Top Tips for Renting to Travel Nurses

If you offer short-term rentals, have you ever considered marketing your property to travel nurses? Many traveling healthcare professionals need short-term accommodations for their ever-changing job placements. So, if you own rental properties, you may consider marketing and advertising to travel nurses or other healthcare professionals. If this interests you, read along as we review some of the pros and cons and a few tips for renting to travel nurses. 

Main Takeaways

• Travel nurses can be a good fit for landlords offering short-term, well-maintained rental properties near healthcare facilities.
• Furnished homes, flexible lease terms, and included utilities are features that often appeal to travel nurses.
• Careful screening, clear lease agreements, and professional property management can help create a successful rental experience for both landlords and tenants.

Should You Rent to Travel Nurses?

Travel nurses often seek short-term housing, creating a consistent demand for rental properties. They also may have verifiable income through hospitals or staffing agencies. However, landlords should apply the same lawful and consistently applied screening criteria to all applicants.

That said, it’s important to understand that travel nurses move frequently for new assignments, which can mean higher turnover rates. Without a reliable property management company in Northern Virginia, managing turnovers, maintenance, and marketing for short-term rental properties can be challenging. 

Before deciding to rent to travel nurses, you’ll want to carefully assess your property, local market conditions, and your personal preferences as a landlord. Look at your property’s location, your tolerance for turnover, and the demand for short-term rentals in your area to help you decide whether or not it’s a profitable decision for you. 

Next, we’ll go over some of the main pros and cons of renting to travel nurses.

Pros and Cons of Renting to Travel Nurses

Thinking about renting to travel nurses? While there are several benefits to short-term rental properties, it’s important to understand some of the disadvantages. Here are a few of the pros and cons to consider. 

Benefits of Renting to Travel Nurses

1. Short-Term Commitment – Travel nurses usually sign short-term leases, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. This gives property owners flexibility and allows them to adjust rental terms or rates according to market conditions.
2. Flexible Rental Demand – Travel nurses often need housing for temporary assignments, which can create another source of rental demand for landlords offering flexible lease terms.
3. Potential for Higher Rent – Short-term or fully furnished rentals may command higher rental rates than comparable long-term, unfurnished properties, depending on local market conditions. Additionally, shorter lease terms can give landlords more flexibility to adjust rental rates between tenancies.

Disadvantages of Renting to Travel Nurses

1. Frequent Turnover – Travel nurses often move to different locations for new jobs. In turn, this frequent turnover can result in more work for landlords. After all, you have to clean the unit, market it online, and find new tenants.
2. Potential Gaps in Tenancy – Finding new tenants for short-term leases can lead to vacancy periods between tenants. Unfortunately, gaps in tenancy can result in less income during those periods and more administrative work for landlords.
3. Higher Running Costs – Frequent turnover can lead to higher running costs. Cleaning and preparing the property for new tenants can increase operational expenses for property owners.

Tips for Renting to Travel Nurses

Renting to travel nurses can be an excellent way to reach renters looking for temporary housing. However, you must know how to effectively market your property to this group. Here are a few tips for marketing and renting to travel nurses. 

1. Market to Your Target Audience
2. Pre-Screen Applicants
3. Provide Photos and Detailed Descriptions
4. Create Leases to Protect Both Parties
5. Clean and Maintain the Unit

Market to Your Target Audience

When marketing your rental, you’ll want to consider who you’re targeting–travel nurses. So, tailor your listings to highlight features that would appeal to them. Emphasize the property’s proximity to healthcare facilities and amenities that cater to a temporary stay. Additionally, it helps to utilize platforms and websites where travel nurses typically search for short-term housing. 

Pre-Screen Applicants

Implement a thorough and consistent pre-screening process for potential tenants. Make sure applicants understand the terms of the short-term lease and any qualification requirements. You may also verify factors like identity, employment, income, and rental history. Just make sure your screening criteria comply with applicable Fair Housing laws and are applied consistently to all applicants.

