Which Wins?
If you own a property in Seville and you’re thinking about renting it out, you’ve probably asked yourself this more than once: long-term or short-term? It’s a decision that goes beyond the numbers. It’s also about how much time, energy and headspace you’re prepared to put in. Because a yield on paper is one thing, and what actually ends up in your pocket — along with how much peace of mind you keep along the way — is another thing entirely.
In this article we compare both models using real data from our own market, and explain why the key isn’t so much choosing one or the other, but how the property is managed.
Long-term rental: stability, but a narrower margin
Long-term letting is the better-known option: an annual (or multi-year) contract, a fixed tenant and a steady monthly income. It’s the model most owners grew up with, and on paper it remains a solid choice.
According to the available figures, the average gross yield on residential rentals in Spain stood at 6.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, slightly below the 7.2% recorded a year earlier. It’s a predictable model with far fewer day-to-day costs (no cleaning between guests, no listings to maintain on booking platforms), but it also leaves less room for manoeuvre: the Spanish Housing Act (Ley de Vivienda) caps rent increases in many areas, and a missed payment or a difficult tenant can turn into a long and draining process.
Short-term rental: higher potential income
Short-term rental: higher potential income, more work behind it Short-term accommodation — whether a single tourist-use dwelling, an entire apartment building or another type of property — can generate higher gross income, particularly in a city with Seville’s level of demand, where occupancy stays high and steady all year round, not just during the peak season of Semana Santa, the Feria de Abril and spring.
A report by Alquiler Seguro covering Spain’s six largest cities concluded that in Seville, short-term rentals deliver a yield around 5% higher than long-term rentals, and 11% higher than seasonal lets. That contrasts with Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, where long-term renting comes out more profitable in net terms once management, void periods and tax are taken into account. Along with Málaga and Zaragoza, Seville is one of the few cities where short-term letting comes out on top.
Other industry sources, such as AirDNA figures compiled by local management companies, put the average annual income of a well-located short-term rental in Seville significantly above that of an equivalent conventional let, with occupancy rates in the city centre reaching 70–90% in season.
One important caveat: these figures are usually gross. Working out the real yield on a short-term rental means deducting cleaning between stays, maintenance, booking management, utilities, insurance and platform commissions — costs a long-term let barely incurs. The gap between what you invoice and what you actually keep is far wider in short-term rentals than in long-term ones.
This is where professional management makes more difference than it might seem: maximising real occupancy, negotiating better terms with cleaning and maintenance suppliers, and cutting the empty gaps between bookings is what decides, in practice, whether that higher headline yield turns into more net profit.
The comparison table: what each model wins on
| Long-term rental | Short-term rental | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Fixed and monthly | Variable, with seasonal peaks |
| Average gross yield (Spain) | ~6,7% | Higher in Seville (~5% more) |
| Seasonality | None | High (Semana Santa, Feria, spring) |
| Day-to-day management | Minimal | Constant (cleaning, check-ins, 24h support) |
| Legal formalities | Standard LAU tenancy agreement | Regional registration, SES.HOSPEDAJES, municipal rules |
| Risk of non-payment | Yes, with lengthy proceedings | Not applicable (paid in advance) |
| Flexibility for your own use | None during the contract | High — you can block out dates |
So which one is better?
This is where many owners frame the question the wrong way. There’s no objectively better model: there’s the model that fits your property, its location, what the rules in your area allow and, above all, how much management you’re willing to take on or delegate.
- If your priority is steady income with almost no involvement, long-term renting is still a reasonable option.
- If your property is well located and meets the legal requirements, short-term renting in Seville can deliver higher income, provided the day-to-day running is in the hands of someone who knows it well.
What really separates earning more from earning more — and sleeping soundly — isn’t the model you choose, but who makes sure everything works: from regulatory compliance to cleaning between guests, to sorting out a problem at three in the morning.
Peace of mind, the real difference
Many owners rule out short-term renting not because it isn’t profitable, but because they’re wary of the workload it involves: coordinating cleaning, answering messages at all hours, dealing with a breakdown while they’re on holiday themselves, or simply having no idea whether they’re complying with every rule in force.
And that’s exactly where professional management comes in. With a full-service management provider like Alohamundi, the higher yield short-term renting can offer in Seville no longer comes with the stress attached:
- We handle cleaning, maintenance and check-ins.
- We optimise your listing and your pricing to maximise real occupancy.
- We look after guests 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- We make sure your property complies with every rule in force.
The result is simple: you receive the income, we take care of everything else. That, in the end, is the real difference between simply renting out your property and knowing it’s in good hands.
Short-term and long-term rentals aren’t enemies: they’re two different tools for the same goal, which is making your property in Seville work for you. The data suggests short-term renting can deliver higher income in this city, but that advantage only holds if the management is done properly. Otherwise, time, stress and the unexpected can eat up a good part of that extra yield.
Want to know what your property in Seville could realistically earn, without having to handle the day-to-day yourself? Get in touch and we’ll put together a personalised, no-obligation assessment.
