Family holiday or Airbnb income - which wins the battle for your keys? Laura wanted the best of both worlds: rental income and reserved family weeks. That almost went wrong when a booking landed in the week her sister had planned to visit.

Plan smart:

Create a calendar with fixed periods for personal use and for rentals. Peak season = higher income, but also higher guest expectations. If you plan to rent out your property, check whether tourist rental permits are required - each municipality has its own rules and fines can be steep.

Insurance is crucial:

Standard home policies often don't cover short-term rentals, so find a policy that explicitly allows it. Also: management and cleaning - choose a local property manager for check-ins, cleaning and guest communication. That saves time and prevents bad reviews.

Financially:

Run the numbers realistically - net income after costs, taxes and management. Use Realinmo to benchmark rental prices and Inmoconnect to find local property managers and accountants familiar with non-resident tax filings.

A smart calendar and local partners let you earn income without feeling like you're always racing to the next check-in.