Short-term stays or 3, 6 and 12-month rentals: which fits your DR property?

Should your Dominican Republic apartment welcome a new guest every few nights, or one renter for several months? It's one of the first decisions an owner makes, and it shapes almost everything that follows: how often you clean, how much you message, how you price and how predictable each month feels.

There is no single right answer. This guide walks through what each model asks of you, who tends to book each one, and a simple way to compare them for your own property. You may find that the best fit is a mix of both.

Key Takeaways

• Short-term stays usually mean more turnovers, more guest messages and more variation from month to month.
• Rentals of 3, 6 or 12 months mean fewer handovers, but each vacancy between renters weighs more.
• Compare both models with your real costs: cleaning, utilities, furnishing wear and your own time.
• One SimpleStay listing can offer nightly stays, 3, 6 or 12-month stays, or both at once.

Table of Contents

• How short-term stays work
• How 3, 6 and 12-month rentals work
• Compare the two for your property
• Offering both on SimpleStay

How short-term stays work

A short-term stay is a booking of a few nights to a few weeks. Guests are often travelers on vacation, families visiting relatives, or people in town for a wedding or a work trip. You set a nightly price, guests come and go, and the apartment is cleaned and reset between each stay.

What short-term asks of you

Every booking brings a cycle: answer questions, confirm the dates, hand over the keys, clean, restock and check for damage. If you live in the US and manage from abroad, someone on the ground has to handle that cycle for you. The work adds up quickly in busy months.

You also carry utilities, internet and supplies yourself, because they are part of what the guest pays for in the nightly rate.

Where it fits well

Short-term tends to suit properties close to beaches, airports or historic areas, and owners who want to use the apartment themselves some weeks of the year. It also gives you flexibility: if you want the place free in December for family, you simply keep those dates closed.

How 3, 6 and 12-month rentals work

A medium or long-term rental means one renter lives in the furnished apartment for several months. Instead of a nightly rate, you set a monthly price. There are fewer handovers, fewer cleanings and far fewer messages.

Who rents by the month

Monthly renters are often remote workers, expats settling in, students, or families relocating for work. They usually look for a furnished place that feels like a home: a good bed, a working kitchen, reliable internet and a quiet place to work. They tend to ask more questions before booking, because they are committing to months, not nights.

What you agree directly with the renter

With a longer stay, a few practical terms matter more than the price alone. Before you accept, agree on these points clearly and in writing:

• How rent is paid after the first payment, and on which day.
• Whether there is a deposit, how much, and when it is returned.
• Who pays electricity, water, gas and internet.
• How maintenance requests and repairs are handled.
• What happens if the renter needs to leave early.

Rules about rental agreements differ by country and situation, so this is not legal advice. If you have questions about contracts or obligations, ask a licensed lawyer.

Compare the two for your property

Revenue on paper is only half the picture. The useful comparison is what you keep after costs and effort. Work through these steps with your own numbers:

1. Estimate monthly short-term revenue. Multiply your nightly rate by the nights you realistically fill, using both high and low season.
2. Subtract short-term costs. Cleaning between stays, utilities, supplies and the time you or a helper spend on turnovers.
3. Estimate the monthly rental. Use the monthly price you could charge for a furnished unit in your area.
4. Subtract long-term costs. Utilities if you include them, maintenance, and the empty weeks between renters.
5. Compare what remains. Then ask which version of your month you would rather run.

An example to try the math

Illustrative example. A one-bedroom apartment in Santo Domingo charges US$70 a night. In a month with 18 booked nights, that is US$1,260 in bookings. If cleaning, supplies and utilities come to US$350, about US$910 remains. The same unit rented by the month at US$900, with the renter paying electricity, leaves about US$850 after minor costs. The numbers are close, but the effort is very different. In a slow month with 8 nights, short-term would drop well below the monthly option.

Seasonality matters

Short-term demand rises and falls with the travel calendar, and some months are naturally quieter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, which some travelers keep in mind when planning. A monthly renter can smooth out those swings, while a nightly calendar lets you earn more when demand is strong.

Offering both on SimpleStay

You don't have to pick one model forever. On SimpleStay, a single listing can offer nightly stays, 3, 6 or 12-month stays, or both. You can set a nightly price, a monthly price, or both on the same listing.

How long-term requests work

Long-term stays are always request-to-book, so you review each renter and choose Accept or Decline. SimpleStay does not ask for a guarantor, and it does not handle deposits or monthly rent. You and the renter agree on rent and deposit terms directly in the Inbox. Between renters, the apartment can stay open for nightly guests, so a gap does not have to mean an empty month.

What it costs

SimpleStay charges US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission and unlimited bookings, whether you rent by the night, by the month or both. Guests pay US$0 in SimpleStay service fees. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately. To see how that compares with a percentage model, read our guide on flat monthly fees versus booking commissions.

Choose the rhythm that fits you

The right model depends on your property, your location and how much time you want to give it. Some owners love the energy of short stays. Others prefer one reliable renter and a quiet phone. Many land somewhere in the middle.

Whatever you choose, you can test it with a free trial: 30 days per new listing, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. Cancel anytime.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

Is short-term or long-term rental better in the Dominican Republic?

Neither is better for every property. Short-term can earn more in strong months but takes more work and varies more. Monthly rentals are steadier but leave you exposed to gaps between renters. Compare both with your own costs.

Can one listing offer both nightly and monthly stays?

Yes. On SimpleStay, one listing can offer nightly stays, 3, 6 or 12-month stays, or both, with a nightly price, a monthly price, or both.

Does SimpleStay collect monthly rent or deposits?

No. SimpleStay does not handle monthly rent or deposits and does not ask for a guarantor. You and the renter agree on rent and deposit terms directly in the Inbox.

Can guests book a long-term stay instantly?

No. Long-term stays are always request-to-book, so you review each request and choose to accept or decline it.

How much does it cost to list a property?

SimpleStay charges US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission. New listings get a 30-day free trial, or 7 days for listings in the United States. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.