What rates do property management companies charge in Whistler?

On average, property management companies in Whistler may charge anywhere from 20% to 35% of the rental income. This fee usually covers services such as advertising and marketing the property, screening and selecting guests, collecting revenue, managing repairs and maintenance, and handling guest inquiries and complaints.

Can you help with local regulations and compliance specific to Whistler?

Absolutely. We have a Tourism Accommodation Business License from the municipality. We can offer guidance on short-term vacation rental zoning laws. We can help you apply for a BC Short Term Rental License, and in some cases we can apply on your behalf and obtain one through our business. For VRBO and direct bookings we withhold and remit the local MRDT short term accommodation taxes.

How do you book properties directly in Whistler?

A guest would go to our direct booking page and request their desired dates to stay at one of our properties. They can find our direct booking page through Google and on our www.truenorthproperties.ca. This saves our guests money, adds to our bottom line and payments are securely processed through Stripe.

Can owners use their own units freely?

Absolutely. Our goal is to be flexible and build a working relationship with our clients. For some clients their property is solely an investment and they may stay in it once a year. For others their property is also a weekend home in the winters. We will work with you to accommodate your needs.

How do you screen guests?

Screening guests involves gathering information about their stay, communicating to understand their needs, and verifying their identity and reputation through identification, background checks, and reviews. Requirements such as government-issued ID, credit card verification, and references from previous hosts ensure transparency and security.

How often are payouts handled?

Payouts are completed in the first few days of the new month. You are emailed an owner's statement that breaks down revenue, cleaning costs, management fees and any associated expenses, along with helpful metrics like occupancy rates and ADR (average daily rate).

Whistler Property Management Fees Explained

Owner Guides

Sep 22

Written By Mark Charette

Whistler property management fees for short-term rentals typically run between 20% and 35% of rental revenue. True North Property Management charges 17% to 20%, depending on the size of the home.

The percentage is only part of the picture. Two managers with the same headline rate can leave owners with very different payouts, depending on what the fee covers and what gets billed separately. This guide breaks down how fees work in Whistler, what to expect on top of the management fee, and what to ask before signing an agreement.

How a management fee is calculated

Most Whistler vacation rental managers charge a commission on booking revenue rather than a flat monthly rate. If the property earns nothing in a given month, the manager earns nothing either.

The key detail is what the percentage is applied to. Some managers take their fee from gross nightly revenue. Others calculate it on an adjusted figure after platform commissions, credit card fees, or travel agent fees are removed. Cleaning fees paid by guests are usually excluded from the calculation, but not always.

A quick example on a property earning $80,000 a year in nightly revenue:

On that property, the gap between a 20% manager and a 30% manager is $8,000 a year. Over five years of ownership, that is $40,000.

What Whistler managers typically charge

Full-service vacation rental management in Whistler generally falls between 20% and 35% of rental income. Traditional hotel-style rental pools and larger operators tend to sit at the higher end. Some older models have charged 40% or more once front desk, booking agent, and credit card costs are layered in.

At the lower end, you will also see remote or revenue-only services in the 5% to 15% range. These handle pricing or listings while the owner looks after guests, cleaning, and maintenance. They are not directly comparable to full-service management.

A full-service fee in Whistler usually covers:

Listing creation, photography, and distribution on Airbnb, Vrbo, and direct booking channels
Dynamic pricing and revenue management
Guest communication before, during, and after each stay
Guest screening and check-in coordination
Cleaning and turnover scheduling
Maintenance coordination and inspections between stays
Revenue collection, owner payouts, and monthly statements

True North's fees: 17% to 20%

True North charges a single full-service management fee based on nightly revenue. Larger homes pay a lower rate. Properties with 3 bedrooms or less receive 20% management fees, 4 bedroom properties (19%), 5 bedroom properties (18%), 6 bedroom properties (17%).

The lower rate comes from how the business runs, not from cutting services. True North is a boutique, locally owned operation that has hosted more than 6,000 stays. Bookings come through Airbnb, Vrbo, Google Vacation Rentals and our direct booking channel, with dynamic pricing and market data from AirDNA guiding rates. Proactive maintenance and a reliable cleaning team keep turnovers on schedule and reduce the cost of problems caught late.

Owners are paid in the first few days of each month. Each payout comes with an owner statement that shows revenue, cleaning costs, management fees, and any other expenses, along with booking dates, occupancy, and average daily rate. Owners can also follow performance through the True North Portal.

See the full breakdown on our Property Management in Whistler page.

Costs on top of the management fee

Every Whistler short-term rental carries operating costs beyond management. These apply no matter who manages the property, so compare how each manager handles them rather than whether they exist.

Cleaning. Guests usually pay a cleaning fee at booking. Owners typically pay for cleans after their own stays.
Booking platform commissions. Airbnb and Vrbo take a share of each booking. Ask whether the management fee is calculated before or after these are removed, and how they appear on your statement.
Taxes. Short-term stays in Whistler are subject to 8% PST and 3% MRDT. On direct and Vrbo bookings, True North withholds and remits these on the owner's behalf.
Maintenance and repairs. Parts and trades are passed through to owners. Some managers add a markup or a coordination fee on top. Ask about both. True North only charges when maintenance visits are longer than 1 hr
Supplies and linens. Toiletries, consumables, and linen replacement are either built into the cleaning fee or billed separately. They are built in with True North.
Licensing. Whistler requires a municipal business licence for nightly rentals, and BC requires short-term rentals to register with the province. Confirm the property's zoning permits nightly rentals before you list.
Strata fees, insurance, and utilities. These are ownership costs and stay with the owner under any management model.

How to compare Whistler property managers

The best comparison is net payout, not headline rate. Ask each manager the same questions and get the answers in writing.

Is the fee calculated on gross nightly revenue or on an adjusted amount?
Are platform commissions, credit card fees, or booking agent fees deducted before or after the fee?
Is there a markup on maintenance, supplies, or linens?
Are there onboarding, setup, or photography fees?
What does it cost when I stay in my own property?
How often are payouts made, and what does the owner statement show?
What are the occupancy and average daily rate for comparable properties you manage?
What is the notice period to end the agreement?

A manager charging 30% who drives higher nightly rates can, in some cases, outperform a cheaper one. Ask for real numbers on comparable homes and run the net payout for each.

Frequently asked questions

How much do property managers charge in Whistler?

Full-service short-term rental management in Whistler typically costs 20% to 35% of rental revenue. True North charges 17% to 20%, with lower rates for larger homes.

Is the management fee charged on gross or net revenue?

It depends on the manager. Some charge on gross nightly revenue and others on revenue after platform and payment fees. Confirm which applies before comparing rates.

Do larger properties pay a lower management fee?

At True North, yes. Homes with 4 bedrooms pay 19%, 5 bedrooms pay 18%, and 6 or more bedrooms pay 17%.

Who pays for cleaning?

Guests usually cover cleaning through a fee at booking. Owners pay for cleans after their own stays.

Can I still use my property?

Yes. True North owners book their own stays at no charge apart from the post-stay clean.

How are rental taxes handled?

For bookings through True North's direct channel and Vrbo, the 8% PST and 3% MRDT are withheld and remitted on the owner's behalf.

When do owners get paid?

True North completes payouts in the first few days of each month, with a statement covering revenue, expenses, occupancy, and average daily rate.

Get a revenue estimate for your property

If you own a vacation rental in Whistler, the fastest way to compare is to see the numbers for your own home. True North will prepare a revenue estimate and show what you would keep at 17% to 20%.

Contact True North Property Management to request your estimate.

Mark Charette