Domistay vs Houst: Airbnb Management Fees, Support and more
If you are comparing Domistay vs Houst for Airbnb management in London, there are several areas to consider: management fees, local knowledge, communication, guest support, home care and contract flexibility. Understanding how each company approaches these responsibilities can help you choose a service that suits your home, your priorities and the way you want to host.
This guide explores those differences, from who you will work with to how linen, supplies and maintenance are organised. We are Domistay, so we explain our approach alongside Houst’s published service details to help you decide which is the right fit for you.
Domistay vs Houst Fees: What Does the Percentage Actually Cost You?
Two companies can quote the same percentage and leave you with different amounts in your bank account. The difference is what they charge that percentage on.
Domistay charges 12% to 18% plus VAT on net booking revenue. We deduct platform fees and exclude the cleaning fee before calculating our commission. You do not pay us commission on those amounts.
Houst’s London page advertises 12% for full time management and 18% for part time management, calculated on gross booking revenue.
Gross revenue means the booking amount before deductions. In the example below, it includes accommodation and the guest’s cleaning fee. Net booking revenue, for Domistay’s commission calculation, is the amount left after platform fees and the cleaning fee are removed. It is not your final profit.
What Would You Keep from a £2,000 Booking?
Imagine a £2,000 reservation with a £100 cleaning fee. The illustration uses 12% commission plus 20% VAT for both providers, a 15.5% platform fee on the full £2,100, and a £100 cleaning cost.
Houst’s example includes cleaning in the commission base and assumes its rate is plus VAT. These are illustrative terms, rather than a confirmed quote for your home.
| Fee Breakdown | Domistay Example | Houst Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation amount | £2,000.00 | £2,000.00 |
| Cleaning fee paid by guest | £100.00 | £100.00 |
| Total revenue | £2,100.00 | £2,100.00 |
| Platform fees at 15.5% | £325.50 | £325.50 |
| Cleaning cost deducted | £100.00 | £100.00 |
| Amount used to calculate management fee | £1,674.50 | £2,100.00 |
| Management fee at 12% plus VAT | £241.13 | £302.40 |
| Your take home before other costs | £1,433.37 | £1,372.10 |
You keep £61.27 more with Domistay in this example, purely because of the commission calculation. Actual take home also depends on your agreed rate, booking income and other charges. Utilities, maintenance, supplies, any additional linen or setup costs and tax are not included here. Platform fees vary by booking platform and arrangement.
The percentage matters, but so does the work behind it. Our guide to what Airbnb management includes explains the day to day responsibilities a management service can take off your hands.
Know Who You Will Be Working With
Franchise Partner or Directly with the Team?
You might want to discuss a quieter month, arrange a visit home or get an update on a repair. Having a familiar point of contact makes those conversations easier.
At Domistay, the team who help you get started remain your main points of contact throughout your hosting journey. We do not operate as a franchisor or hand your home to a separate management partner. You speak directly with the people managing it.
That continuity gives us a chance to understand your priorities: the dates you want to keep for yourself, your expectations for income and how you want your home cared for. Our reporting gives you visibility over performance, with a team you can talk to about what the figures mean.
Houst also provides host support and a dashboard. Its partner programme combines central technology and support with local operators. That can bring local knowledge alongside a larger organisation’s systems. The arrangement for your address matters: who your regular contact will be and who takes responsibility for the work locally.
Start with Your Hosting Goals: Does Hosting Make Sense for You?
Perhaps your home will be empty while you work abroad. Perhaps you want an income from a second home but still need it for family visits. Or perhaps the financial return is your main priority.
Those plans call for different conversations. A headline annual estimate is only useful if it reflects the nights your home will actually be available, the demand in your area and the costs of hosting.
At Domistay, our Airbnb feasibility assessment looks at those details before we take on your home. Our local focus includes selected areas of London and Kent, such as Greenwich, Deptford, Dartford and Tunbridge Wells. We consider location, presentation, likely demand and your own plans together.
