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Santa Monica Monthly Airbnb Management
Rule-Friendly Hosting on the Ocean’s Edge
Santa Monica is one of the strictest cities in California for rentals. Short stays under 30 nights are limited to homes inside the Coastal Commission zone, and rent-controlled units cannot be used as vacation rentals at all. Open Air Homes focuses on monthly rentals in Santa Monica, which suits homeowners who live here part of the year and rent the rest.
Book a 15-minute call or fill out the form below and we will reach out.
Open Air Homes is the only Los Angeles based company in AirDNA’s 2026 ranking of the top 100 property managers in the US, ranked #25 nationally with a 4.91 average guest rating. See how the ranking works.
As of September 2026, Open Air Homes manages 26 homes on the Westside. Santa Monica is a smaller part of that portfolio by design, because of the city’s rules.
By The Numbers: 2025 In Review
How We Stack Up Against the Market
Updated every January. We publish the full prior year for our portfolio against the market, month by month, including the weak months. The 2025 figures below will be replaced with 2026 results in January 2027.
Our Los Angeles portfolio booked 70.1% of available nights in 2025, compared to 44% among similar listings within Airbnb. In the most competitive short-term rental market in California, this performance reflects disciplined pricing, review velocity, and consistent operational execution.
Dynamic pricing, pet-friendly positioning, and a focus on longer stays help us extract more value from each calendar while protecting peak-season rates and guest quality.
Our listings averaged 120% more page views than comparable homes during Jan ’25 → Jan ’26, according to data collected through Airbnb.
High-impact photography, A/B-tested headlines, and dynamic pricing tools keep us locked above the fold, reaching travelers before they even start filtering.
Our listings appeared on page one 56.5% of the time in 2025, compared to 26% for similar listings on Airbnb.
This consistent placement reflects pricing discipline, photography quality, and review velocity across our portfolio.
Our listings converted at 0.30% in 2025, compared to 0.16% for similar listings on Airbnb. That gap represents an 88% conversion advantage, up from 60% in 2024.
Higher conversion means more bookings from the same traffic, translating directly into higher occupancy and net revenue.
Our guests stayed an average of 10.9 days in 2025, compared to 5.5 days for similar listings on Airbnb.
This nearly 2x advantage reflects intentional design, pricing strategy, and a belief that longer stays are the future of short-term rentals.
Why Guests Flock to Santa Monica
Beaches, Bikes & Breezy Living
From sunsets on the Pier to people-watching on Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica offers the postcard version of L.A. life.
Add Muscle Beach, a flat bike path that reaches Venice and Marina del Rey, and quick PCH access to Malibu surf breaks, and month-long guests rarely run out of things to do, or reasons to extend.
Who Books Month-Plus Stays in 90401
Work, Wellness, Waves
- Tech contractors based at nearby Silicon Beach
- Visiting professors and grad students at UCLA & SMC
- Families renovating homes in Brentwood or Pacific Palisades
- Remote workers chasing ocean air and reliable fiber Wi-Fi
They look for a quiet place to live, not a weekend party pad, which keeps wear-and-tear and neighbor complaints to a minimum.
There isn’t a single platform where people book monthly rentals, so we list on Airbnb, VRBO, Zillow, and our own website to ensure broad exposure.
Our Service Approach
Everything Handled, Nothing Over-Promised
- Dynamic 30-day pricing tuned to Pier events, marathon dates, and surf forecasts
- Evening-hour guest support, late messages reach us, not you
- Bi-weekly eco-cleans that use grey-water-safe products
- Local vendors versed in salt-air roof checks and drought-smart gardens
You stay hands-off while the home stays guest-ready.
Every guest request, maintenance issue, and homeowner question is tracked in our operations hub with an owner, a status, and a deadline. Our team uses AI, including Anthropic’s Claude, to draft and organize. A person on our team reviews and sends every message, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Design & Sustainability
Light, Local, Low-Impact Luxury
We stage each space with sun-bleached woods, recycled-cotton throws, blackout curtains for jet-lag recovery, and a starter pack of reusable market totes.
Strong Wi-Fi networks, smart TVs, and a Nespresso machine round out the comfort list, amenities that translate into consistent reviews.
Brokerage Oversight
Licensed, Insured, Audit-Ready
Operating under California brokerage license DRE #02164159, we hold security deposits in escrow, store lease files for the city’s required term, and reference Santa Monica Municipal Code § 6.20 in every agreement.
We monitor Coastal Commission updates so owners inside the zone know exactly when shorter stays remain an option.
