A short-term rental is a furnished self-contained apartment, house, or other residential unit that is rented for a short period of time, usually less than six months. Short-term rentals are often seen as an alternative to hotels and are commonly used by people on vacation, business trips, or in need of temporary housing. They can include stays of a few nights to several weeks, and are generally leased at a set nightly or weekly rate. Short-term rentals can be furnished apartments, homes, or condominiums, and can also include accessory dwellings, such as guest houses or garage apartments, or individual rooms within a primary residence. Short-term rentals offer many benefits for real estate investors, including higher income potential, but they also have downsides, such as fluctuating income based on seasonality and the time and effort required to manage a revolving door of new tenants.