Need help/ideas managing a 16 room in housing. Looking for managers

Need help/ideas managing a 16 room in housing. Looking for managers

Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 0 votes

I'm a young new investor and currently operate a 16-room boarding house/hostel with 4 shared bathrooms, 1 kitchen, and 1 living room in Syracuse, NY. We have about seven long-term, month-to-month tenants, primarily lower-income residents. I recently began listing three rooms as short-term rentals on Airbnb, and that’s been going well so far, though I expect demand to slow down as we move into the winter months.

I have an on-site property cleaner who receives reduced rent in exchange for their work. I’m now exploring additional ways to keep occupancy strong—such as veteran housing programs, OPWDD, immigrant housing, or other referral sources—so if anyone has leads or contacts, I’d appreciate it. I either want to convert half of the property into airbnb (8 rooms downstairs for airbnb), and the other half (8 rooms upstairs) for longer term tenants, or either the whole property as airbnb.

I want to fill the property at 100% occupancy rate, either through Airbnb/long-term lower tenants or both. I’m looking for a reliable property manager who is experienced in rooming houses and can handle rent collection, tenant placement, and basic maintenance coordination. Any recommendations or connections would be very helpful. I'm open to ideas, flexible and willing to negotiate.

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  • Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    10mo
  • Stephanie JacobsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Ithaca, NY · Member since 2016 · 427 posts · 323 votes
    10mo

    That's a tough once. Many managers get jumpy around rooming houses. AirBnB management can be around 20%, where normal management might be 10%. I'd say the best course is to solidify the use before hiring a manager. They're going to want to hear exactly what you need from them, and might be unlikely to help brainstorm. I don't have any recommendations in this situation, but there are many options to choose from in Syracuse. Interview a few and see who seems like the right fit.

    Please keep us posted- I'm interested to hear who you end up liking.

  • Member since 2026 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    7mo

    Hi there — thanks for sharing the details of your situation. That’s a unique setup, and it sounds like you’re being really thoughtful about how to keep occupancy strong while balancing short- and long-term use.

    My wife and I are based in New Jersey and are looking to start working with property owners who need help managing their rentals, particularly on the communication and operational side. While we haven’t officially co-hosted yet, we do travel frequently and have stayed in many Airbnbs ourselves. We pay close attention to how hosts communicate, how issues are handled, cleanliness standards, and what makes a stay run smoothly (or not).

    Because we travel often, we’re comfortable handling guest communication, coordinating schedules, answering questions, and being responsive, especially for owners who don’t want to be tied to their phone or who are juggling multiple responsibilities. We’re open, reliable, and genuinely interested in learning while providing consistent support where it’s needed.

    We may be a good fit for co-hosting or supplemental support, particularly on the Airbnb side, while you continue to evaluate longer-term management options. If you’re open to it, we’d be happy to connect and talk through what kind of help would actually be useful for you.

    Wishing you the best as you figure out the right structure for the property.

  • Real Estate Agent · Memphis · Member since 2026 · 546 posts · 316 votes
    7mo

    A 16-room boarding house with shared facilities is less “normal rental” and more specialized operations, especially in NY. Before focusing only on occupancy, make sure the structure is compliant with local zoning, boarding house regulations, fire code, and short-term rental rules in Syracuse — mixed-use (Airbnb + long-term) in one building can trigger different classifications.

    On strategy:

    Running 100% Airbnb in a shared-bath layout can be tough seasonally in upstate NY unless you’re near a strong demand driver (hospital, university, event venue). Winter softness is real.

    A hybrid model (8 long-term + 8 mid-term/short-term) can stabilize cash flow. Many operators in similar setups lean into:

    • Traveling nurses (Furnished Finder)
    • Workforce housing referrals
    • Veteran housing nonprofits
    • Local reentry programs (if screened carefully)

    Be cautious with referral-based programs — they can fill units, but management intensity usually increases.

    For a manager, you don't want a standard SFH PM. You need someone experienced in:

    • Boarding houses or SRO-style properties
    • Shared-facility enforcement
    • Frequent turnover
    • Strong rule enforcement

    In this asset class, screening and house rules matter more than rent level.

    Before hiring, decide what you want this to be:

    • Hospitality (Airbnb-heavy, marketing-driven)
    • Workforce housing (long-term, stable cash flow)
    • Social-program housing (higher oversight, steady occupancy)

    Trying to do all three at once without systems can create friction.

    The key isn’t 100% occupancy — it’s predictable occupancy with manageable tenants.

  • Rental Property Investor · Member since 2019 · 411 posts · 148 votes
    7mo

    Experienced SRO/Rooming House owner here. I would advise against mixing populations ( long term low income + Air BNB); expectations and life style are just not the same. 

    16 rooms is too much for Air BNB in my opinion and hot take; not as glorious as many have made it seem over the years. 

    Build relationships with social workers and other local organizations. Happy to help further. I am contemplating creating a mentorship program surrounded by co-living so happy to assist.

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