What do short-term rentals earn?
Location, type, occupancy and management: the four factors that determine the returns of your property in Ghent or on the coast.
Published: July 2026 · SÉJO
The four factors that determine your returns
1. Location. An apartment within walking distance of Ghent's centre or a home with a sea view structurally outperforms the same property three kilometres away. Differences within the region are large — which is exactly why a realistic per-property estimate beats any average.
2. Type and finish. Guests pay for character and comfort. A property with a considered interior, good beds and an equipped kitchen earns better reviews, and better reviews mean higher rates and more bookings.
3. Occupancy. The coast peaks in July and August; Ghent and Bruges run year-round. Aiming only at high season leaves months of income on the table. Dynamic pricing and a mix of tourists, city-trippers and professionals keep the calendar full off-season too.
4. Management. Fast responses, flawless check-ins and consistent quality determine your ranking on the booking platforms. Professional management isn't a cost next to your returns — it's one of the biggest levers behind them.
Gross is not net
Beyond rental income, account for cleaning costs (usually carried by the guest), platform commissions, utilities, insurance and maintenance. With commission-based management like SÉJO's, you only pay when the property actually rents — no fixed costs running through quiet months.
What does this mean for your property?
An honest answer requires a calculation tailored to your location, type and finish. That's why we built a free simulator: enter your details and see a realistic estimate within minutes.