Why Our Owner Agreement Looks Different
And why that’s good for both of us
Most property owners come to short-term rentals with one simple hope:
“I want my home to earn well without becoming a second job.”
That is exactly why CapeHolidays exists.
But as soon as a property becomes a short-term rental, something changes.
It is no longer just a home.
It becomes a hospitality business.
And hospitality businesses only work when roles are clear.
The Invisible Risk Owners Don’t See
On Airbnb and similar platforms, everything feels informal:
• Guests click
• Calendars fill
• Money arrives
But behind the scenes, the risks are real:
• A guest floods a bathroom
• A neighbour complains
• An owner cancels Christmas
• A platform demands a refund
• A review drops from 4.9 to 4.6
• Insurance denies a claim
Suddenly everyone is pointing fingers.
That is why serious management requires something most DIY hosts never have:
clear authority and clear accountability.
What Professional Stewardship Really Means
CapeHolidays does not “list” properties.
We steward them.
That means we take responsibility for:
• Pricing and yield
• Guest vetting
• Calendar integrity
• House rules
• Refunds and disputes
• Cleaning, linen, and hosting
• Reputation management
• Review performance
To do that properly, we need the same thing any hotel has:
operational control.
Not ownership.
Not your asset.
Just the authority to do the job you hired us to do.
From Management to Stewardship: A Better Way to Host
Why the Agreement Is So Clear
Our agreement does three important things:
-
It protects your asset
You remain the owner, the legal accommodation provider, and the beneficiary of all income. -
It protects the guest experience
We are empowered to act fast, fix problems, enforce rules, and protect reviews. -
It protects the business model
When bookings are confirmed, they are honoured.
When costs are incurred, they are transparent.
When something goes wrong, responsibility is clear.
That clarity is what allows us to maximise income without chaos.
Why Transparency Is Built In
Most agencies send monthly statements.
We give you:
24/7 live access to every booking, every fee, every payout, and every expense.
You never have to “trust” us.
You can simply see.
That is not agent-friendly.
That is owner-friendly.
Why Not Everyone Is a Fit
Our agreement is not designed to trap owners.
It is designed to align them.
If you want to:
• Double-book
• Override pricing
• Cancel guests for personal plans
• Dispute every cleaning bill
• Run a DIY Airbnb through a professional brand
We are not the right partner.
But if you want:
• High occupancy
• Strong nightly rates
• Consistent 5-star reviews
• Protected calendars
• Predictable cashflow
• Less stress
Then clear rules are not a burden.
They are the foundation.
Why We Share This Before the Contract
We publish this because we believe something simple:
The best partnerships are the ones that begin with understanding, not surprises.
That’s why we provide a plain-English Owner-Friendly Summary Sheet before you ever see the full legal agreement.
So you know exactly what you’re stepping into.
And so do we.
CapeHolidays
Boutique stewardship for homes that deserve to perform.
OWNER-FRIENDLY SUMMARY SHEET OF THE AGREEMENT
(Plain-English Overview – Non-Binding)
CapeHolidays – Exclusive Management & Stewardship Overview
This summary explains how we manage your home.
It is provided for clarity only. The signed Exclusive Management & Stewardship Agreement is the legally binding document.
1. What CapeHolidays Does
CapeHolidays acts as your exclusive managing agent for short-term holiday rentals.
We:
• Price your home dynamically
• Market it across major platforms
• Vet and manage guests
• Coordinate cleaning, linen, and changeovers
• Handle guest communication and issues
• Protect review quality and income performance
You remain the owner and legal accommodation provider.
2. Exclusivity (Why It Matters)
While under mandate:
• We control calendars, pricing, and listings
• All bookings must go through CapeHolidays
• This avoids double bookings and protects pricing integrity
This exclusivity allows us to maximise annual income rather than chase short-term gains.
3. How Fees Work (Simple Breakdown)
Management Fee
• 20% of gross rental income (success-based)
Technology & Distribution Fee
• 1% per reservation
• Covers pricing software, synchronisation tools, and booking systems
Changeover Fee (Guest-Paid)
• R2,000 – R3,000 per stay
• Paid by the guest
• Credited to you to offset cleaning, linen, hosting, and turnover costs
4. The Repair & Emergency Kitty
• A float of R5,000 – R7,000 is kept for urgent repairs
• Used only for critical or immediate issues
• Always visible in your live ledger
• Remains your money
This helps avoid delays that can damage the guest experience or reviews.
5. Payments & Transparency
• You receive view-only access to a live booking and financial spreadsheet
• Every booking, cost, and payout is visible
• Funds are paid to you within 3 business days of clearing
No hidden fees. No surprises.
6. Guest Issues, Damage & Insurance
• Guests are vetted and house rules enforced
• Breakages are recovered from deposits or platforms
• You maintain short-term rental insurance and liability cover
• CapeHolidays is not liable for guest damage beyond recoverable amounts
7. Flexibility & Exit
• Agreement runs for 12 months
• Either party may exit with 30 days’ notice
• All confirmed bookings are honoured and managed to completion
• Commission applies to bookings already confirmed
This protects both parties and existing guests.
8. Sale of the Property
If you plan to sell:
• Please give at least 3 months’ notice
• Existing bookings must still be honoured
9. What This Model Optimises For
✔ High annual income
✔ Stable pricing
✔ 5-Star reviews
✔ Fewer emergencies
✔ Long-term property value
We focus on yield and quality, not volume.
CapeHolidays
Boutique Stewardship. Professional Management. Transparent Results.