If we do not believe the likely return or hosting arrangement will meet your expectations, we will tell you. That may mean the available dates are too limited, the preparation costs do not make sense for your goals or our service is simply not the right fit.
Practical requirements belong in that early conversation too. Our guide to short term let planning permission covers questions to explore before you commit.
The aim is to start with a realistic plan you feel comfortable with, financially and personally.
Look Closely at Linen, Supplies and Home Care
Fresh bedding, soft towels and everyday essentials help guests settle in. Behind each arrival is the work of getting those details ready again.
Domistay’s hotel quality linen service provides professionally laundered bedding and towels. It takes laundry off your list and helps your home feel ready for the next guest.
We also help organise supplies and ordering. That includes sourcing suitable products with environmental considerations in mind, while balancing guest comfort, quality and cost. You have support with the practical choices as well as the replenishment, rather than having to work everything out yourself.
Houst also offers hotel quality linen and toiletries replenishment. These services are valuable with either provider; the useful comparison is how they are delivered in your home and which costs sit outside the management fee.
Home care extends beyond preparing for arrival. Our guest management service includes vetting, guest communication and access arrangements such as key safes or smart locks, depending on the home. Alongside inspections and support during the stay, these measures help us identify and respond to issues. We explain the security arrangements relevant to your home without promising that hosting can be entirely risk free.
Check the Terms Alongside the Service
Your management agreement needs to fit the way you want to use your home. Personal stays, a change of plans or a cancelled booking can all affect the arrangement.
At Domistay, our commission reflects the booking revenue you actually receive. If a cancellation or adjustment reduces that revenue, our commission is adjusted accordingly. This is a useful detail to compare alongside the headline percentage.
Our published full time management plan requires at least 12 months availability. We discuss that commitment alongside the dates you need for yourself. Full time and part time proposals can carry different fees and conditions, so the important points to settle are:
- Commitment and flexibility: minimum term, personal stays, notice periods and any exit charges.
- The full cost: VAT, cleaning, linen, supplies, setup charges and commission on cancelled or adjusted bookings.
- Payments and approvals: when you receive your income, which expenses require approval and, if a card is required, who stores the details and what can be charged.
Houst’s terms should be set out in your individual proposal. Comparing those details gives you a clearer picture than the advertised rate alone.
What Could Your Home Earn After Costs?
Tell us where your home is, when it will be available and what you want hosting to achieve. We will talk through its likely income, the costs to allow for and how our service would fit your plans.
Book a free consultation with Domistay to explore the numbers for your own home, with a clear explanation of our fees and an honest view of whether we are the right fit.
FAQ’s
Is Domistay Cheaper than Houst?
At the same commission rate and VAT treatment, Domistay’s net revenue calculation produces a lower management fee in the example above. Your overall cost depends on the quote for your home and any additional services. A lower fee alone does not establish which provider will deliver the higher overall return.
Does Domistay Charge Commission on Cleaning or Platform Fees?
No. We deduct platform fees and exclude the cleaning fee before calculating management commission. Our rates range from 12% to 18% plus VAT on that net booking revenue.
Does Net Booking Revenue Mean Profit?
No. It is the amount used to calculate our commission after the specified deductions. Your final return also depends on management fees and other costs, such as utilities, maintenance and supplies.
Will I Deal Directly with Domistay?
Yes. The team who help you get started remain your main points of contact. Domistay does not operate as a franchisor or pass management of your home to a separate hosting partner.
Can I Still Stay in My Home?
We discuss personal stays and availability before you join, so these form part of the agreed arrangement. Let us know which dates matter to you when we put your proposal together.
Is Domistay a Houst Alternative in London?
Yes, for homes within the London areas we cover that suit our service. We also manage homes in selected Kent locations. If you are considering moving from Houst, we can discuss your goals and a possible handover around your existing notice period, listing access and upcoming bookings.
