FAQ's FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
What role does Charlotte's Web and LUXbnb play?
We are a professionally managed business providing property owners with carefree rental income and the opportunity to maximize profit margins on their residential properties in a market increasingly driven by the shared economy.
What types of properties do you represent?
Your property reflects our image. We personally select properties we know will best resonate with our clients. Our inventory includes houses, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, guest houses, in-law suites, and carriage houses. All the properties we work with offer neighborhood amenities, a sought-after and convenient location, public transportation to downtown, and safety and security. The properties are well maintained both inside and out, inviting, and attractively furnished.
How do I list my property with Charlotte's Web and LUXbnb?
Interested property owners contact the owner of LUXbnb directly, Charlotte Perry at 202-341-8799 or Charlotte@LUXbnb.com. We will discuss your objectives first and foremost, and the details of the property. If it is a good mutual fit, we will come to the property for a free assessment. After signing our Owner Contract, we create an online profile for the property complete with photographs, neighborhood description and a list of property and neighborhood amenities.
What role do I, the property owner, play?
If the property owner is onsite he/she may choose to interact with guests, but this is not required. For our off-site or absent property owners we take of all the guest interactions on your behalf. LUXbnb will handle the rental process from start to finish. Property owners can manage maintenance or delegate all or part of it to LUXbnb.
Does Charlotte's Web and LUXbnb also handle property management?
We are a rental management firm that also offers the full range of property management services to fit your needs. You can select from an a la carte menu which property management services you want for your property.
Do I need to reside in Washington for you to work with my property?
Not at all, in fact many of our property owners live outside the mid-Atlantic region if not overseas. We can provide full property management services for an additional fee to those properties where the owner wants a "hands-off" income stream.
What if I want to use my property for part of the year?
No problem, in fact this is one of the advantages of working with Charlotte's Web and LUXbnb. Our owners can simply block out their calendar for those dates that they want the property for personal use and we will work around those.
Can Charlotte's Web and LUXbnb work with my primary residence?
Absolutely, if for example you spend every summer away, we can work with your property to generate revenue in your absence. Help off-set the cost of your travel if not cover it entirely by renting your home when you’re not in residence. Owners can lock off an area of their home to store personal items.
Do I need a license to rent my DC home?
Yes, you will need to get a Basic Business License (BBL) for a Single-Family Rental for your Washington DC property. This can be applied for through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, (DLCP). Start by creating an AccessDC account then apply for the BBL. The cost is ~$198 for 2 years.
Will I need to have my home inspected if I rent it out?
Yes, you will need to pass an inspection before your property can be a rental. The inspection checklist is on the DLCP website so you can prepare your property in advance of the inspection. There is no cost to the owner for the inspection. When you apply for the BBL online, you will be directed to schedule the inspection,
Can I “Airbnb” my Washington DC property?
Your property must have a Short-Term Rental (STR) License to rent for stays under 31 nights in DC and surrounding Virginia and Maryland counties. To qualify for the STR License, the home must be an owner-occupied primary residence, and eligible for the homestead exemption. (An owner can temporarily vacate their primary residence and rent it short-term in their absence.) If this does not apply to your property, we can still rent it out for 1-month (31 night) minimum stays, for which there is ample demand in Washington.
What is a Short-term Rental in DC?
Any stay under 31 nights.
I heard that an owner is limited to 90 nights of “Airbnb” rentals per calendar year. Is this true?
Not exactly. There are two types of short-term rental licenses: a Short-Term Rental License (STR) and a Vacation Rental (VR) License. There is no limit to the number of nights one can host short-term rentals with the STR License. With the Vacation Rental License, the owner is limited to 90 nights per calendar year of stays under 31 nights. These nights do not need to be consecutive. Moreover, there are circumstances whereby an owner can be exempted from the 90-night cap with the VR license. Contact LUXbnb for further feedback on how to maximize your rental income
Where do I apply for one of the short-term rental licenses?
DC now has a Short-term rental office. You can apply online which involves uploading the required documentation, no inspection is required.
What do I need to do to prepare my property for rental?
The steps needed to ready your property to rent are the same as if you were readying the property for sale, you want to maximize the appeal and the price it will command. At LUXbnb we will determine if it is rent-ready and provide a professional assessment of what you can do to maximize your property's appeal. Every property we represent meets our standards for quality, location, safety, convenience, comfort, and appeal.
How much can I make?
Short-term rental rates are set by the night, week and month so we can generate more income from your property than an annual rental rate. How much more depends on the quality, location, size, and desirability of your property.
Do you vet the guests?
All stays under 60 days are paid in full prior to arrival. Furthermore, every guest is required to provide us with information regarding their stay including reason for travel, and number of people in the travel party. We carefully screen all guests via email and/or phone and reject those we believe do not meet our standards.
When and how do I get paid?
We pay owners by check within a week of the month-end close out. Detailed reports of that month's earnings are included with your payment and available for you to view at any time through a discrete Owner Login on our website.
What is the duration of your contract?
Our services are contracted on an annual basis.
How is my property protected?
The property is protected by the guest’s security deposit, Airbnb’s Host coverage, and/or LUXbnb’s damage waiver.
Who pays the “hotel” tax?
The Guests pay the 15.95% DC Sales and Use Tax as a separate line item in addition to their rent. This tax applies to all rentals in DC under 91-nights. LUXbnb submits all Sales and Use Tax on behalf of our owners to DC’s OTR monthly.
Who pays for and manages the cleaning in-between renters?
The guests pay for their departure cleaning as a separate line item on their booking. LUXbnb manages the turnover between renters and guests.
Do I pay taxes on my income?
Yes, owners must file DC FORM D-30 with their rental income with DC’s OTR, even if you are not a DC resident. Please consult your tax adviser for details. As required by the IRS, we provide our property owners with a 1099 of the gross rental income earned through our services each January.