New research from vacation rental management platform Hospitable reveals that independent short-term rental (STR) hosts are increasingly rejecting large, traditional property management companies (PMCs) in favor of greater control, flexibility, and profitability.
The findings, which form part of an upcoming report by Hospitable1, show that nearly 80% (79.7%) of hosts have no plans to hire a property management company within the next year. The majority of hosts point to the high costs of PMCs (82.2%) and the desire to maintain direct control over their guest experience and property operations (58.4%) as key reasons for their preference for independence.
The report also uncovers a revealing statistic: more than one in eight hosts previously used a PMC but ultimately returned to self-management, indicating dissatisfaction with traditional property management approaches. Hosts emphasize that independence allows greater control over guest interactions and property maintenance (63.7%), higher profitability without costly management fees (54.7%), and the flexibility to quickly adapt pricing and policies to changing market conditions (48.8%).
A major driver behind this shift? Technology. An overwhelming 96.8% of hosts say it’s critical to staying competitive — giving them the tools and confidence to manage everything from guest messaging to pricing without relying on a third party.
This trend reflects a broader shift within the short-term rental market. Hosts are increasingly prioritizing genuine guest experiences and local market expertise – qualities they often find lacking among larger, more corporate-style PMCs. As a result, many hosts are either choosing complete independence or seeking support from smaller, locally-based property managers who offer personalized service and deep local knowledge.
Pierre-Camille Hamana, CEO and Founder of Hospitable, said: “Our research reflects a growing confidence among independent hosts. They’re not choosing independence because they have to, they’re choosing it because they can. With the right technology, today’s hosts are able to manage operations, guest experience, pricing, and communications more efficiently than ever before, without sacrificing profitability or quality. That level of control is incredibly powerful.
At the same time, we recognise that the short-term rental ecosystem is diverse. Property management companies still play an important role, especially for hosts who prefer a hands-off approach. But for many, self-management has become a viable, and often preferable, path. We also see a growing opportunity for local, independent managers who can deliver real value through personal care and market knowledge — something large PMCs often struggle to replicate.”
