Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in Student Housing

📝 Episode Summary: In this special Lunch and Learn edition of the Student Housing Insight podcast, Wes Deese discusses the growing trend of using short-term rentals (STRs)—such as Airbnb and VRBO—as a strategy to offset vacancy in student housing. Featuring insights from Mickey Kropf of Vector Travel and Pam West of Campus Advantage, this session explores how STRs can be successfully integrated into student properties, the regulatory landscape, operational logistics, safety protocols, insurance, financial models, and ideal markets. Whether you're new to STRs or looking to refine your implementation, this episode delivers practical advice and first-hand experiences to help student housing operators make informed decisions. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction and background on STRs in student housing 00:01:00 – Vector Travel’s role in managing student housing STRs  00:02:00 – Wes shares personal experience using STRs during high vacancy  00:03:00 – National leasing trends and challenges in 2025 00:04:00 – How Vector helped address occupancy gaps 00:05:00 – Guest introductions: Mickey Kropf and Pam West 00:06:00 – Mickey’s background and Vector’s student housing focus 00:07:00 – Pam’s experience managing STR assets with Vector 00:08:00 – What qualifies as a short-term rental legally? 00:09:00 – Midterm stays and platforms like Furnish Finder 00:10:00 – Navigating STR regulations and city-specific overlays 00:12:00 – Example: Charleston, SC regulatory framework 00:13:00 – Safety and preventing parties in STR units 00:14:00 – Noise monitoring, guest screening, and onsite team collaboration 00:15:00 – Insurance and liability for STR units 00:17:00 – Advertising STRs as an amenity to residents and families 00:18:00 – Lessons from Adobe Center in Austin, TX 00:19:00 – Operational logistics: cleaning, guest comms, and maintenance 00:21:00 – Why property teams should not DIY STR management  00:22:00 – Corporate and site-level collaboration for success 00:24:00 – Marketing to residents and their families 00:25:00 – Accounting, taxes, and financial reporting of STR income 00:27:00 – Revenue share vs. guaranteed income models  00:29:00 – Risk mitigation and flexibility in contract models 00:30:00 – Ideal student markets for STRs 00:31:00 – Real-life examples: Eugene, Missoula, Waco, and more 00:33:00 – Exit strategies and using STRs as temporary solutions  00:35:00 – Wrapping up and future SHI events 🔗 Referenced Sources & Links: Vector Travel: https://vectorstays.com Student Housing Insight (Events Page): https://studenthousinginsight.com/events Charleston STR Regulations: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/shortte... Doby Center (Adobe Center) History Episode: Previously mentioned SHI podcast episode featuring Bill Bayless QR Code: http://www.vectorstays.com/SHI