How to get a better monthly price on a longer stay

Key rules

• Typical discounts: Expect roughly 5-15% off for a week and 15-40% off for a month, with more off-season on the coast.
• Best timing: Ask in low season or when the host has a visible calendar gap you can fill.
• Payment: Pay only through the platform, never by bank transfer, Bizum, crypto or a link the host sends.
• Seasonal lease: A monthly stay usually has no automatic extension and no legal rent cap, so get the terms in writing.

What discount to expect

Ask for a monthly price, because many hosts will lower it. Hosts set their own discounts, so treat these as typical, not guaranteed:

• Weekly stays: about 5-15% off the nightly rate.
• Monthly stays: about 15-40% off.
• Airbnb defaults: many hosts leave the suggested 10% weekly and 20% monthly in place.
• Off-season on the coast: monthly deals can reach 30-50% below the nightly rate.
• Big cities in high season: expect smaller discounts.

When hosts say yes

A host is most likely to agree when your offer fills a gap they would otherwise lose:

• It is low season, roughly October to May on the coasts (except the Canaries).
• The calendar has a long empty block, such as four weeks between bookings.
• The property is still unbooked a few weeks ahead.
• You start mid-week or in a shoulder period.
• Your dates are flexible.
• You have good reviews and say you are a quiet, long-staying guest.

Hosts are less willing in July, August, Easter and during big events. Don't push for a deep cut then.

How to ask

Message the host through the platform. Give your dates, say how flexible they are, and ask for a monthly price. A short, polite message with your length of stay works better than a bare "discount?". The message template below is in English and Spanish.

Choose a platform that helps you. On Airbnb, stays of 28 nights or more count as long-term: hosts can set monthly discounts, you pay in monthly instalments, and a long-term cancellation policy applies. Booking.com has no monthly filter, but you can search long date ranges. Vrbo hosts set their own long-stay prices. Furnished-rental sites such as Spotahome and HousingAnywhere are built for monthly stays.

Keep your protection while you negotiate

Agree the price in the platform's messages, and pay only through the platform. Paying outside it means you lose:

• the platform holding your money until check-in,
• refund and cancellation rules,
• damage and liability cover,
• the dispute service and verified reviews.

You also have no record if the listing turns out to be fake or the host cancels. Recovering money paid off-platform is rarely possible. If you are defrauded, report it to the police, including through their online reporting channel.

What kind of contract a monthly stay is

A monthly stay is usually a seasonal lease (arrendamiento de temporada). It is for a temporary purpose such as work, study, medical treatment or holidays. It is not a permanent-home lease, so you don't get the automatic multi-year extension or the legal rent limits. The agreed terms mostly decide what happens.

Deposits are negotiated, and one to two months is common. If your real purpose is to live there permanently, a court may treat the lease as a normal housing lease. Don't state a false reason to get a better price.

Rules on seasonal lets are being tightened. Listings now need a registry number, so ask for it. Regional rules differ, so check yours with your town hall.

Timeline and deadlines

• Look at the host's calendar for gaps, such as a 4-week block between bookings or weeks still unbooked: a few weeks before your dates

• Aim for low season, roughly October to May on the coasts (except the Canaries), and avoid July, August, Easter and big events: when choosing your dates

• Message the host with flexible dates and your length of stay, and ask for a monthly price: before you book

• Book a stay of 28 nights or more on Airbnb to get long-term terms and monthly payments: when you confirm the booking

• Plan around the long-term cancellation policy, which needs 30 days' notice: if you need to cancel

Checklist

• Keep the whole conversation and payment on the platform, even if the host suggests moving to WhatsApp or email.

• Refuse to pay by bank transfer, Bizum or crypto, or through a payment link the host sends you.

• Ask the host for the registry number of the listing and check it appears on the listing.

• Check that the listing photos are not stolen by searching for them online.

• Get the agreed monthly price, deposit and dates in writing before you pay.

• Ask your host to confirm that the stay is a seasonal lease and why you are staying, such as work, study or holiday.

• Refuse any advance deposit or key fee before you have booked.

What to watch out for

• Paying outside the platform removes your protection: If you pay the host directly, you lose the held payment until check-in, refund and cancellation rules, damage and liability cover, the dispute service and verified reviews. You also have no record if the listing is false or the host cancels. Agree the discount by message, then book and pay through the platform.

