Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Huntington Beach, California

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Huntington Beach, California Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Huntington Beach presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its prime coastal location, consistent year-round demand, and superior revenue metrics compared to traditional long-term rentals. Properties within 0.5 miles of the beach command average daily rates of $200-350, with occupancy rates exceeding 75% annually, generating potential gross revenues 40-60% higher than conventional rental income. The city's strategic position as "Surf City USA" attracts over 11 million visitors annually, creating sustained demand from leisure travelers, business professionals visiting nearby aerospace and tech companies, and event attendees drawn to the Huntington Beach Pier and US Open of Surfing. Market data indicates that well-positioned properties achieve revenue per available room (RevPAR) figures of $150-200, significantly outperforming the Orange County average of $120, while the area's limited short-term rental inventory due to zoning restrictions creates a supply-constrained environment that supports premium pricing. With Orange County's median home appreciation of 8-12% annually complementing strong rental yields, property owners can capitalize on both immediate cash flow generation and long-term asset appreciation in this high-barrier-to-entry coastal market.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Huntington Beach has implemented strict short-term rental regulations that require property owners to obtain proper permits, comply with zoning restrictions, and navigate a complex web of local ordinances that can change without warning—failure to comply can result in hefty fines, legal action, and forced closure of your rental operation. The city's permitting process involves multiple departments, ongoing compliance monitoring, tax collection requirements, and neighbor complaint protocols that can quickly overwhelm property owners who attempt to manage these responsibilities independently. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing requirements, permit renewals, tax filings, and legal compliance issues are handled expertly on your behalf, allowing you to enjoy the income from your property without the stress and risk of navigating Huntington Beach's ever-evolving regulatory landscape.
Occupancy Rates
Huntington Beach Airbnb occupancy rates follow distinct seasonal patterns, with peak tourist seasons occurring during summer months (June through August) when beach activities, surfing competitions, and warm weather drive occupancy rates to 80-90%, and secondary peaks during spring break (March-April) and major surfing events throughout the year. Shoulder seasons typically fall during late fall and winter months (November through February), when cooler temperatures and fewer beach-focused activities result in occupancy rates dropping to 50-65%, though the area maintains some appeal due to its year-round surfing conditions and proximity to attractions like Disneyland. Professional revenue management becomes essential during these fluctuations, as hosts must implement dynamic pricing strategies that capitalize on high-demand periods by increasing rates during summer weekends and surf competitions, while offering competitive pricing during slower months to attract longer-term stays, business travelers, and budget-conscious visitors. Effective revenue management in this market requires real-time monitoring of local events, weather patterns, and competitor pricing to optimize both occupancy rates and average daily rates, ensuring properties remain profitable during shoulder seasons while maximizing revenue during peak demand periods when visitors are willing to pay premium rates for beachfront proximity and surf culture access.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Huntington Beach presents overwhelming operational challenges that can quickly destroy profitability and guest satisfaction in this highly competitive coastal market. Guest turnover demands precise coordination of cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and supply restocking between same-day bookings, while the area's premium pricing means guests expect flawless experiences with zero tolerance for delays or oversights. The 24/7 communication requirement becomes particularly demanding when managing multiple properties across different time zones, handling emergency maintenance requests during peak summer months, and responding to guest complaints about everything from beach equipment to air conditioning failures in the humid coastal climate. Maintenance issues are amplified by the corrosive salt air that accelerates wear on HVAC systems, outdoor furniture, and building exteriors, while finding reliable contractors familiar with coastal property challenges often requires extensive vetting and premium pricing. Without professional property management handling these complex logistics, owners frequently find themselves trapped in reactive cycles of guest complaints, negative reviews, and declining bookings that transform what should be passive income into a full-time job with diminishing returns, making full-service management not just convenient but essential for maintaining the 5-star standards necessary to command Huntington Beach's premium rental rates.
Attractions and Amenities
Huntington Beach's primary tourism magnets include the iconic Huntington Pier and Main Street Beach area, the expansive Huntington State Beach stretching for miles along the Pacific Coast Highway, the vibrant downtown district centered around Main Street with its shops and restaurants, and the world-renowned surfing spots that have earned the city its "Surf City USA" designation. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these attractions, properties must offer beach-specific amenities including outdoor showers and hose stations for rinsing sand and saltwater, secure storage for surfboards and beach equipment, beach chairs and umbrellas for guest use, and covered parking to protect vehicles from salt air corrosion. Additionally, properties should provide high-speed Wi-Fi for guests sharing their beach experiences on social media, early check-in and late check-out options to accommodate flight schedules and maximize beach time, laundry facilities for washing sandy clothes and wet swimwear, and ideally balconies or patios where guests can enjoy ocean breezes while planning their next day's beach activities. Properties within walking distance of the pier and Main Street should emphasize their proximity to restaurants and nightlife, while those near the state beach should highlight their access to the area's best surfing and beach volleyball courts.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

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Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573