Cash in on the World Cup this summer by turning your home into a short-term rental!
Local businesses are not only the ones preparing to cash in on the tsunami of World Cup visitors to Kansas City. Homeowners can get in on the action, too, by turning apartments, condos, and houses into short-term rentals for extra income.
Local officials are expecting upwards of 650,000 visitors to pour into the city for the six FIFA World Cup matches scheduled to take place between June 16 and July 11. Hotel room and short-term rental bookings are running low as soccer fans from around the country and the world book their trips. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, the average hotel room rate in Kansas City jumped 145% – more than any other host city – and short-term rentals are being booked at a faster rate than the other locations, too.
The need for lodging is so great that the city is actually encouraging residents to turn their homes into short-term rentals, and it can be well worth it! Compared to other mega events in the US, such as the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and Formula 1 racing, nightly rates for a standard 3 to 5 night stay in Kansas City during the World Cup range from $600 to $1,200 for a small condo, $900 to $2,500 for a two- or three-bedroom house, and $2,500 to $5,000 for a larger home in a prime location.
There are still some strict guidelines surrounding short-term rentals set by the city, of course.
Understanding KC Short-Term Rental Regulations
There are some hoops to jump through before you can snap some photos and load them up on Airbnb. Homeowners must apply for short-term rental registration. The normal $200 annual registration fee has been lowered significantly to $50 in preparation for the World Cup, and the classification has been changed to Major Event Short-Term Rental Registration. This allows homeowners to turn their residence into a short-term rental from May 3 through July 31, 2026. Review the city’s short-term rental checklist before applying through CompassKC.
Short-term rentals fall into two categories: resident and non-resident. A resident short-term rental means the homeowner lives in the property and rents out either a room or part of the house while still being present. A non-resident short-term rental is when the entire property is rented out, and the homeowner is absent. Resident rentals benefit from fewer restrictions, while non-resident rentals are subject to stricter rules.
Also, don’t forget that short-term rental hosts in Kansas City are responsible for collecting several taxes, such as a 7.5% Transient Guest Tax, a $3/night Occupancy Fee, and a 1% Earnings Tax. Booking platforms, like Airbnb, do not withhold these taxes for hosts, and they must be filed and paid directly to the City. Click here for further details.
If you are planning to list your short-term rental on Airbnb, click here for their Kansas City Host Guide.
Get Your Home Guest-Ready
Think about previous hotel or Airbnb stays. What was great? What was okay? What was terrible? Let your own experience be your guide.
Once you have the business side of hosting completed, you can start preparing your home for guests!
Most guests expect even a short-term rental to be a hotel-like experience. The first step is to declutter as much as possible. Remove all personal items, including family photos, keepsakes, clothes, shoes, medications, hygiene products, etc. Valuables and any sensitive documents should be hidden away, too. Hosts will often have a locked “owner’s room” or garage to keep these items out of sight and secure. Other rooms or spaces unavailable to guests must be secured with a lock.
After decluttering, clean! The number one complaint about Airbnb rentals is cleanliness. Give the entire home a thorough cleaning, especially bathrooms and kitchens. It’s a good idea to have the home cleaned professionally. Along the way, address any maintenance issues, such as replacing HVAC filters, light bulbs, and batteries in thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The kitchen is a major draw for a short-term rental when compared to a hotel room. It also tends to be the most tedious space to prepare. All food should be removed from the cabinets and the refrigerator. Some hosts leave condiments, snacks, coffee, and tea, but there should be no leftovers or groceries in the fridge or in the cabinets. Guests expect basic utensils, cookware, and dinnerware for their use, and in decent condition, but make sure items you provide can be broken or lost without great expense to replace. Make sure Grandma’s wedding china is locked away!
Have plenty of clean towels, sheets, and blankets available. It’s best to have linens specifically for guests instead of using the family’s personal items. Guests staying longer than a few days may want fresh towels and sheets, so have extra sets on hand, especially if a washer and dryer are unavailable for them to use. However, if laundry facilities are provided, guests expect detergent and fabric softener, too.
Prep sleeping areas by making the beds, leaving fresh bedding nearby, installing blackout curtains or shades, if needed, and putting personal items away. Closets and dresser drawers should be empty, too. An often – and annoyingly – overlooked nicety is reading lamps on nightstands and end tables.
Provide House Rules & Instructions
With the home fully prepped and ready for guests, type out a list of house rules and leave it where it can be seen – in the entryway, on nightstands, and on kitchen counters. There are dozens of helpful examples online, but the most important ones to include are:
- Check-in and check-out time
- Maximum number of guests
- Whether parties are permitted
- Quiet hours or noise limits
- Whether pets are allowed
- Where guests, if allowed, may smoke
- Safety and security requirements
- Prohibited activities
- Where to dispose of trash and garbage
Along with house rules, a good rule of thumb is to leave instructions for guests on how to use the basics that, frustratingly, can be different from one home to another, not to mention the city’s non-English speaking visitors. Provide instructions for items such as how to connect to the Wi-Fi, including passwords, how to use the dishwasher, washer and dryer, the TV and sound system, and how to access streaming services. Another nice touch is a list of nearby restaurants – including type of food and pricing – as well as nightspots, tourist attractions, and local activities.
Be aware that homeowners’ insurance generally does not cover short-term rentals. Contact your insurer and ask, because while most don’t, some do. There are insurance companies that specialize in short-term rentals, and their coverage includes guest damage, liability, and lost income. Platforms like Airbnb offer secondary coverage, but it is not a substitute for real insurance.
