How often can I stay at my vacation rental for personal use?

Guests shouldn’t have all the fun—homeowners deserve a vacation too. One of the best perks of investing in a vacation rental? Owning a personal vacation spot you can escape to whenever you want. A place where you can plan a family reunion, get away for a romantic weekend, or gather the friends together for some R&R.

Before reserving those dates on your calendar, there are some things to think about to help ensure you’re still making money, while making those vacation memories.

How often can I use my vacation rental?

The short answer—as often as you’d like. However, here are some things to consider:

• The number of days you use your own vacation rental can impact whether the IRS classifies your home as a business or a personal residence, which in turn can affect how many deductions you can take at tax time.
• Some vacation rental property management companies limit personal use days at your rental property. (At Vacasa, we don’t restrict you. You can stay at your vacation home as often and as long as you wish. Simply reserve your travel dates in your online owner account.)
• Your personal vacations take up vacancies that otherwise could go to paying guests. In other words, the more you stay, the less bookings you’ll get.

How does the 14-day rule impact my taxes?

Your tax bill depends on the amount of time you (or your friends and family) stay at your vacation home versus how often you rent it. An important tax rule concerning your personal visits is the 14-day rule.

Staying at your property more than 14 days of the year? Or, more than 10% of the total days you rent it to others at a fair rental price?

The IRS will generally classify your vacation home as a residence, rather than a business. You may be able to write off some expenses, but not all costs associated with renting.

Staying at your property 14 days or less in the year?

The IRS will generally classify your home as a business—so you can write off relevant business expenses.

Vacation rental tax rules are complex and there are varying situations and caveats to the 14-day rule that come into play here. Whether you want your vacation home classified as a residence or a business, work with a tax professional to make sure you’re following all the rules.

When you manage with Vacasa, we keep track of how often you’ve stayed at your home —and provide all the information you and your tax professional will need to fill out the right form come filing time.

What’s considered personal use of my vacation rental property?

As you’ve learned above, your tax deductions and how much you owe at tax time depend on the amount of time you spend at your vacation home for personal purposes. But, here’s the kicker—your friends’ and family’s stays can count toward that personal time.

According to the IRS, here’s whose stays count towards personal use:

• You
• Family members and friends, if they stay for free or pay a discounted rate
• Anyone else who pays less than the fair market rate. For example, if you donate a few nights at your vacation home for a charity auction

When shouldn’t I stay at my vacation rental?

Use your high and low seasons as a guide. Understanding your vacation home’s busy and slow periods can help you plan your own stays. Many holidays—such as Memorial Day and 4th of July—can fetch top dollar from paying guests. So, many homeowners leave those long weekends open for lucrative bookings.

Some seasons are busier than others. For instance, ski towns fill up in the winter with skiers and snowboarders, while coastal areas attract droves of summer travelers. Some places aren’t as cut and dry. Winter on the Oregon coast is rainy and chilly, yet still attracts visitors looking to storm watch.

Do maintenance days count towards personal use?

According to the IRS, personal use of your vacation rental is “use by the owner, owner’s family, friends, other property owners and their families. Personal use includes anyone paying less than a fair rental price.”

Generally, time spent maintaining your vacation rental does not count against your personal use. Even staying a week conducting repairs and fixing up your home does not have to be reported to the IRS. The easiest way to block your home for a personal stay is with our homeowner app.

Your vacation home is first and foremost yours. However, your personal use could be taking up days that otherwise could earn income, and affect how the IRS classifies your home and its revenue. At Vacasa, we document and provide you with all of the information you and your accountant will need to maximize your investment and keep you in compliance.