You are considering Houst for the short-term rental management of your Dubai property, and you want to know what else is out there. Here is an honest comparison: what Houst does well, what to check before signing, and which profile Medini Homes is the right alternative for.
Full disclosure first: this page is published by Medini Homes, and I run Medini Homes. I am not going to trash Houst to sell you my services: every fact about Houst comes from its website or a cited source, checked on 14 October 2026, and I will also tell you when Houst remains the better choice. The framework comes from our 8-criteria checklist for choosing an Airbnb manager in Dubai.
Houst is an international platform that shows the lowest published headline rate in Dubai: 12% for full management, 18% for part-time support. Relevant if the percentage is your first criterion, or if your property is in the Marina, JBR or on the Palm. If you prefer a salaried housekeeping and maintenance team in Dubai, a direct contact and numbers published by district, Medini Homes is the alternative to look at (17% all-inclusive), especially in JVC, MBR City, Meydan, Downtown and Business Bay.
What Houst does well
According to its website, Houst was founded in 2015 and is present in 29 cities, from London to Dubai via Paris, Lisbon and Sydney. Its Dubai page states a commission of 12% for full management and 18% for part-time hosting support, "of gross booking revenue", with no hidden fees according to the page. Pricing covers setup, dynamic pricing, guest communication, cleaning coordination and performance reporting. Listings are published on Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo, and owners follow bookings and payouts in a dashboard.
The 18% part-time plan is a real choice of model: it suits the owner who wants to stay involved in part of the letting, or to use the home whenever they like. On reputation, Houst shows 3,427 Trustpilot reviews with a 4.7 rating on its global profile (14 October 2026), across all its cities.
Why some owners look for an alternative
It is not a question of quality, it is a question of model. A few concrete differences:
- A salaried team on the ground. Houst's Dubai page refers to "cleaning coordination". At Medini Homes, housekeeping and maintenance are done by a salaried in-house team in Dubai. Ask every manager who enters your property, and who pays for cleaning and linen.
- A comparable calculation basis. 12% of gross booking revenue and 17% of hosting revenue excluding re-billed cleaning are not directly comparable, and the Houst page also says the rate depends on property type and location. Ask for a sample statement. Our pricing page details what our 17% covers.
- Your district. Houst's Dubai page lists the Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, Business Bay, JLT, DIFC and City Walk. We focus on JVC, Studio City, MBR City, Meydan, Downtown and Business Bay.
- Local presence. Houst's reviews are mostly on Trustpilot, at global level. Its "Houst Dubai" Google profile had 12 reviews (3.3 rating) on 14 October 2026.
Houst vs Medini Homes: head to head
| Criterion | Houst | Medini Homes |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | International platform, 29 cities according to its website | 100% Dubai, founder-led operator |
| Since | 2015 (group) | 2021 |
| Districts listed | Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, Business Bay, JLT, DIFC, City Walk | JVC, Studio City, MBR City, Meydan, Downtown, Business Bay |
| Fees | 12% full, 18% part-time, of gross booking revenue; depends on property type and location | 17% of hosting revenue excluding re-billed cleaning, excluding 5% VAT, all-inclusive; no onboarding fee |
| Housekeeping | Cleaning coordination | Salaried in-house housekeeping and maintenance, never outsourced |
| Part-time plan | Yes, 18% | No: full management only |
| Published numbers | Dubai portfolio averages on a representative 2-bedroom | Statistics and annual report by district and unit type, 12 observed months |
| Reporting | Online owner dashboard | Line-by-line statement on the 5th of each month, with the payout |
Medini Homes as the alternative: for whom?
Medini Homes manages short-term rental apartments under a DET operator licence (mandatory for holiday-home leasing in Dubai), with a 17% all-inclusive commission and a salaried in-house housekeeping and maintenance team. Other managers' published rates, Houst included, are compared with their calculation basis in our guide to Airbnb management fees in Dubai in 2026. We publish the real statistics of our portfolio: median studio ADR AED 269, median studio occupancy 86%, and median gross annual revenue by district in the Dubai STR Report 2026. The founder, with more than 10 years of hotel management experience, answers owners personally.
Best for: the English or French speaking owner, often non-resident, with a studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom in JVC, MBR City, Meydan, Downtown or Business Bay, who wants a salaried team on the ground, a direct contact and verifiable numbers.
Not ideal for: an owner whose first criterion is the headline percentage, who wants a part-time plan, whose property is in the Marina, JBR or on the Palm, or who owns properties in several countries and wants a single manager. In those cases, Houst remains a good starting point.
Other alternatives to consider
- Frank Porter: large holiday home operator dedicated to Dubai, 17% published. See our Frank Porter alternative page.
- Deluxe Holiday Homes: large integrated operator since 2015, fee not published. See our Deluxe Holiday Homes alternative page.
- GuestReady: another international group, short, mid and long stays. See our GuestReady alternative page.
The full comparison of Dubai managers is in our best Airbnb property management companies in Dubai guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Houst in Dubai?
It depends on your property. For a studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom in JVC, MBR City, Meydan, Downtown or Business Bay, with a salaried team on the ground and a direct contact: Medini Homes (17% all-inclusive). For a large Dubai-focused operator: Frank Porter or Deluxe Holiday Homes. For another international group: GuestReady.
How much does Houst charge in Dubai?
12% for full management and 18% for part-time support, on gross booking revenue, according to its Dubai page as of 14 October 2026. The page also says the rate depends on property type and location. The comparison with other managers is in our fees guide.
Is Houst a good property manager in Dubai?
It is an international platform founded in 2015, well rated on Trustpilot at global level (4.7 from 3,427 reviews as of 14 October 2026), with the lowest published headline rate in Dubai. Its Dubai Google profile had 12 reviews (3.3 rating) on the same date. Relevant for an owner who prioritises the percentage and a multi-country platform.
Compare us on the evidence.
Send us your property details: we will show you real revenue ranges from comparable units in our portfolio, the contract, a sample statement and the 17% all-inclusive commission. Then compare with whoever you like.
Talk to HillalInformation about Houst checked on 14 October 2026 on its Dubai page, on Trustpilot and on its Google Maps profile; we will correct any inaccuracy reported to admin@medini-homes.com.