We Do Not Manage Rent Controlled Units in Santa Monica
If your home is covered by Santa Monica rent control, we will not manage it as a furnished or vacation rental. The city has pursued owners over this and there have been lawsuits. Our advice for a rent-controlled unit is a standard one-year lease, and we can help with that as a licensed brokerage. For homes that are not rent controlled, monthly furnished rentals have done well for our owners, often while they spend the summer away.
Pricing, and Why Monthly Is Not Discounted
A Flat 20% Commission, and 15% on Stays of Three Months or Longer
Every home we manage pays a flat 20% commission on the accommodation fare, plus a $125 monthly platform fee. The same number applies whether the booking is nightly or monthly. See our full pricing breakdown.
When a monthly booking runs three months or longer, the commission on that booking drops to 15% automatically. Nothing to ask for and nothing to renegotiate.
Monthly rentals are not cheaper to manage. Open Air Homes employs a broker of record, so your monthly agreement sits under a licensed California brokerage on CAR forms. Most property managers cannot say that.
Monthly guests are treated exactly like our short-term guests. Same 24/7/365 reservations support, same response times, and the same maintenance team on call for the length of the stay.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
Reach Out To Our Team
Send in the short form below. We’ll schedule a quick call to discuss income goals, zoning questions, and a realistic launch timeline.
If the fit feels right, we’ll move on to photos, listing copy, and your first compliant, month-long booking, so you can enjoy Pier concerts and boardwalk rides while your home earns quietly and legally.
List Your Home with Luxury Rental Experts
Effortless, High-Value Property Management
List Your Santa Monica Home: FAQ
1 - Can I legally do short-term rentals in Santa Monica?
No, short-term rentals under 30 days are banned in Santa Monica unless you’re living on-site in the unit. At Open Air Homes, we focus exclusively on fully legal monthly rentals (30+ nights) and use CAR-compliant leases to stay within city rules while still maximizing your income.
2 - What is monthly rental management in Santa Monica, and how does it work?
We offer furnished monthly rental management for homeowners who want reliable income without STR permit headaches. Our licensed brokerage drafts proper leases, screens guests, and coordinates cleaning, maintenance, and move-ins. Guests include digital nomads, relocating families, executives, and long-term vacationers.
3 - Do you offer long-term leasing as well?
Yes. Open Air Homes is a licensed California brokerage (DRE #02164159) offering both monthly rental management and full-service long-term leasing. For homeowners who prefer 12-month leases, our dedicated leasing division can legally list on the MLS, screen tenants, and draft binding leases using California Association of Realtors (CAR) forms.
4 - What makes Santa Monica ideal for monthly luxury vacation rentals?
Santa Monica draws monthly guests who want walkable beachside living with access to tech hubs, world-class dining, and wellness. Homes with outdoor areas, updated kitchens, and fast WiFi perform especially well. Monthly stays offer the feel of a luxury vacation rental, with the legal structure of a traditional lease.
We build your listing, handle dynamic pricing, vet each guest, answer messages around the clock, schedule cleanings, restock amenities, and coordinate maintenance, while keeping you compliant with local STR rules.
You receive transparent owner statements and can block personal dates anytime. Think of it as hotel-grade service for your home without the DIY stress or learning curve.
5 - How much can I earn with monthly rental management in Santa Monica?
Most furnished homes earn 20 to 30% more than unfurnished annual leases, depending on size, amenities, and location. We use dynamic pricing and professional photography to attract the right guests and ensure consistent monthly income. Our model is especially ideal for homeowners who want to live in their home part of the year and rent it out when not in residence, offering flexibility, compliance, and profitability.
6 - How do you screen monthly guests?
We list your home on platforms like Airbnb (30+), Zillow, Furnished Finder, and our direct site, and conduct background checks, ID verification, and travel insurance for every renter. Our guests are thoroughly vetted and often include executives, creatives, and families seeking a high-end furnished stay.
7 - What services are included in your vacation rental management model?
Our monthly vacation rental management includes listing setup, dynamic pricing, screening, legal leasing, cleanings, repairs, and ongoing guest support. We manage your property with the same hospitality and precision as a hotel, while you stay hands-off and fully informed.
8 - How is pricing determined for 30+ day rentals in Santa Monica?
We combine PriceLabs dynamic pricing with local data from Zillow, Airbnb, and our internal booking trends. Rates are adjusted for seasonality (e.g. summer relocations, school schedules) and home features like number of bedrooms, proximity to the beach, and amenities like parking or views.
9 - Why do Santa Monica homeowners trust Open Air Homes?
Managing homes since 2012 in Santa Monica, we understand the market, the regulations, and the luxury guest experience. We are a licensed brokerage, offer both monthly and long-term solutions, and deliver legal, high-performance property management tailored for part-time or full-time homeowners. In 2026, AirDNA ranked Open Air Homes #25 among US property managers, the only Los Angeles based company in its national top 100.