The difference between long-term and short-term garage rentals

The difference between long-term and short-term garage rentals

Renting out a garage can be done in several ways, but the key difference is the length of the agreement. Short-term lets you benefit from flexibility and peak-demand moments; long-term offers security but less room to adjust.

In this guide, you’ll discover what each option really means, how it impacts your earnings, and how SparkSpot supports you as a garage owner.

What do we mean by short-term and long-term rental?

Short-term rental means letting out your garage by the hour, day, or a few days — for instance during an event or a quick city break.

Long-term rental is based on fixed contracts lasting several months or even years. The tenant uses the garage as a permanent parking or storage space without interruption.

The difference is mainly about duration and flexibility: short-term gives you control over when and to whom you rent; long-term provides stability but less room to manoeuvre.

Why short-term rental can generate higher returns

Higher income per day or per hour

With short-term rental, you usually charge a higher rate per hour or per day than with a long agreement. A single peak day can equal a whole week of long-term income — especially in busy areas or on high-demand days.

Capitalising on peak moments and events

Short-term lets you tap into the highest demand periods: festivals, sports fixtures, or holiday peaks. During these moments, you can increase your rate without being tied to the lower price of a long-term contract.

Flexibility as a decisive advantage

Deciding when you rent out

Short-term keeps control in your hands. You choose the days or hours your garage is available. Want a break or to use it yourself? Simply set it to unavailable. With a platform like SparkSpot, updating availability is quick and easy.

Easily adjusting to changing plans

Plans change. You may want to rent more in summer — or less, depending on your schedule. With short-term, you can adjust rental periods or pricing whenever needed, without long notice periods or breaking contracts.

Long-term rental drawbacks

Different pricing model

With a fixed contract, the price is usually lower than what you could charge per day or hour on the short term. You gain security, but may miss out when demand (and price) peaks. Over a year, this can significantly affect total earnings.

Less freedom to use the garage yourself

The garage is occupied for an extended period. Using it yourself in between is usually not possible unless the contract ends or the tenant agrees to an early stop. In short: you trade flexibility for certainty.

How SparkSpot makes short-term rental easy

Online bookings and secure payments

With SparkSpot, everything is handled online: list your garage, set availability, and receive bookings via the platform. Payments are secure and processed automatically — convenient and reliable.

Full control through your account

From your personal account, manage bookings, pricing and availability in one place. This makes it easy to maximise earnings without extra workload.

Choosing both profit and freedom

Short-term rental with SparkSpot combines flexibility with higher earning potential. You set the rules and keep control of your property while a user-friendly system makes renting effortless.

It’s the smarter way to get more from your garage without sacrificing your freedom.