Provide Photos and Detailed Descriptions

Create an appealing online listing with high-quality photos showcasing the property’s key features. Additionally, provide a detailed description highlighting the amenities, furnishings, and unique aspects that would make the property attractive to travel nurses. Remember, transparency is key here, as many travel nurses won’t actually see the property until they get there for their stay. So, be accurate with your listing and set clear expectations for potential tenants. 

Create Leases to Protect Both Parties

Draft leases specifically tailored for short-term rentals. You’ll want to clearly outline the terms and conditions, including the duration, rental amount, security deposit, and other relevant details. Ensure both parties understand and agree to the terms, and consider additional clauses that include details for early termination or extensions. After all, travel nurses often need accommodations for short periods of time. 

Clean and Maintain the Unit 

Before and after each tenant, it’s crucial to thoroughly clean and maintain the unit. After all, first impressions matter, and a well-maintained property contributes to a positive experience for travel nurses. Additionally, you don’t want to skip out on regular maintenance checks or neglect any repair requests. Ensuring all appliances and utilities are in working order can enhance tenant satisfaction. 

What Do Travel Nurses Look for in a Rental?

Understanding what travel nurses often look for in short-term housing can help you determine which features to highlight in your rental listing. Here are a few amenities and property features that may appeal to renters looking for temporary housing.

• Proximity to Work- Travel nurses want to find rentals that are close to their workplace. Proximity to hospitals or clinics can be more convenient for commuting to and from work. So, properties within a reasonable distance of healthcare facilities are highly appealing.

• Pet-Friendly Policies– Many travel nurses travel with their pets. So, rentals that have pet-friendly policies are attractive to this demographic. Including pet policies with clear rules and pet fees can make it a win-win for both parties.
• Utilities Included– Since travel nurses only stay for a few weeks to a few months at a time, they often look for rentals with utilities included. After all, inclusive utilities simplify their budgeting needs and eliminate the need to set up separate utility accounts.
• Fully-Furnished– Providing furnishings in your short-term rental can make it more attractive to travel nurses. If they already have everything they need at the rental, it reduces what they need to pack and makes for a smoother transition.
• Washer and Dryer– In-unit laundry facilities are important amenities for travel nurses. After all, nobody wants to lug their laundry to a laundromat–especially after a long day of work.
• Safety and Security– Safety is a top priority for travel nurses, especially if they’re new to the area. Most will look for properties with secure access, well-lit common areas, and alarm systems.

FAQs About Renting to Travel Nurses

If you’re still deciding whether to rent to travel nurses, you may have a few additional questions. Below are answers to some of the most common questions landlords ask about short-term rentals for traveling healthcare professionals.

Can travel nurses make good tenants?

Yes. Travel nurses can be a good fit for properties offering flexible or short-term lease arrangements. However, landlords should evaluate each applicant individually using the same lawful and consistently applied screening criteria.

How long do travel nurses usually rent a property?

Most travel nurse assignments last between 8 and 13 weeks, although some contracts may be shorter or longer. Because of this, many travel nurses look for flexible lease terms that match the length of their work assignment.

Should you furnish a rental for travel nurses?

In many cases, yes. Fully furnished rentals are often more appealing because travel nurses usually relocate temporarily and prefer to avoid moving furniture. Including basic furnishings and essential household items can make your property more competitive.

Do travel nurses usually pay their rent on time?

Travel nurses may receive income through hospitals or staffing agencies, but employment alone does not guarantee timely rent payments. Landlords should verify income and other relevant qualifications using the same lawful screening standards applied to all applicants.

Where do travel nurses look for housing?

Many travel nurses search for housing through short-term rental websites, travel nurse housing platforms, social media groups, and local rental listings. A detailed listing with quality photos, clear lease terms, and information about nearby healthcare facilities can help attract qualified applicants.

Find the Right Management Solution For You

Successfully renting to travel nurses requires effective marketing, thorough tenant screening, responsive maintenance, and well-managed short-term leases. Whether you manage your property yourself or work with professionals, having the right systems in place can help you attract qualified applicants and reduce vacancies.

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