AvenaaA spare flat, a family bungalow in the hills or a villa you only visit twice a year can become a steady business as a homestay. Domestic travel in India keeps growing, and more families now prefer a whole home over hotel rooms. Here is how to start properly.
1. Check that your property can be rented to travellers
- Housing society: read the bye-laws and get written permission where needed; many disputes start here.
- State homestay or bed-and-breakfast schemes: several states and the tourism ministry run registration schemes for homestays. Registration can bring credibility and sometimes concessions.
- Local body and police: some cities require registration or guest reporting; foreign guests must always be reported through Form C within 24 hours.
- Tax: talk to your chartered accountant about GST and income tax before you start.
Our compliance checklist goes through each of these in detail.
2. Get the home guest-ready
- Comfortable beds with good mattresses, blackout curtains and enough pillows.
- Clean, working bathrooms with hot water, towels and toiletries.
- A usable kitchen: gas or induction, fridge, utensils, kettle and RO water.
- Fast Wi-Fi, power backup if your area has cuts, and air-conditioning or heating to suit the climate.
- Safety: fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, working locks and a smoke detector.
3. Photos and the listing
Photos decide whether a guest clicks. Shoot in daylight with every light on, from corners, showing each bedroom, bathroom, the living room, kitchen, views and any pool or garden. Write an honest title and description that says who the home is ideal for — families, groups, couples, workations — and list every amenity.
4. Set the right price
Look at similar homes nearby on Airbnb and Booking.com for the same dates. Price weekends, long weekends and holidays higher, offer weekly and monthly discounts, and start a little lower until you have your first five-star reviews.
5. List on the right platforms
Airbnb and Booking.com bring the most homestay guests, with MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and Agoda strong for Indian travellers, and Google showing your home in search and maps. Use a channel manager so one calendar updates every site and you never double-book. See our guide to the best booking platforms for homestays.
6. Run operations like a hotel
- A trained caretaker for check-in, cleaning and emergencies.
- A checklist-driven clean and linen change between every stay.
- Verified ID for every adult guest and signed house rules.
- Replies to enquiries within minutes, 24/7.
- A maintenance budget and a list of local plumbers, electricians and technicians.
7. Earn reviews and repeat guests
Small touches — a welcome message, local tips, a spotless home and quick fixes — turn into five-star reviews, and reviews drive rankings on every platform. Encourage guests to book direct next time.
Or let Avenaa run it for you
If you do not have the time to manage guests, staff and listings, Avenaa can run your homestay end to end and pay you a guaranteed minimum rent every month, plus 60% of the revenue when your home crosses its monthly target.
List your homestay with Avenaa