How to manage daily vs monthly tenants in one system

Managing a rental property with just one type of tenant is challenging enough. What if you have a mix of daily and monthly tenants in the same property? The complexity multiplies.

Monthly tenants have clear contracts, routine payments, and low turnover. Meanwhile, daily tenants require more intensive attention—daily check-in/out, more frequent cleaning, and different administration. Without the right system, managing both can become a nightmare.

In this article, you’ll learn how to manage daily and monthly tenants in one integrated system—from setup, pricing strategy, to efficient payment tracking.

Want a system that can handle both? Try Kamaru free—setup takes just 5 minutes.

Why landlords offer both daily and monthly rentals

Before diving into management strategies, let’s understand why many property owners choose this mixed model.

Maximize revenue from available rooms

Not all rooms are always filled with monthly tenants. Rather than leaving rooms empty, offering daily options can generate additional income—especially in strategic locations.

A room normally rented at $100 per month ($3.30/day) could generate $7-10 per night for daily rental. Even if not occupied every day, the higher margin can compensate for lower occupancy.

Flexibility for various market segments

By offering both options, you can serve different segments:

Monthly tenants: Students, permanent employees, long-term workers
Daily tenants: Tourists, seminar/training participants, visiting family, project workers

This flexibility expands your target market and reduces vacancy risk.

Fill vacancies during slow season

As discussed in 5 ways to quickly fill empty rooms during slow season, daily rentals can be an effective strategy when monthly tenants are hard to find. Exam periods, local events, or tourist seasons can be opportunities to optimize revenue from daily rentals.

Challenges of managing mixed tenants

The mixed model is profitable, but there are challenges you need to anticipate.

1. Complex tracking

Monthly and daily tenants have different payment cycles:

Monthly: Fixed due date each month, usually the same date
Daily: Payment per arrival, can be cash or transfer

Without the right system, mixing both in one record can cause confusion and recording errors.

2. Room availability management

You need to know precisely:

Which rooms are rented monthly and until when
Which rooms are available for daily rental
When monthly rooms will be vacant and can be offered for daily use

If you double book—accepting a daily tenant for a room still occupied by a monthly tenant—your reputation suffers.

3. Different pricing structures

Pricing for daily and monthly rentals differs significantly:

Monthly: Price per month, may include utilities/WiFi
Daily: Price per night, possibly with different rates for weekday vs weekend

You need a system that can accommodate both structures without confusion.

4. Different operations

Daily tenants require:

Clear check-in/out processes
Cleaning after each guest checkout
More frequent room condition checks
Availability to receive guests at unusual hours

Monthly tenants are more hands-off after the contract is signed.

5. Documentation and administration

For monthly tenants, you need:

Clear rental contract
ID verification
Emergency contact information

For daily tenants:

Guest data (name, phone number)
ID photo (for security)
Check-in and checkout times

Both documentation types must be manageable in one place.

How to set up a system for mixed tenants

Here are practical steps to manage daily and monthly tenants in one system.

Step 1: Determine which rooms suit which type

Not all rooms are suitable for daily rental. Consider:

Rooms suitable for daily:

Near the entrance (easy access for late check-ins)
Private bathroom (daily guests usually expect this)
Full amenities (AC, WiFi, TV)
Location that doesn’t disturb monthly tenants

Rooms better suited for monthly:

More private areas
May share bathroom
More affordable pricing

You can designate specific rooms for daily rental, or use a flexible system where empty rooms can be offered for daily use.

