Yes. You're never locked into a contract with a minimum number of placements. You can pause your listing at any time, and if a placement isn't working out we'll help relocate the student.

What is a mid-term rental, exactly?

A stay that's longer than a short-term booking but shorter than a standard 12-month lease - roughly one to six months. With Host Guest, most students stay 10-12 months for a full academic term.

Does San Diego's short-term rental permit apply?

San Diego's STR ordinance generally targets stays under 30 days. Term-length student homestays typically fall outside it, but you should verify your own situation - HOA rules, lease terms, and ordinance updates can still apply. This isn't legal advice.

How much does it cost to list?

Nothing. Listing is free, and we charge a flat 10% service fee only when a student is placed. No charge if you never take a guest.

How do payments work?

Students pay Host Guest directly, and we pay you by direct deposit through Stripe on a fixed monthly schedule. No invoicing, no chasing rent.

Mid-term hosting · San Diego

Trade nightly turnover for one guest all year

Host a verified international student for a full academic term. One check-in, no cleaning between guests, and monthly payments through Stripe.

$900–$1,600 per month

One student, typical stays of 10–12 months

See what my room earns

Takes 2 minutes. No fees to list.

Modern beige bedroom with bed on rug, dressing table, built in shelf with arch, walk in closet in sunlight from window on wall for luxury interior design decoration, furniture product background 3D

No vacancy gaps

No vacancy gaps
·
Payments through Stripe
·
You set the house rules
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120+ hosts in San Diego

Compare

Airbnb vs. a long-term tenant vs. Host Guest

Short-term rental means constant turnover and permit rules. A standard lease means handing over your home for a year. There's a middle option.

Compare on

Airbnb / VRBO

Short-term rental

Long-term tenant

12-month lease

Host Guest

Mid-term student stay

Turnover & cleaning

Every few nights

Once a year

One check-in

Vacancy risk

Seasonal gaps

Low, but locked in

Booked for the term

Permits & STR rules

Licence required

Not STR-regulated

Term-length, generally outside ordinance

Getting paid

Per booking, platform fees

Monthly, you chase rent

Monthly, direct deposit via Stripe

Who's in your home

Rotating strangers

Anyone with a deposit

One verified student

Service fee

~3% host + fees

None, but full control lost

10% only on placement

Comparison is general information, not legal advice. Verify your own situation.

See what my room earns

Earnings

What a full term actually pays

One student, 10–12 months, predictable monthly income — no nightly pricing games.

Private room

$900–$1,300 /mo

Over a 12-month stay that's roughly $10,800–$15,600 gross.

Private room with meals

$1,300–$1,600 /mo

Roughly $15,600–$19,200 gross over 12 months.

Typical stay

10–12 months

Service fee

10% only

What you stop paying for: nightly cleaning, linen changes, restocking toiletries, and platform booking fees.

Know San Diego's rules

Mid-term stays and the STR ordinance

San Diego's short-term rental ordinance generally targets stays under 30 days — the kind licensed on Airbnb and VRBO. Hosting a student for a full academic term is a different category of arrangement.

Term-length homestays generally fall outside the short-term rental ordinance
Stays of 30+ days are typically treated as standard tenancies, not STRs
We help you document the placement in case you're ever asked

Please check your own situation. This is general information, not legal advice. HOA rules, leases, and updates to local ordinances can still apply.

See what my room earns

Safety

Who's actually coming into your home

Every student is checked before you ever see their request — no self-check-in, no anonymous bookings.

ID verification

Government ID checked and matched to the student's profile.

School enrollment confirmed

We confirm acceptance or enrollment at their institution.

Profile & reference review

References read and a short interview before approval.

You stay in control

You review each student's profile before accepting

You set house rules — quiet hours, kitchen access, guests, curfew

You decide the length of stay you'll accept

If a placement isn't working out, our team helps you resolve it or relocate the student

How it works

From listing to first student in about two weeks

No calendar juggling, no dynamic pricing, no guest messaging at 11pm.

1

List the room once

A few basics: the room, your rules, and when it's available. For existing STR hosts, this takes minutes.

2

We review your unit

A short call and home review so we can match you credibly with students looking in your area.

3

Pick your student

You see verified profiles and accept only who you're comfortable with. No auto-booking.

4

One check-in, done

They move in for the term. Payments land monthly. No turnover until the stay ends.

See what my room earns

FAQ

Questions from STR hosts

Straight answers before you switch anything.

See what your room earns for the term

Listing takes a few minutes. You'll see student requests in your area before committing to anything.

Start your mid-term hosting setup

Just the basics — no passwords needed yet.

First name

Email

Phone number

We'll only use this to reach you about hosting.

ZIP code

Room type

Current setup

Available from

How did you hear about Host Guest?

No fees to list. We'll never share your details.

Your next step

Fewer turnovers start with one listing

One verified student, one academic term, one monthly payment schedule. List free and see requests in your area before you commit.

See what my room earns Talk to our team

No vacancy gaps · Stripe payouts · You set the house rules