Use the availability window, advance notice, and preparation time settings to control how far ahead guests can book, how soon they can move in, and the gap between two stays.
How do I control when guests can book my property?
The article was updated on 12. 5. 2026.
As a host, you have three settings that work together to control when guests can book and how your bookings are spaced:
- Availability window – how far in advance guests can book.
- Advance notice – how many days must pass between today and a move-in date.
- Preparation time – how many nights you need between one guest's check-out and the next guest's check-in.
You'll find all three in Listings → Availability in My Rentals. Below you can read about each setting separately, and at the end you can see how they work together.
Availability window
Set how far in advance guests can book your property.
For example, if you set the window to 6 months, guests can book only dates within the next 6 months. Dates beyond that are blocked automatically — the calendar shows them as unavailable.
Every day, the window shifts forward by one day. So if today is March 1 and your window is 6 months, guests can book up to September 1. Tomorrow, they can book up to September 2.
Why use it? If you don't want to commit to dates far in advance — for example, because you might need the property for yourself, plan to renovate, or expect prices to change — set a shorter availability window.
Default: No limit (guests can book up to 24 months in advance).
What happens to dates you've already blocked manually?
When you set an availability window for the first time, dates beyond the window that you previously blocked manually need a decision:
- Keep blocked – The date stays blocked even after it falls inside your availability window. Use this for dates you really want to keep blocked.
- Replace with availability window – The date becomes managed by the availability window rule. It will unblock automatically as it slides into the window. Use this if you originally blocked it just to limit future bookings.
When you save a new availability window, Flatio asks you to choose for each affected date range. Bulk actions ("Keep all blocked" / "Replace all with availability window") are available for hosts with many manual blocks.
How to set the availability window
- In the Listings section, select the listing.
- Open the Availability section.
- Scroll to Availability window.
- Choose how many months ahead from the dropdown, or select No limit (24 months).
- Click Save. If you have manually blocked dates beyond the new availability window, you'll be asked what to do with them.
Advance notice
Set the minimum number of days between today and the move-in date.
For example, if you set this to 7 days, a guest who tries to book on Monday can only choose a move-in from the following Monday onward. Earlier dates are blocked automatically.
Why use it? To avoid last-minute bookings and give yourself time to prepare the property, handle check-in logistics, or finish any work in progress.
Default: No advance notice — guests can book for any date.
How to set advance notice
- In the Listings section, select the listing.
- Open the Availability section.
- Scroll to Advance notice.
- Enter the minimum number of days before move-in. Leave empty to accept move-ins from any day.
- Click Save.
Preparation time
Set how many nights you need between one guest's check-out and the next guest's check-in.
For example, if you set this to 2 nights and a guest checks out on October 15, the next guest's check-in can start from October 17 at the earliest. Flatio blocks these nights automatically in your calendar.
Why use it? To give yourself time for cleaning, maintenance, or simply a buffer between guests.
Default: 1 night (the day of check-out is blocked for new check-ins).
Maximum: 7 nights.
How to set preparation time
- In the Listings section, select the listing.
- Open the Availability section.
- Scroll to Preparation time.
- Choose the number of nights from the dropdown (1 to 7).
- Click Save.
How these rules work together
Flatio blocks a date if any of these rules say it can't be booked. Some examples:
- If today is March 1 and your advance notice is 14 days, March 1–14 are blocked.
- If your availability window is 6 months, dates after September 1 are blocked.
- If you have a booking from October 5–10 and preparation time is 2 nights, October 11–12 are blocked after that booking.
- Your minimum lease duration also limits which date ranges can be booked.
Guests see the result in the calendar: only dates that pass all rules are available.
