The great exodus from short-term rentals: why 1 in 4 landlords is focusing on residential

Article published on August 4, 2026 on homacoop.it; the data refer to that date.

The new equilibrium of the real estate market: why more and more landlords choose the transitional fee

The Italian real estate market is undergoing a phase of profound correction. After a decade dominated by enthusiasm for tourist rentals, the current photograph taken by industry observers reveals an unambiguous fact: the myth of easy income is cracking. Today, about one in four homeowners has already decided to back down, abandoning short-term rentals to return to the residential market.

This migration is not an isolated phenomenon, but the rational response to an operating environment that has become drastically more hostile for those who do not work with professional structures.

The end of the 'Myth' of simple management: when renting becomes a second job

The first cause of this change of course lies in the unbearable complexity of management. If short rent was initially perceived as a passive and profitable activity, today's reality imposes very high standards.

Managing a tourist property today means:

• Keep up with increasingly stringent bureaucratic requirements: from obtaining the CIN (National Identification Code) to the management of mandatory communications to police stations and ISTAT.
• Worry about relentless operational logistics issues: check-in, check-out, professional cleaning and emergency maintenance that require a constant presence or high outsourcing costs.
• Activate a 24-hour customer care service: tourists, increasingly demanding, require immediate assistance, penalizing every slightest lack with negative reviews.

The management of a short rental is no longer limited to handing over the keys. It requires professional skills ranging from digital marketing to dynamic price management, to constant maintenance and compliance with increasingly stringent bureaucratic regulations.

To complicate the picture, ruthless competition has intervened. The uncontrolled proliferation of ads on the main platforms has saturated the offer, making potential guests extremely selective. With dozens of similar options in the same neighborhood, the traveler chooses based on minimal details and, above all, on price competitiveness.

This dynamic has triggered a 'race to the bottom' which, combined with rising energy and service costs, has significantly eroded real profit margins. The income, once guaranteed, has become uncertain and linked to external variables that are increasingly less controllable.

The figures for the decline: Milan, Turin and Bari compared

The numbers confirm this trend reversal. In recent years, the net profitability of short term rentals has fallen significantly in the main Italian cities. Although average prices may appear stable, the increase in operating costs and the tax burden have reduced real earnings.

The territorial analysis confirms that the slowdown affects not only business centers but also art cities, pushing towards more stable and less expensive residential solutions in terms of management.

HOMA processing on data from the Revenue Agency and Real Estate Observers 2024-2025.

These numbers testify how the market is seeking a new balance. The owners are not returning to the classic 4+4 contract,perceived as too strict, butthey are moving towards the transitory fee.

The success of the transitional fee

The change of course is not leading, as one might expect, to a massive increase in classic long-term contracts (such as the 4+4). The owners, while wanting to reduce management stress, are not willing to completely give up the flexibility and availability of their property.

In this scenario, the transitory fee contract has emerged as the ideal solution. It represents the perfect meeting point between two opposing needs:

1. Reduction of costs and commitment: less turnover, less cleaning and laundry expenses, less logistics.
2. Maintaining flexibility: the possibility of regaining possession of the property in a short time due to personal needs or market changes.

The HOMA solution: stability without sacrificing flexibility

In this scenario of uncertainty, relying on an institutional operator like HOMA represents the key to transforming a property from a source of stress to an rent. Our strategy focuses on the medium-long term, offering a “third way” that combines residential security with the flexibility necessary for the modern owner.

Through the brand Cerco Alloggio, we provide an innovative platform specialized in renting to university students and young workers.

Why choose Cerco Alloggio?

• Reliable platform: we guarantee the quality of the properties through the verification of the apartments and 360° photos.
• Qualified target: we connect owners with a solid and reliable target of students and young workers.
• Institutional support: for more than 10 years we have been collaborating with universities and institutions to support thousands of students in finding accommodation.

The market is seeking a new balance, and flexible housing is the answer. If you own a property and want to optimize your income by reducing management stress, HOMA is the partner you were looking for.

Find out here how much your property can be worth and contact us to learn more about our management services and the Cerco Alloggio platform.

This text is an automatic translation from Italian, produced with artificial intelligence (Amazon Translate).