CalmHost Insights
A simple income and expense tracker for UK short-term rental hosts
Why a simple tracker matters
A short-term rental can produce income through several channels, while costs arrive at different times and in different places. A monthly tracker gives you a cleaner view of what happened before you start preparing a tax return or speaking to an accountant.
Start with money in
Keep one line for each booking or payout, including the booking source, stay dates, gross booking value, platform fee, refund or adjustment, and the amount actually paid to you. Do not rely on a single monthly payout total if you need to understand why a month moved.
Keep costs in useful groups
A practical starting set is: cleaning and laundry; utilities; maintenance and repairs; insurance; consumables; marketing; software; professional fees; finance costs; and owner drawings or transfers kept separately from property costs. The right treatment depends on the facts, so use your accountant or HMRC guidance for tax decisions.
Reconcile, then review
At the end of each month, compare the tracker with the bank account and the booking-platform statements. Flag missing payouts, refunds, duplicate imports and unexplained fees before they become a year-end problem.
What CalmHost can help you see
CalmHost imports booking data, separates gross revenue and platform fees, and produces a booking ledger and Accountant Report. The aim is not to replace your accountant; it is to make the underlying record easier to understand and hand over.
A useful next step
Read How to Read Your Airbnb CSV Export for the fields worth checking, then set a consistent monthly review date.
*General information only. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances; use HMRC guidance or a qualified adviser before filing.*