• Fake listings and moves to WhatsApp or email: Scam listings use photos stolen from real properties. The host then asks you to chat on WhatsApp or email and pay by bank transfer, Bizum or crypto. Stay in the platform chat and never pay by transfer, Bizum or crypto.

• Fake payment links and advance fees: Fake links copy Airbnb or Booking pages, and some hosts ask for an advance deposit or a key fee. Hijacked host accounts can also send these requests. Only pay inside the official app or website. Report fraud to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil, or through their online reporting channel.

Message asking a host for a monthly rate, in English and Spanish

Copy the message below, fill in the blanks, and send the Spanish version, the English version, or both together. Most hosts reply faster when the Spanish is there, even if you write to them in English.

Asking for a monthly price in the first message is normal. Hosts often cut the price for a month, and many will agree to a discount if you ask. Ask for the total price including everything, so extra fees do not surprise you later.

English

Hello,

I'm interested in renting your apartment for one month, from [check-in date] to [check-out date]. My dates are [fixed / flexible by a few days].

There will be [number] adults, [number] children and [no pets / number of pets]. I am [short reason for your stay, for example: a remote worker moving to the area].

Could you tell me:

1. What is the total monthly price in euros, with everything included?
2. Could you offer a discount for a monthly stay?
3. Does the price include electricity, water, gas and internet? Is there a limit on consumption?
4. Are there cleaning fees, including a final clean, or a tourist tax on top of the price?
5. Are platform fees and VAT (IVA) included?
6. Is there a security deposit? How much is it, and when is it returned?
7. How and when do I pay, and what is the cancellation policy?
8. What is the registration number of the property? Can you provide a written contract and an invoice?

Thank you very much. I look forward to your reply.

[Your name]

Español

Hola:

Estoy interesado en alquilar el apartamento durante un mes, del [fecha de entrada] al [fecha de salida]. Mis fechas son [fijas / flexibles unos días].

Seremos [número] adultos, [número] niños y [sin mascotas / número de mascotas]. [Motivo breve de la estancia, por ejemplo: trabajo en remoto].

¿Podrían indicarme lo siguiente?

1. ¿Cuál sería el precio mensual total en euros, con todo incluido?
2. ¿Podría hacerme un descuento por estancia mensual?
3. El precio, ¿incluye gastos como luz, agua, gas e internet? ¿Hay un límite de consumo?
4. ¿Hay gastos de limpieza, incluida la limpieza final, o una tasa turística aparte?
5. ¿Están incluidas las comisiones de la plataforma y el IVA?
6. ¿Se exige fianza y cuánto es? ¿Cuándo se devuelve?
7. ¿Cuál es la forma de pago y la política de cancelación?
8. ¿Pueden indicarme el número de registro del alojamiento y facilitar contrato y factura?

Muchas gracias. Quedo a la espera de su respuesta.

[Su nombre]

Optional extras

Add any of these if they matter to you:

• How often are the linen and towels changed? (¿Con qué frecuencia se cambia la ropa de cama y las toallas?)
• Is there parking? (¿Hay aparcamiento?)
• Is there heating or air conditioning, and is it included in the price? (¿Hay calefacción o aire acondicionado, y está incluido en el precio?)

What to expect

• Hosts set their own discounts, so treat the weekly and monthly figures above as a guide and negotiate in your message. Discounts are usually deeper outside the high season and smaller in big cities when demand is high.
• Compare the total you are offered with the nightly price multiplied by the number of nights, once all fees are counted.

Frequently asked questions

Which platform makes monthly stays easiest?

Airbnb is the easiest. Stays of 28 nights or more count as long-term, hosts can set monthly discounts, and you pay in monthly instalments. Booking.com has no monthly filter or discount tool, so you search a long date range and message the host.

What changes on Airbnb once I book 28 nights or more?

Cancellation terms switch to a long-term policy with 30 days' notice. Payments are split into monthly instalments. Read the cancellation terms on the listing before you confirm.

Will a monthly rental give me the same protection as a normal lease?

Not automatically. A seasonal lease is mostly governed by the terms you agree, with no automatic 5-year extension and no rent cap. If the real purpose is a permanent home, a court can treat it as a normal housing lease, so be clear about why you are staying.

How much deposit is normal on a seasonal lease?

It is negotiated, and one to two months is common. Agree the amount and when it comes back in writing before you pay.