Everything a short let needs, looked after in one place

From the first night booked to the end-of-month statement: here is how we work, item by item.

Before you start

Can your property work as a short let?

It is the first question to ask and it deserves a technical answer, not a hunch. Before we put forward any proposal, we bring in the professionals who assess the question from both sides.

The land registry side

A surveyor who specialises in hospitality and residential property checks the property's position at the catasto (the Italian land registry), what is needed to bring it into line with the rules and whether reclassifying it as category B/3 is worthwhile. You know from the outset which paperwork is coming, instead of discovering it halfway through.

The tax side

An accountant well versed in construction and property matters reviews your case and tells you which tax treatment suits you: cedolare secca (Italy's 21% flat tax on rental income), partita IVA (Italian VAT registration) or another arrangement. Over the years, that choice weighs heavily on the net income you keep.

Why we do this first: a property can look excellent on paper and turn out to be a poor fit in practice, or the other way round. With this preliminary assessment you start with a clear picture, and we will also tell you honestly when short letting is not the right route for you.
Management in our own name

We sign, you collect the result

Under a mandato a rappresentanza (a mandate under which we act in our own name on your behalf), Do.Ma manages the property in its own name in dealings with guests and platforms. For you that means something concrete: with cedolare secca, the tax is calculated on the net amount received, not on the gross booking income. A real tax advantage, explained clearly in every proposal.

In practice: gross bookings, less OTA fees (Booking.com, Airbnb), less our fee, less cedolare secca at 21%. What is left is your net, and it is the only figure the tax is calculated on.
We don't use autopilot: prices are checked and updated by hand every day, looking at events, trade fairs and real demand in Bologna, rather than left to software that moves them without any real logic.
Revenue management

The right price, every day, not set once and forgotten

We look after every property ourselves on Booking.com and Airbnb (occasionally VRBO too), with calendars always synchronised to avoid double bookings. The result: average occupancy above 80% from the first year, and between 85 and 90% from the second year onwards.

Red tape and compliance

Short let paperwork, handled by people who know it

Italian short let legislation changes often. Staying compliant takes time and attention: we take care of it.

CIN and CIR

The CIN (the national identification code every short let must display) and the regional code, both required to advertise the property on any channel.

Alloggiati Web and ISTAT

Mandatory reports to the Questura through Alloggiati Web (the police guest-registration portal) and statistical returns at every check-in.

Tassa di soggiorno

We calculate the tassa di soggiorno (tourist tax), collect it through Stripe and pay it to the Comune, with nothing for you to do.

Contracts

Compliant tourist letting contracts, kept up to date with the Italian rules that govern them.

Cleaning and maintenance

Direct costs, with no mark-up inside our fee

Cleaning and linen remain the owner's cost, but they are invoiced directly by the outside company that carries them out. Unlike many large agencies, we do not include them in our fee: that means a lower figure for you and more transparency on every item of expenditure.

An extra partner, when you need one

We work with an outside photographer for the listing photos and with a trusted surveyor for land registry paperwork (such as the move to category B/3) and for a free review of your utility contracts, looking for real savings.

Ways of working together

Three ways of working together

Revenue management only

You already have the operation running — cleaning, check-in, guest communication — and you only need someone to set the prices. We handle rates, calendar, minimum stays, positioning and channel mix; everything else stays with you.

Revenue sharing Recommended

Our fee is a percentage of the net income collected: the more the property earns, the more we both earn. It is the model we choose for most of our owners, because it rewards management that performs.

Guaranteed rent

If you prefer a fixed, predictable income, we can consider it: we will tell you openly that in this case the figure typically sits at the level of a canone concordato (Italy's regulated rent agreement), so generally below the potential of well-run revenue sharing.

Additional services

Extra support, where it can make a difference

Purchasing advice

We help you choose the TV, electronics and furnishings with the best value for money, to make the property more competitive online.

Refurbishment

Working with Ciaccio Casa, we can also oversee any refurbishment work before the property starts earning.

A business plan for your property

Before you start you receive a written projection for your property. Download an anonymised example to see how we work.

Sales and long lets

If you later consider selling or letting long term, we work with Report Immobiliare to guide you through that route as well.

Frequently asked questions

The questions we are asked most often

Clear answers, with no waffle. If your question is not here, do write to us.

How much does short let management with Do.Ma cost?

The fee is agreed after the property visit, based on the condition of the property, the area and the owner's expectations. The industry average is between 25 and 35 per cent. We calculate ours on the net, that is on gross bookings after the platforms' own fees, rather than on the gross: a choice that translates into greater tax efficiency for you.

Is cleaning included in the fee?

No, and deliberately so. Cleaning and linen remain the owner's cost but are invoiced directly by the outside company that carries them out, with a proper invoice. Unlike many large agencies we do not include them in our fee with a mark-up: you pay a lower direct amount and keep a larger net profit.

Who handles CIN, Alloggiati Web, ISTAT and the tassa di soggiorno?

We handle all of it. That includes the national identification code (CIN) and the regional one, the reports to the Questura through Alloggiati Web at every check-in, the ISTAT statistical returns, the calculation and payment of the tassa di soggiorno to the Comune, as well as compliant tourist letting contracts.

What tax advantage does the mandato a rappresentanza offer?

Under a mandato a rappresentanza we manage the property in our own name in dealings with guests and platforms. For anyone on cedolare secca this means the tax is calculated on the net amount received and not on the gross booking income, a real saving compared with self-management.

How much can my flat in Bologna earn?

It depends on the area, the floor area, how many people it sleeps and the condition of the property. Across the properties we manage, average occupancy is above 80 per cent in the first year and settles between 85 and 90 per cent from the second year onwards. After the free property visit you receive a multi-year rental income projection, built on real data from the properties we manage in your own area.

Can I use my flat whenever I want?

Yes. The property stays available to you: just tell us the periods when you want to use it and we block the calendar on every channel. The more notice you give, the easier it is to avoid high-demand periods without losing income.

Is my property suitable for short letting from a land registry point of view?

It is a check to make before you start. We bring in a surveyor who specialises in hospitality and residential property to assess the position at the catasto and any move to category B/3, and an accountant well versed in construction and property matters to find the most advantageous tax treatment in your case.

Let's talk

Want to know what would change for your property?

In a free property visit we tell you clearly which model and which fee make sense for your property.