Step 2: Create a clear pricing structure

Determine prices for each type:

Example pricing structure:

Room Type	Monthly	Daily (Weekday)	Daily (Weekend)
Standard	$80	$6	$7
Deluxe	$120	$8	$10
Suite	$170	$12	$15

Pricing tips:

Daily rates are typically 2-3x the daily rate of monthly rentals
Weekend rates can be 20-30% higher
Consider minimum stay requirements (e.g., minimum 2 nights)
Create packages for specific periods (weekly, special events)

Step 3: Set up an integrated tracking system

This is where technology plays a crucial role. You need a system that can:

Handle different payment periods — daily, weekly, or monthly per tenant
Track occupancy dates — check-in and checkout dates for each tenant
Record payments — with automatic status (paid, partial, unpaid)
Display availability — see which rooms are vacant or occupied

With Kamaru, you can manage all tenants in one app:

Create properties with various room types
Set different payment periods per tenant (daily, weekly, monthly)
Track payments and status for each tenant
View the occupancy calendar for all rooms at once

Step 4: Create clear operational SOPs

Document procedures for each tenant type:

Monthly Tenant SOP:

Verify identity (ID card)
Sign contract
Receive deposit and first month’s payment
Hand over room with condition checklist
Record next payment schedule

Daily Tenant SOP:

Confirm booking (via messaging/platform)
Request guest data and ID photo
Determine check-in time
Receive payment (in advance or at check-in)
Hand over room and explain facilities
Record expected checkout time
Perform cleaning after checkout

Step 5: Manage availability with a visual calendar

This is key to avoiding double bookings. You need to clearly see:

Which rooms are occupied and until when
Which rooms are available for daily booking
When there are gaps that can be filled with daily tenants

Kamaru’s occupancy calendar displays all this in one view. You can see the timeline for each room and identify empty slots before adding new tenants.

Need a simple but powerful system? Try Kamaru free—manage daily and monthly tenants in one app.

Best practices for managing mixed tenants

Once your system is set up, here are best practices for daily operations.

Monitor payments regularly

Check your tenants’ payment status periodically:

Monthly tenants — ensure routine monthly payments aren’t missed
Daily tenants — confirm payment at each check-in or checkout

By monitoring payment status in Kamaru, you can quickly follow up if anyone is late paying.

Set clear expectations for both types

For monthly tenants:

Explain that there are daily tenants in the same property
Ensure they’re not disturbed (daily rooms in separate areas if possible)
Rules about guests and quiet hours still apply

For daily tenants:

Explain this isn’t a hotel, there are permanent residents
Rules about noise and quiet hours
Clear check-in/out procedures

Use different channels for marketing

Marketing for monthly tenants:

Rental listing platforms specific to your region
Facebook groups for students/workers
Word of mouth and referrals

Marketing for daily tenants:

Airbnb, Booking.com, or regional equivalents
Instagram with attractive room photos
Google Maps with positive reviews
Local community WhatsApp/Telegram groups

Prepare buffer time between daily guests

Don’t schedule check-in immediately after the previous guest’s checkout. Allow at least 2-3 hours for:

Room cleaning
Condition check
Preparation for the next guest

Example schedule:

Checkout: by 12:00 PM
Cleaning: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Next guest check-in: from 2:00 PM

Track reviews and feedback

Daily tenants tend to be more vocal about their experiences. Request feedback and use it for improvement:

What did they like?
What needs improvement?
Would they recommend you?

Positive reviews on platforms like Google Maps or Airbnb are valuable for attracting future daily guests.

Example: Ratna’s boarding house

Ratna manages a 15-room boarding house in a tourist area. Initially, all rooms were rented monthly to students and workers.

Problems faced:

3-4 rooms often empty, especially during semester breaks
Lost potential revenue from tourists looking for affordable accommodation in the area

Solutions implemented:

Room allocation: 12 rooms for monthly tenants, 3 rooms flexible (monthly priority, but daily if vacant)
Price setup:
- Monthly: $70 (private bathroom, AC)
- Daily: $8/night (weekday), $10/night (weekend)
Tracking system: Using Kamaru to record all tenants in one app, with different payment periods for daily and monthly
Marketing: Listed on Airbnb for flexible rooms, continued promoting on local rental platforms for monthly

Results after 6 months:

