Between hotel and home: long stay apartments redefine living in São Paulo

In a scenario marked by professional mobility, constant changes in routine, and a less rigid relationship with the idea of permanence, short-term rental apartments — especially in the long stay format — emerge as a direct response to new urban demands. By 2026, this model will cease to be an exception and will solidify as a trend, especially in corporate hubs like São Paulo.

Unlike traditional rentals or hotel accommodations, long stay buildings offer flexible contracts, centralized management, and integrated services, without giving up the residential experience. They are apartments ready to live in, with maintenance, cleaning, complete common areas, and infrastructure designed for those who need a temporary home — but not too temporary.

Between hotel and conventional rental

The concept, known internationally as multifamily, is already widely spread in the United States, where it totals millions of units, and is beginning to gain scale in Brazil. The logic is simple: a single operator manages the entire building, ensuring standards, predictability, and a continuous living experience. By restricting short stays, the model avoids intense turnover and creates a project more similar to a residential condominium.

This format responds to a growing profile of residents who value time, convenience, and autonomy. Executives on temporary projects, expatriates, families in transition, students, and even patients in medical treatment find in this type of housing an alternative that eliminates common issues of traditional rentals, such as long contracts, bureaucracy, and additional costs.

From concept to practice: long stay in São Paulo

One of the most emblematic examples of this movement in Brazil is JFL. Founded ten years ago, the company was a pioneer in implementing the multifamily concept in the country, focusing on the high-end segment. Currently, JFL operates five buildings in upscale areas of São Paulo, totaling 600 apartments with sizes ranging from 36 m² to 431 m².

The contracts are exclusively long stay, starting from one month, and the average stay of residents ranges from six to seven months. The model makes short stays unfeasible and reinforces the sense of continuous living, with services like cleaning, maintenance, concierge, complete leisure areas, and everything concentrated in a single monthly bill. According to Lucas Cardozo, COO of JFL, the included services bring more comfort and consistency to the daily life of the resident. "Everything we offer is designed to eliminate worries and the time spent on household maintenance routines,” he explains.

For him, three factors are decisive in the resident's decision. "The first filter, without a doubt, is location. The size is also relevant, since there are few high-end solutions that offer comfort for an entire family. The contractual flexibility completes this equation."

Who lives in this new format

The profile of residents reflects the diversity of this new urban living. Adults aged between 35 and 55 years form the majority, including executives, expatriates, athletes, artists, and families. Today, 33% of residents are foreigners — especially professionals coming from China, Japan, South Korea, and India — while another 30% come from outside São Paulo, mainly from Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Santa Catarina.

Apartments larger than 100 m², with two or more bedrooms, are among the most sought after, keeping the average occupancy rate at 88%. Families represent about 10% of the contracts, which can reach up to 25% in certain buildings, reinforcing that the model goes beyond individual or corporate housing. "One of the most relevant factors for families is the plug and play style: the family can move in without needing to resolve anything on the first day,” explains Cardozo.

More than just a real estate trend, long stay apartments signal a cultural shift in the relationship with home. Instead of a fixed and definite point, home becomes understood as a welcoming space that accompanies the cycles of life. Between the desire for belonging and the need for flexibility, this model points to a future where living well also means being able to leave — without giving up comfort, identity, and routine.