Guide

Evaluating seasonal rental income

By Jodi Bernard, PEI REALTOR®, CENTURY 21 Northumberland Realty. Updated October 12, 2026.

Tourism supports summer demand. It does not fill a cottage from January to December. Put the empty months in the spreadsheet on purpose.

Income

Use booked weeks you can defend, then a vacancy allowance. Other income, such as parking, only counts if someone actually pays it.

Costs that people skip

Cleaning between guests, management, higher insurance, supplies, and repairs from heavier summer use. Platform fees are an expense, not a rounding error.

Rules

Short-term rental permission is local and can change. Confirm the community’s rules and your insurer’s guest rules before you underwrite the purchase with rental income.

This is educational, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Ask Jodi Bernard about a specific property.