Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Long Beach, California Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Long Beach presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic coastal location, robust tourism infrastructure, and consistently high occupancy rates that significantly outperform traditional long-term rental yields. Property owners can capitalize on the city's proximity to LAX (20 minutes), major attractions like the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific, and its position as California's second-largest port, which generates substantial business traveler demand year-round. Current market data indicates Long Beach Airbnb properties achieve average daily rates 40-60% higher than comparable long-term rentals, with oceanfront and downtown properties commanding premium nightly rates of $150-300+ depending on size and amenities. The city's diverse appeal—from convention center business travelers to leisure tourists seeking beach access without premium Santa Monica pricing—creates consistent demand across multiple guest segments, while the ongoing revitalization of downtown Long Beach and the East Village arts district continues to drive property appreciation and rental premiums. With occupancy rates consistently exceeding 70% for well-managed properties and the ability to adjust pricing dynamically based on events, seasons, and local demand patterns, Long Beach short-term rentals offer property owners a compelling opportunity to maximize their asset's revenue potential in one of Southern California's most undervalued coastal markets.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Long Beach, California are intricate and constantly evolving, with the city requiring specific permits, business licenses, and compliance with zoning restrictions that vary by neighborhood and property type, while also mandating adherence to transient occupancy tax collection, safety standards, noise ordinances, and parking requirements that can result in substantial fines, legal action, or forced closure of your rental operation if not properly managed. The complexity of navigating these regulations—from initial permit applications and annual renewals to ongoing tax filings and regulatory updates—creates significant liability for property owners who attempt to handle compliance independently, as even minor oversights can lead to costly penalties and jeopardize your investment. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these risks entirely, as experienced managers maintain current knowledge of all local regulations, handle permit applications and renewals, ensure proper tax collection and remittance, monitor compliance requirements, and adapt to regulatory changes on your behalf, providing you with complete peace of mind while maximizing your rental income within full legal compliance.
Occupancy Rates
Long Beach, California experiences distinct seasonal patterns in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring during summer months (June through August) when beach activities and outdoor events drive demand to 75-85% occupancy, and secondary peaks during spring break (March-April) and major local events like the Long Beach Grand Prix. Shoulder seasons typically fall during late fall and winter months (November through February), when occupancy rates can drop to 45-60% as cooler weather and fewer festivals reduce visitor appeal. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, requiring hosts to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand periods while strategically lowering prices during slower months to maintain competitive occupancy levels. Effective revenue management in Long Beach must account for local event calendars, weather patterns, and proximity to LAX airport, adjusting pricing algorithms to capture business travelers during weekdays and leisure guests during weekends, while offering extended-stay discounts during shoulder seasons to attract longer-term visitors and maintain consistent cash flow throughout the year.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Long Beach presents overwhelming operational challenges that can quickly destroy profitability and guest satisfaction in this highly competitive coastal market. The rapid guest turnover typical of beach destinations means coordinating cleaning crews, maintenance checks, and restocking between same-day bookings while managing the logistics of key exchanges and property inspections, often leaving zero buffer time for unexpected issues like broken air conditioning units during summer heat waves or plumbing failures after beach-goers track sand throughout the property. The 24/7 communication demands are relentless, with guests expecting immediate responses to everything from WiFi troubleshooting to noise complaints from neighboring properties, emergency lockouts at 2 AM, and constant inquiries about local attractions, parking regulations, and beach access—all while juggling multiple properties and personal responsibilities. Maintenance challenges are amplified by Long Beach's coastal environment, where salt air accelerates wear on fixtures and appliances, while the high-traffic nature of vacation rentals means frequent repairs to everything from sliding patio doors damaged by sand and salt to HVAC systems overworked by guests who leave windows open with air conditioning running. Without professional property management handling these complex, time-sensitive operations, owners inevitably face declining reviews, emergency situations that spiral into costly disasters, and the constant stress that transforms what should be passive income into a demanding second job that threatens their property's 5-star reputation and long-term profitability.
Attractions and Amenities
Long Beach's primary tourist attractions center around the iconic Queen Mary historic ocean liner, the world-class Aquarium of the Pacific, the expansive Belmont Shore beach area, and the vibrant downtown waterfront district, each requiring specific property amenities to maximize guest satisfaction and revenue potential. Properties serving Queen Mary visitors benefit from offering historical tour information, comfortable seating areas for older guests who may tire from extensive walking, and early breakfast options since the ship opens at 10 AM. Aquarium of the Pacific guests, particularly families with children, need amenities like pack-and-play cribs, high chairs, stroller storage space, and late check-out options since aquarium visits often extend into afternoon hours. Belmont Shore beachgoers require beach equipment such as umbrellas, chairs, boogie boards, and beach towels, along with outdoor shower facilities, sand-removal mats, and secure storage for wet items. Downtown waterfront visitors exploring the Pike Outlets, waterfront dining, and nightlife scene need high-speed Wi-Fi for restaurant reservations and ride-sharing apps, secure parking or transportation information, local dining recommendations, and flexible check-in times to accommodate varied arrival schedules from Los Angeles area traffic, while properties that combine these targeted amenities with their proximity to these specific attractions can command premium rates and achieve higher occupancy through repeat bookings and positive reviews.

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