Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Management in Houston
Full-service property management for Houston STR owners. We handle the guests, cleaning, maintenance, pricing, and compliance — you collect the revenue.
Full-Service Management
Everything Your Houston Property Needs
From listing to checkout, we manage every detail so you don't have to. Our Houston team handles operations on the ground — not from a remote call center.
Listing Creation & Optimization
Professional photography, compelling descriptions, and multi-platform distribution across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. We optimize every element — titles, tags, amenity lists, and cover photos — to rank higher in platform search results and convert more browsers into bookers.
Dynamic Pricing & Revenue Management
Real-time rate adjustments based on Houston events, seasonal demand, and competitor analysis. We maximize your ADR without sacrificing occupancy, using proprietary algorithms calibrated specifically for the Houston market.
24/7 Guest Communication
Professional, rapid response to every inquiry and issue. From booking questions to mid-stay maintenance requests, your guests get concierge-level service around the clock — with average response times under 5 minutes.
Housekeeping & Turnover Management
Hotel-quality cleaning with detailed checklists, linen service, restocking, and quality inspections. Our Houston cleaning teams maintain 5-star standards on every turnover, with photo-verified completion reports.
Maintenance & Property Care
Proactive maintenance scheduling, emergency repair coordination, and vendor management. Houston's humidity and storm season demand year-round attention — we handle it all, from routine HVAC service to emergency plumbing.
Compliance & Permitting
Full STR permit management including City of Houston registration, HOT tax filing, liability insurance documentation, and the new January 2027 compliance deadline. We keep your property legal so you can focus on returns.
Local Expertise
Houston Neighborhoods We Serve
Every Houston neighborhood has unique guest profiles, pricing dynamics, and regulations. Our local team knows the nuances that national companies miss.
The Heights
One of Houston's most popular STR neighborhoods. Historic bungalows and craftsman homes attract couples and foodies drawn to the walkable 19th Street restaurant scene. Expect strong weekend demand and premium nightly rates above $200 for well-designed listings.
Montrose
Houston's arts and culture hub draws a diverse guest mix — museum visitors, Menil Collection tourists, and young professionals. Properties here benefit from proximity to the Museum District and Hermann Park. High walkability scores drive strong Airbnb search rankings.
Midtown
Nightlife-adjacent with strong weekend and event-driven demand. Popular with younger travelers and groups. Studio and one-bedroom units perform well here, with high occupancy rates thanks to the METRORail connection to downtown and NRG Stadium.
EaDo / East End
Emerging neighborhood near Dynamo Stadium and the new innovation corridor. Lower acquisition costs but rapidly appreciating. Guests include soccer fans, concert-goers (at 713 Music Hall), and professionals working in the East End tech corridor.
Museum District
Premium nightly rates driven by cultural tourism — the Houston Museum of Natural Science, MFAH, and Children's Museum are all within walking distance. Extended stays from visiting scholars and medical professionals at nearby TMC are common.
Medical Center
The world's largest medical complex generates consistent midweek demand from traveling nurses, visiting physicians, patients' families, and medical conference attendees. Properties within shuttle distance of TMC see 70%+ occupancy year-round.
Galleria / Uptown
Business traveler market with strong corporate demand. The Galleria, Williams Tower, and Post Oak Boulevard create a steady stream of guests. Luxury units and furnished apartments perform well, especially for 30+ night stays.
Memorial / Spring Branch
Family-friendly neighborhood with good schools and parks. Longer average stays — families relocating, corporate transfers, and traveling sports teams for Memorial Park tournaments. Lower turnover costs offset slightly lower nightly rates.
The Woodlands
Suburban premium market north of Houston. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion concerts and Woodlands Waterway events drive weekend peaks. Corporate demand from ExxonMobil, HP, and Anadarko headquarters provides midweek stability.
Katy / Energy Corridor
Corporate extended stay market serving the concentration of energy companies along I-10 West. Properties furnished for month-long stays perform best. Lower guest turnover means lower operating costs with consistent revenue.
Clear Lake / NASA
Space Center Houston is a major tourism driver, bringing families and space enthusiasts year-round. The area also serves NASA contractors, Lockheed Martin employees, and Bay Area Houston corporate visitors. Seasonal peaks during school breaks.
Sugar Land
Growing suburban market with the Smart Financial Centre driving event-based demand. Family-oriented guests on longer stays, corporate visitors to the Sugar Land Business Park, and weekend visitors to the Fort Bend Museum and trails.
+ Serving the entire Greater Houston metro area, from Sugar Land to Conroe
Stay Compliant
Houston STR Regulations
Houston implemented its first citywide short-term rental ordinance under Ord. 2025-322, effective January 1, 2026. Compliance isn't optional — and enforcement is ramping up.
Surge handles the entire permitting and compliance process for every property we manage. No paperwork, no missed deadlines, no surprises.
STR Registration Required
All Houston short-term rentals must register through the City of Houston STR Portal. The annual fee is $275 per property, plus a one-time $75 application fee for first-time registrants. Registration must be renewed every 12 months — lapsed registrations can result in fines up to $500 per day of operation.
