Off-season in daily rentals: how not to go into the red after the holidays

January-February 2026 is a critical time for owners of daily apartments. After the New Year holidays, occupancy drops by 40-60% compared to December, competition for each guest intensifies, and many entrepreneurs begin to reduce prices in panic. The average occupancy rate of properties in large cities in the off-season drops to 35-45%, while in peak months it is 75-80%.

The main mistake is price dumping

Instead of cutting the price, you need to change the offer. Create special January packages: “Holiday tour”, “Cozy weekend”, “Home cinema + food delivery”. This approach allows you to maintain margins and attract those who are looking for comfort, and not just cheap housing. It’s better to adapt the apartment to your guest and rent it out for 3,000 rubles with a good offer, than to reduce it to 2,000 and make a loss.​

Typical mistakes during the off season

Buying real estate for daily rent without calculating the actual occupancy is one of the main mistakes of investors. Many estimate profitability only by peak months, ignore competition in the area and hope to manage independently without experience. In 2026, self-delivery is increasingly becoming a source of losses due to complex platform algorithms and increased competition.​

What works in the off season

Flexibility in pricing and the use of additional marketing strategies help not only to maintain revenues, but also to develop new market segments. Testing marketing campaigns, expanding your presence on social networks and on new booking platforms significantly increases the chances of a successful rental during the off-season. The off-season is the best time for action: those who simply wait for better times lose not only income, but also positions against more active competitors.