Owner payout splits explained: 80/20 vs 70/30 for rental agencies
By the Narona team · · 7 min read
Short answer
An owner payout split is the share of rental income the owner keeps after the agency's commission. In an 80/20 split the owner keeps 80% and the agency 20%; in 70/30 the agency keeps 30%, usually because it covers more services. The right split depends on what is included — cleaning, linen, repairs, guest communication — and must be written into the management agreement.
Key takeaways
- The percentage matters less than a clear list of what the commission covers.
- Agree whether commission is taken on gross income or after platform fees and cleaning.
- Put the agreed split in the header of every owner statement.
- Set a repair amount the agency may spend without asking the owner first.
What does an 80/20 split usually include?
A lighter split tends to cover the core agency work: listing management, pricing, guest communication and check-in coordination. Cleaning, laundry and consumables are often charged to the owner separately, per stay.
What does a 70/30 split usually include?
A fuller-service split often bundles more into the commission: cleaning coordination, linen, minor maintenance, inspections and more detailed reporting. Owners who live abroad and want no involvement at all often prefer this model.
Gross or net: which base is commission calculated on?
This is the most common source of disputes. Write down, with an example, whether the percentage is applied to the booking total, to income after platform fees, or to income after cleaning fees. A worked example in the agreement prevents most arguments later.
What should an owner statement show?
- The property, the month and the agreed split in the header.
- Every booking: dates, channel and gross amount.
- Deductions: platform fees, cleaning, repairs, with dates.
- Agency commission and the final owner payout.
- The currency, and the exchange rate used if the owner is paid in another currency.
Get a ready-made agreement
Narona offers a free bilingual management agreement template (English, Russian or Italian alongside Albanian) with 80/20 and 70/30 options, utility allocation, repair limits and damage rules. It is a template, not legal advice — have a licensed Albanian lawyer review it before use.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a standard commission for rental agencies in Albania?
- There is no single legal standard. Splits are agreed between owner and agency and vary with the services included.
- Can the split change during the year?
- Only if the agreement says so. Some agencies agree a different split for high and low season; write it down with dates.
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