$1M Liability Insurance
Every STR operator must maintain at least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance per occurrence. Standard homeowner's insurance does not qualify. Surge verifies your policy meets city requirements and ensures it stays current — a lapsed policy means automatic non-compliance.
24-Hour Emergency Contact
A local contact or professional call center must be available 24/7 to respond to guest or neighbor complaints within 60 minutes. The contact's name, phone number, and email must be filed with the city. Surge serves as your registered emergency contact for all properties we manage.
Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)
Houston STRs must collect and remit 13% total occupancy tax — 7% city HOT plus 6% state HOT. Airbnb handles the city portion automatically, but other platforms may not. State HOT must be filed quarterly with the Texas Comptroller. Failure to collect or remit HOT can result in back-taxes, penalties of up to 10%, plus interest.
Human Trafficking Training
All owners and operators must complete mandatory annual human trafficking awareness training — a Houston-specific requirement that catches many hosts off guard. Training certificates must be kept on file and presented upon request during city inspections.
Neighbor Notification
Operators must provide contact information to neighbors within 200 feet of the property. This must be done at initial registration and updated if contact information changes. Non-compliance can trigger complaints that accelerate city enforcement action.
Maximum Occupancy Limits
Houston limits STR occupancy based on the number of bedrooms and overall property size. Exceeding posted maximum occupancy is a violation that can result in fines and permit revocation. All listings must clearly display the maximum guest count.
⚠️ January 2027 Enforcement Deadline
Starting January 1, 2027, the City of Houston will notify Airbnb, Vrbo, and all booking platforms to delist any STR without a valid certificate of registration. This is not a warning — unregistered listings will be removed from platforms automatically. Properties managed by Surge are already fully registered and compliant.
Why Choose Surge
Why Houston Owners Trust Surge
Not all property managers are the same. Here's what sets Surge apart in Houston.
Houston-Based Team, Not a Remote Call Center
Our operations team lives and works in Houston. When a pipe bursts at 2 AM or a guest needs help during a hurricane, we're 30 minutes away — not in another time zone reading from a script.
Event-Driven Pricing Expertise
Houston's revenue calendar is driven by the Rodeo, OTC, medical conferences, sports events, and conventions. Our pricing algorithms are trained on years of Houston-specific demand data — not national averages that miss these peaks.
Full Compliance Management
We've navigated Houston's new STR ordinance from day one. Every property we manage is registered, insured, and tax-compliant. With the January 2027 enforcement deadline approaching, that's not optional.
Capped Portfolio for Quality
We limit the number of properties we manage in each Houston neighborhood. That means your property gets dedicated attention, not assembly-line service. Our teams know your property's quirks, your neighbors' concerns, and your specific goals.
Transparent Owner Reporting
Monthly owner statements with full revenue breakdown, expense detail, and occupancy analytics. No hidden fees, no surprise charges. You see exactly what your property earned and what it cost to operate — every month.
Simple Process
How It Works
Getting started takes less than a week. Cancel anytime with 90 days notice — no upfront fees.
Free Property Assessment
We evaluate your property, research comparable listings in your neighborhood, and provide a detailed revenue projection — no commitment required.
Launch & Optimize
Professional photography, compelling listing creation, permit registration, and multi-platform syndication. Your property goes live within 2 weeks.
We Manage, You Earn
Sit back while we handle everything — guests, cleaning, maintenance, pricing, compliance. You receive monthly owner statements with full transparency.
Common Questions
Houston Airbnb Management FAQ
Owner Testimonials
What Our Property Owners Say
"I've been very happy with Surge property management. They do a great job with our property. We can be completely hands off and they handle anything and everything. We're getting great reviews from guests and the bookings are growing."
"Amazing crew very knowledgeable and years of experience!! Definitely the correct choice!! Thank you guys so much!!"
"Highly recommend Humberto for all of your investing and property management needs! Whether its buying or managing a short term rental his knowledge and experience makes him by far the best option around. Will 100% be working with Surge again in the future!"
From the Blog
Houston STR Resources
Guides and insights for Houston short-term rental owners.
Houston Short-Term Rental Laws 2026 — Permits & Tax Rules
Houston now requires all STR operators to register, pay hotel occupancy tax, and follow a growing list of rules. Here's what you actually need to know — from registration to taxes to enforcement.
Best Houston Airbnb Management Companies (2026)
A detailed comparison of Houston's top property management companies for short-term rentals — who they are, what they charge, and how they compare on service quality and owner transparency.
Airbnb Cleaning Cost in Houston — What to Expect
What Houston STR owners actually pay for turnover cleaning, how pricing works, and when it makes sense to switch from independent cleaners to a managed cleaning program.
Ready to Maximize Your Houston Property?
Get a free revenue estimate for your property. No commitment, no pressure — just data on what your Houston rental could earn under professional management.
We cap our portfolio to protect quality — limited spots available in Houston.