or night increases demand, overall revenue, and the ability to generate rental income year-round. The demand for seasonal (30-day+ rentals is limited to the peak season months of January – March. Sometimes we are fortunate to find a seasonal client to rent during the fringe months of December or April.

When opening up your property to seasonal rentals, you can expect income for only 3, possibly 4 months of the year. Unfortunately, very few people are looking to rent only for “the month of July.” The growth in demand has shifted to vacation rentals, and it’s growing rapidly.

An owner can expect revenues 10 – 12 months of the year renting by the night or week. September and early December used to be very slow months, but that’s been changing in recent years. Of course, rental rates for peak season are much more substantial than low season rates. Low season attracts many, shorter reservations and keeps that cash flow healthy.

If you have the flexibility to rent your property for less than 30 days a month, we strongly encourage you to let our pricing policies and the need of the guests to determine length of stay. Remember, the shorter the stay, the greater the income.

Is it legal? Aren’t there restrictions?

As the industry evolves at record pace, there is controversy in many communities throughout the country. If you’ve read any news articles about AirBnB, you have an idea of what we’re talking about. Some homeowners and local governmental authorities challenge that you, the homeowner, should not be able to rent your home for such short periods of time to vacationers. In fact, there has been much debate on the floor of the Florida legislature in recent years. In 2011, the State of Florida passed a law which prohibited local municipalities from creating a different set of rules for vacation rentals and homes. That gave the homeowner more freedom and less restrictions for renting to vacationers. Furthermore in early 2014, the Florida legislature passed an additional law which states that a municipality cannot restrict length of stay if they didn’t have an ordinance already in place.

As far as Collier County and the City of Naples is concerned, any property which falls within the city limits has a 30-day minimum rental restriction. There are very few exceptions to this. Many homeowner associations (HOAs) throughout Naples also have restrictions (i.e. 30- or 90-day minimums with a limitation on the maximum number of leases allowed per year).

Less than 30-day rentals are permitted at properties located in unincorporated Naples and Collier County unless subject to individual HOA restrictions.

About Naples Florida Vacation Homes


Are you frustrated trying to find renters for off season? Look no more, and start your relationship with Naples Florida Vacation Homes! We provide seasonal, and nightly vacation rental management and marketing in Naples finest golf and beach communities throughout Collier County, Florida. We can rent your Naples property!

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