Urban short-term rental management · Ottawa–Gatineau
Airbnb and short-term rental management in Ottawa–Gatineau
Earn rental income from your home without managing every stay. Our local team handles listing optimization, guest communication and turnover coordination in Ottawa and Gatineau. Choose full-service management or co-hosting.
Can my property qualify? Check local requirementsTheSmartHost at a glance
- 1,500+Stays hosted
- 1,150+Five-star stays
- 2021Hosting since
Figures cover all properties TheSmartHost has managed, including city homes, cottages and monthly rentals.
Two cities, two sets of rules
Can your property be a short-term rental?
The answer depends on which side of the river it’s on and how you use it. Here’s the short version. We check the details for your address on your consultation.
Ontario
Ottawa
- Short-term rentals (under 30 nights) are generally only allowed in the host’s principal residence, the home they ordinarily live in.
- A few exceptions exist, such as approved rural cottage rentals. Most investment condos and houses don’t qualify.
- The host needs a City host permit for the address, and the permit number goes on every listing.
- We’re registered with the City as a property manager, so we can manage a permitted home for the host. Our registration doesn’t make a property eligible on its own.
Quebec
Gatineau
- Stays of 31 days or less need a CITQ registration number from the province.
- The City must confirm the use is allowed at your address. Principal-residence rentals need a municipal attestation; other properties are a commercial use allowed only in some zones.
- Your registration number goes on your listings and ads, and booking platforms also show its expiry date.
- Registration is renewed every year.
Not a fit for short-term? Furnished monthly rental management covers stays outside the short-term rental definition. Other rental rules still apply.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before you list.
Two ways to work with us
Your property. Your level of involvement.
Choose full-service management or keep the on-site work with co-hosting.
The essentials, included in both
- Listing setup & optimization
- Dynamic pricing & calendar management
- Guest messaging & screening, 7 days a week
- Cleaning coordination
- Permit application support
- Monthly owner statements
How we price your calendar: we keep adjusting your rates around seasons, local events and demand, and manage minimum stays and gaps between bookings, so your calendar stays full and profitable.
Your quote reflects your property and the support you need.
Not sure which fits? Let’s talk →In Ottawa, short-term rentals can only be listed on City-registered platforms. Currently, that’s Airbnb only.
What owners say
The best management company in Canada. Took me years to find this team and they have been nothing but fantastic!
Instead of sitting empty, the home generated revenue through well-managed short-term rentals. The team was highly attentive and responsive throughout.
How to get started
Introductory call
We discuss your property, your goals and whether it can be a short-term rental.
Property assessment
We review its rental potential and recommend the package that fits.
Setup and launch
We prepare a new listing or take over your existing one, and put the agreed operations in place.
Airbnb management across Ottawa and Gatineau
Ontario
Ottawa
Centretown · ByWard Market · The Glebe · Westboro · Little Italy · Kanata · Orléans · Barrhaven
Quebec
Gatineau
Hull · Plateau · Aylmer · Gatineau · Buckingham
Short-term rental management FAQ
Can my property qualify for short-term rentals?
In Ottawa, generally only if it’s the host’s principal residence, with a few narrow exceptions such as approved rural cottages. In Gatineau, it depends on zoning at your address and whether the City and CITQ approve it. If it doesn’t qualify, furnished monthly rentals may be an option.
What permits or registrations do I need?
In Ottawa, the host needs a City host permit for the address. In Gatineau, you need a CITQ registration number, which requires a notice from the City that the use is allowed at your address. Registration is renewed yearly. We help you check the requirements and prepare your application.
Can you manage my property under my Ottawa host permit?
Yes, if your home has a valid host permit. We’re registered with the City of Ottawa as a property manager, so we can manage it on your behalf. The permit stays in your name, and the property still has to meet the City’s rules.
How do your fees work?
We charge a percentage of your booking revenue, so we earn when your property earns. The rate depends on the package you choose and your property. We give you an exact quote after your consultation.
What is included in full-service versus co-hosting?
With full-service management, we handle the remote work and the agreed on-site services, including cleaning and maintenance. With co-hosting, we handle all the same digital work, and you or your cleaner handle the on-site work like cleaning and maintenance. Co-hosting costs 5% less. Compare both packages.
Can I still use my home?
Yes. Block your dates in the owner calendar any time. Dates already booked by guests stay in place.
Does my condo corporation allow short-term rentals?
It depends on your building’s declaration and rules, which can restrict short stays even where the City allows them. We’ll help you check before you list.
How do I get started?
Book a free consultation. We talk through your property and the local requirements, assess its rental potential, then set up or take over your listing. Book your consultation.
Free consultation
What could your property earn?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We cover your property, the local requirements for your address and its rental potential. If it’s a good fit, we follow up with a revenue estimate prepared for your property.
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