Occupancy rate increased from 75% to 92% (compare with average hotel occupancy rates around 47-48% according to national statistics)
Additional revenue of $200-350/month from daily tenants
Flexible rooms occupied 60% of the time for daily, the rest for monthly when someone wants a contract

Keys to success:

Daily rooms on the ground floor, easy access without disturbing monthly tenants
Strict cleaning SOP between guests
Quick response to Airbnb inquiries

When the mixed model works (and doesn’t)

The mixed tenant model isn’t suitable for all situations. Consider these factors:

Mixed model IS suitable if:

Strategic location for tourists — near attractions, city center, or event areas
Frequent vacancies — monthly occupancy below 80%
You have time or staff — to handle more intensive daily operations
Facilities support it — private bathroom, AC, stable WiFi
Target market exists — demand for daily accommodation in your area

Mixed model is NOT suitable if:

Location isn’t strategic — far from tourist spots or activity centers
Monthly occupancy is already high — above 90%, just focus on monthly
No time/resources — daily operations require more effort
Monthly tenants object — could cause them to move out
Limited facilities — shared bathroom, no AC

Alternative: start with weekly first

If hesitant to go straight to daily, try offering weekly options first:

Lower effort than daily (cleaning once/week, not every day)
Margin still higher than monthly
Test the market before full commitment to daily

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

How do I avoid double booking?

The key is discipline in recording every new tenant. Every time there’s a new booking (daily or monthly), record it in the system immediately. With Kamaru’s occupancy calendar, you can see availability for all rooms in one view—make sure to check the calendar before accepting new tenants to avoid overlap.

If you list on multiple platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, etc.), ensure you sync availability manually or use a channel manager.

Do I need special permits for daily rentals?

Depends on local regulations. Some cities require accommodation business permits for daily rentals. Check with your local tourism or licensing department. For monthly rentals (boarding houses), standard business permits are usually sufficient.

What if monthly tenants object to daily guests?

Communication is key. Explain that:

Daily guests are in separate areas/rooms
Quiet hour rules still apply
They can report any disturbances

If objections continue, consider allocating daily rooms in a completely separate area, or focus on the monthly model if permanent tenants are more valuable.

What’s the ideal margin for daily vs monthly rentals?

As a benchmark:

Monthly: 30-50% margin from rent after operational costs
Daily: target nightly price at 2-3x the daily rate of monthly rentals

Example: If monthly rent is $100 ($3.30/day), daily price could be $7-10/night. With 50% occupancy for daily rooms, revenue still equals or exceeds monthly.

How do I price for special events?

When there are major events (concerts, festivals, exam periods), demand rises significantly. You can:

Raise prices 50-100% for that period
Apply minimum stay (e.g., minimum 3 nights)
Prioritize early bookings at normal prices, raise for last-minute

Monitor the event calendar in your city and prepare pricing strategy well in advance.

What’s the simplest system for beginners?

If just starting, use a gradual approach:

Start with a spreadsheet — track manually first to understand patterns
Upgrade to an app — as volume increases, use Kamaru for more efficient tracking
Integrate with platforms — if listed on Airbnb/Booking.com, sync availability routinely

Don’t over-complicate at the start. Begin simple, then scale up your system as you grow.

Conclusion

Managing daily and monthly tenants in one system is more complex, but it also opens up greater revenue opportunities. The keys are:

Determine room allocation — which for monthly, which are flexible
Create a clear pricing structure — monthly vs daily, weekday vs weekend
Use an integrated tracking system — one app for all tenants
Create operational SOPs — different procedures for different tenant types
Manage availability with a visual calendar — avoid double bookings

With the right system, this complexity can be managed efficiently. You don’t have to choose between the stability of monthly tenants or the high margins of daily tenants—you can have both.

Ready to manage mixed tenants more efficiently? Try Kamaru free today. One app for all tenants, a visual calendar for tracking availability, and a system that grows with your business. Setup takes just 5 minutes.