If you are planning a temporary relocation for work, family obligations, or to search for more permanent lodgings in a new city, you will have to find affordable and comfortable short-term accommodations. Since most standard rentals require you to sign a year lease, it can be difficult landing a place to live for a brief period. You may fear paying a steep nightly rate to live in a shoddy motel or subletting a room over someone's garage until you return to a permanent residence.
Luckily, there are many economical and convenient options for renters seeking temporary housing.
Short-term rentals
A short-term rental is an apartment, condo, or single-family home that accommodate short-stays for temporary relocation. They are usually fully or partially furnished, and charge by night, week, or month. Some may have a minimum stay (such as 30 days). Rates will usually be lower when paying monthly rather than per diem. Short-term rentals are commonly used by employees on temporary work assignments, and may be known as corporate housing. If your temporary relocation is due to a job requirement, be sure to discuss the possibility of RELO benefits with your employer. Most RELO packages will compensate you for temporary housing costs.
You can search for short-term rentals online-avoid untrustworthy websites such as Craigslist, and stick to more reputable resources such as apartments.com and corporatehousing.com.
Sublets
If you are relocating to a major city, you may be able to find a renter looking to sublet their apartment. It may be more difficult to find a sublet that can accommodate the exact length of time you require housing, but you may also acquire a better deal if the renter is urgently seeking someone to take over the lease.
You can find sublet listings on websites like sublet.com, airbnb.com, and roomster.com. Be wary of searching for sublets on unverified websites such as Craigslist, which may make you vulnerable to scams.
Extended stay hotels
An extended stay hotel can be much more costly than other options, but if your temporary stay is brief it can be an appealing alternative. The available amenities are convenient, you receive maid service, and you will not have to pay any utilities.
If money is not a major factor for you, research hotels that offer weekly and monthly rates for extended stays. Compare prices and read reviews on the quality of the accommodations, cleanliness, and customer service. Contact the hotels to ask about the possibility of discounts, require deposits, and any other guidelines. If you will be relocating with your furry friend, be sure to ask if they are a pet-friendly hotel and what fees are associated with staying with a pet.
Off-season vacation rentals
If you are relocating to a popular tourist spot during the off-season, you may be able to find temporary lodging in a vacation rental. You can rent beautiful, furnished, and well-kept accommodations for a much lower premium than during peak-season, with options for a month-to-month or other short term lease. Since it is a vacation area, beautiful scenery or abundant recreation may be pleasant bonuses!
You can find vacation properties on websites such as vacationrentals.com, homeaway.com, and VRBO.com.
Caretaking
Although it can be much more difficult to find, an economical alternative is to secure a caretaking position. Caretakers are either paid or permitted to live free in a vacant home for a predetermined period while the owners are away. If you don't mind sorting some mail, housekeeping, and watering plants, this can be an ideal opportunity if the terms match your temporary lodging needs. Most homeowners that hire caretakers are fairly well-off, so you may be enjoying considerably luxurious accommodations.
Though the chances of finding a caretaking job for the exact length of time and specific region you require temporary housing may seem slim, it never hurts to search! Look for caretaking opportunities on websites such as caretaker-jobs.com, caretaker.org, and on job-seeker resources like Monster and Indeed.