In short: an Airbnb management company (conciergerie) runs your short-term let for you: listing, pricing, messages, check-ins, cleaning, linen, maintenance and paying out your rent. It is usually paid a commission on the rent collected. It makes sense if you are short of time or live far away, much less so if you rarely let and live nearby.
What exactly is Airbnb management?
An Airbnb management company (also known as a short-term rental manager) runs your furnished property on your behalf, on Airbnb and other platforms. You remain the owner and the landlord: the income is in your name, and the big decisions (minimum price, works, blocked dates) are still yours.
There are three models:
- Full service: the manager handles everything, from creating the listing to paying out your rent.
- Co-host: someone helps you with the listing or check-ins, while you keep the account and receive the payments.
- À la carte: you pay for individual services (one check-in, one clean).
What does a manager do, and not do?
| What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|
| Creates and fine-tunes the listing, photos included | Major works and renovation |
| Adjusts prices daily to demand and local events | Initial furnishing (unless a separate service) |
| Lists the property on several platforms with a synced calendar | Your tax return |
| Replies to guests 7 days a week | Paying service charges and property tax (taxe foncière) |
| Organises check-ins, check-outs, cleaning and linen between stays | Guaranteeing an occupancy rate |
| Handles minor repairs and guest disputes | |
| Takes care of tourist let formalities (meublé de tourisme declaration and registration) | |
| Pays out your rent with a statement |
How does a booking work with a manager?
- The guest books on Airbnb, Booking or direct. The price has been set by the pricing tool, within the limits you have agreed.
- The manager checks the guest's profile and sends arrival details.
- Check-in: keys handed over in person or left in a key box, plus a quick tour.
- During the stay: questions answered, call-outs if anything breaks.
- Check-out: cleaning, fresh linen, a check of the property, photos if there is any damage.
- End of the month: a statement of stays, rent collected, commission and payout.
With us, guests pay the cleaning fee: it is added to each booking and costs the owner nothing.
Does an Airbnb manager need a professional licence?
As soon as it manages properties for owners and collects rent, it is carrying out property management, which is regulated by the Hoguet Act. As Service Public Entreprendre (the French government's business portal) explains, the property management licence (carte G, "gestion immobilière"):
- is issued by the département's CCI (Chamber of Commerce) for 3 years, and is renewable;
- requires a financial guarantee and professional liability insurance;
- must be displayed, along with the guarantor's contact details.
A written management agreement (mandat de gestion) must set out the powers granted, the term, the fees and how it can be ended. Ours: carte G CPI 0605 2025 000 000 025 issued by the CCI Nice Côte d'Azur, with a €120,000 guarantee from GALIAN-SMABTP.
A free, tailored estimate in 2 minutes, with no obligation.
Does a manager exempt you from local rules?
No. Holiday letting rules apply to the property, whoever manages it: declaration, registration number and, in Nice since the Métropole's regulation of 22 June 2026, 120 days a year for a main residence and change-of-use authorisation from the very first night for a second home. Full details in Letting on Airbnb in Nice: the 2026 rules.
When is Airbnb management worth it?
Probably yes if:
- you live far from the property or travel a lot;
- you do not have time to answer messages and organise every check-in in high season;
- your property is in a town where prices swing sharply with events, such as Nice, Cannes or Antibes;
- you are earning less than similar properties nearby.
Probably not if:
- you live next door, enjoy hosting and already do it well;
- you only let for a few weeks a year: an à la carte service will do;
- your property is in an area with little demand.
For a benchmark, here is what we measured in summer 2026 (June to August, properties managed all season, "Saison 2026 Azur" report from Lodgify): 84% of available nights booked across our whole portfolio, at an average of €165 a night. In Nice: 85% and €177. These are gross figures, before commission, running costs and tax, and one season is not a full year. For your own property, try the income simulator.
For a breakdown of the tasks and time involved in doing it yourself, see Managing your own Airbnb.
How should you read Airbnb manager reviews?
- Two kinds of reviews matter: owner reviews (on the manager's Google profile) and guest reviews (on the listings it manages). Guest reviews show the real standard of welcome and cleaning.
- Check the date and the detail: a recent review describing a problem that was put right is worth more than a star rating with no comment.
- Ask for sample listings and read their latest guest reviews.
Our owner reviews are on our Google profile.
How much does Airbnb management cost?
In short: usually a commission on rent collected, sometimes a monthly flat fee or a price per service. With us, it is 20% of rent collected, excl. VAT (24% incl. VAT) for full-service holiday letting, with no subscription. All the models, the extra fees to watch for and how to calculate the cost are covered in How much does Airbnb management cost and on our fees page. To compare providers, use our checklist for choosing a manager.
We manage properties in Nice, Cannes, Antibes and along the coast in between: see our Airbnb management in Nice, Cannes and Antibes.
Sources
- Service Public Entreprendre: becoming an estate agent (T and G licences)
- Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur regulation of 22 June 2026 on furnished tourist lets (meublés de tourisme)
- Internal report "Saison 2026 Azur", Lodgify data, June to August 2026
Find out more in our guide to Airbnb cleaning fees and about our full-service Airbnb management.
