Tiny Homes on Airbnb: 101 Guide for Aspiring Hosts

Tiny homes Airbnb
By The Hospitable Team

Are you considering renting out tiny homes on Airbnb? You are not alone. Being environmentally and budget-friendly, tiny houses appeal to a variety of travelers, so a lot of people are taking advantage of the STR market by listing their tiny homes on sites like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.

To help you get started on Airbnb, here are some tips on managing your tiny house short-term rental. And if you’re looking for ideas for your tiny house project, in this blog, you’ll find some examples of the unique tiny homes currently listed on popular vacation rental sites.

How to Successfully Manage Tiny Homes on Airbnb

Tiny homes are a popular travel trend, and they could be the ideal rental for people looking for a stay in a unique, cozy space at an affordable price. Although these homes lack square footage, they make up for it in charm and sleek, stylish atmosphere. And with increasing demand and lower startup costs, tiny homes on Airbnb can also be lucrative for hosts.

You’ll improve your chances of profitability if you create an attractive aesthetic and equip your home with essentials and everything your guests need for a comfortable stay. And, of course, the most important thing is to provide great customer service to make your guests happy.

Running an Airbnb involves a lot of work, but you can automate your routine with vacation rental software like Hospitable. Then, you’ll have more time to focus on providing a memorable experience to your guests to win great reviews that can result in more bookings.

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But before you jump into the world of Airbnb hosting, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s legal to rent out your tiny home short-term in your area. Contact your local government to find out if there are any relevant building codes or zoning regulations that you must comply with.

Make your tiny home guest-perfect

Before creating a listing on Airbnb, you must prepare your tiny house for welcoming guests. Here are some essentials to include to make your tiny home Airbnb guest-ready:

  • Comfortable sleeping arrangements

  • A living space with a comfortable sofa or chairs and dining table

  • Clean and functional bathroom with basic amenities like hand and body soap and towels

  • Outdoor amenities like a fire pit (if your space allows for it)

Turning your tiny home into an Airbnb isn’t that simple. A part of a success formula is to provide your guests with the right items to make them feel at home. We have a blog post with a standard host checklist that you may want to check out to find a list of things you need to stock your tiny home with to guarantee your guests a positive travel experience.

Create a listing for your tiny home on Airbnb

When you’re ready to accept guests, sign up and list your rental space on Airbnb. As the tiny house movement increases in popularity, more and more tiny houses are popping up on Airbnb and similar websites. So it’s crucial to make your tiny home stand out from the rest to attract potential guests:

  • Include many beautiful photos in your listing to highlight the best features of your tiny house and set expectations for your potential guests.

  • Create a catchy title and an accurate listing description to paint a vivid picture of your space, emphasizing its unique selling points.

  • Include information about the surrounding area to let guests know what they can explore.

  • Include the phrases “tiny home” and “tiny house” and other relevant keywords to ensure that your listing will be shown in the appropriate Airbnb categories.

Set a competitive nightly rate for your tiny home. Research other similar listings in your area to see what other hosts charge per night and adjust your price accordingly. It’s important to consider all the factors that can impact the price: the size of your tiny house, the amenities you offer, the location of your property, seasonality, local attractions, etc.

Hire a reliable cleaning service

Cleanliness is the top priority for travelers, so you must always keep your rental space clean and presentable. Remember that it can be challenging to clean a tiny house, especially if there is a loft bed area or other hard-to-reach spaces. So you may consider hiring professional cleaners or at least invest in professional cleaning supplies and tools, such as a steam cleaner, to help make the cleaning process easier.

Be a welcoming and responsive Airbnb host

Communication is one of the essential aspects of the guest experience, and guests rate it in their reviews. Make an effort to respond to all booking inquiries promptly and be proactive in your conversations with guests before, during, and after their stay. This way, you’ll ensure that travelers have all the necessary information when needed.

If done manually, guest messaging is very time-consuming, but it’s easy to set up an automated message flow if you opt for vacation rental software like Hospitable. Hospitable also has the ChatGPT integration that can help you create thoughtful responses to your guests’ questions quickly and effectively.

Have conversations with your guests even when you sleep

We will detect and answer questions on your behalf, send fully custom messages triggered by events, and much more!

Unique Tiny Homes Listed on Airbnb

Tiny homes can be built on wheels or a foundation and come in various shapes and styles. Airbnb travelers can book a stay in a log cabin in the woods, a luxurious waterfront cottage, an Earthship built using natural or recycled materials, or even a repurposed shipping container.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own tiny home Airbnb, here are amazing tiny houses whose owners creatively use limited space to offer their guests a unique experience.

East Side Beehive

Inspired by Japanese teahouses, Austin-based architect Nicole Blair designed this AIA Award–winning tiny house. With an open floor plan and angled walls that add volume, this unique modern cottage feels spacious and inviting and is proof that tiny doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style or comfort. 

Apartma Zemljanka

This modern earth hobbit house offers a perfect way to rest and relax outside of the city’s hustle and bustle. It is entirely built of natural materials, such as clay and wood, and blends in perfectly with its surroundings. The tiny house has a bedroom, bathroom, dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen to ensure a comfortable stay.

The Greenhouse

This open-plan glasshouse with an eco-friendly design and unlimited forest views is a great place to escape everyday life and enjoy nature for those not opposed to a lack of privacy. The house is beautifully furnished and nicely decorated in a botanical theme. There are a lot of potted plants, so this perfect place feels like an actual greenhouse.

Unique and Secluded AirShip

This insulated aluminum pod designed by Roderick James is situated in beautiful surroundings and offers stunning views from dragonfly windows. The tiny house features a futuristic interior design that is warmed up by cozy textiles and wood accents.

Scenic Cabin in Iceland

Situated in awe-inspiring natural surroundings, this tiny cottage with a deck offers sweeping views of Iceland’s Kirkjufell Mountain and the ocean. It has all the necessities, including a shower, a queen size bed, and cozy chairs, and is a great place to enjoy life in the countryside and the northern lights.

Forest Haven

This tiny house is made of a small shipping container set into a clearing in the rural forest of Millersburg that looks like an oasis among the trees. The house’s interior is designed with nature-inspired colors and textures, seamlessly blending with the beautiful surroundings. A large outdoor living area has lounging seats, chairs, and a natural gas fire pit.

Final Thought

Due to the increasing demand for smaller living spaces and low costs, renting tiny homes on Airbnb can be a great way to generate rental income. But remember that it requires research and preparation and takes time to make your tiny house rental profitable. And the key to success is to ensure that staying at your tiny home rental can be an excellent experience for your guests.

You may also want to check out our tips on how to get more bookings on Airbnb.