Sep 11, 2026
Corporate housing in Burbank CA has turned into a bigger deal than most people expect, mostly because Burbank sits right next to some of the busiest production studios in the country. When a show gets greenlit or a project needs a crew for eight weeks, somebody has to find those people a place to live that isn't a hotel room and isn't a full year lease either.
This guide breaks down seven things worth understanding, whether you're a relocating employee trying to figure out your options, a production coordinator booking housing for a crew, or a property owner wondering if furnished corporate rentals make sense for your unit.
It's a niche corner of the rental market, and it operates by slightly different rules than a standard twelve month lease. Pricing works differently, contracts look different, and the tenant relationship itself tends to be shorter and more transactional, though not in a cold way. Understanding those differences upfront saves everyone involved a fair amount of back and forth later.
Corporate housing in Burbank CA generally means a fully furnished unit rented for anywhere from a few weeks to several months, aimed at people who need a real home base without signing a standard twelve month lease. Think furniture, kitchenware, linens, wifi, and utilities usually bundled into one price. It sits somewhere between a hotel and a traditional rental, closer to living like a local without the long term commitment.
The tenants tend to fall into a few groups: relocating employees waiting on a permanent home, entertainment industry crews working a limited production schedule, traveling nurses and consultants, and families mid move who need somewhere to land while they house hunt.
Each group actually wants slightly different things, which matters when a unit gets marketed. A film crew member usually cares most about a fast commute to the lot and a place to decompress after a long shoot day. A relocating family cares more about school proximity and enough space to feel like an actual home, even temporarily. A traveling healthcare worker often just wants something quiet, close to the hospital, and easy to book without much back and forth.
Furnished rentals Burbank companies book most often share a few traits. They're close to the 5 and 134 freeways, since that cuts commute time to the studios and offices scattered across the Valley. They come with fast internet that doesn't drop mid call, since remote work meetings don't wait for a slow connection. And they're set up simply, comfortable but not overly styled, because most guests just want somewhere functional to land after a long day.
Owners considering converting a unit for this purpose should look closely at what Perch Properties covers under standard property management before assuming corporate housing requires a totally separate setup. A lot of the underlying work, screening, maintenance coordination, rent collection, carries over from a regular rental.
Furnishing quality also matters more than owners sometimes expect. A comfortable mattress, real kitchenware instead of a bare minimum starter set, and blackout curtains for people working odd production hours all show up in reviews and repeat bookings. It doesn't need to look like a boutique hotel, but it shouldn't feel like a dorm room either. Guests notice the difference fast, and word travels quickly within a production crew.
Extended stay housing Burbank CA typically covers stays from about 30 days up to six months or so, though some arrangements run longer for a big production or a slow moving corporate relocation. Under 30 days usually falls into short term rental territory instead, which comes with its own separate set of rules worth checking before listing anything.
Pricing usually reflects the length of stay too. A 30 day booking costs more per night than a 90 day one, since the owner is absorbing more turnover, more cleaning, and more marketing time between guests.
Insurance is worth a separate conversation with whoever holds the policy on the property. A standard landlord policy doesn't always anticipate frequent furnished turnover the way a dedicated short term or corporate housing policy does, and it's a quick call to a broker to confirm the coverage actually matches how the unit is being used. Skipping that step is one of the more common, and more expensive, mistakes owners make when they first try this model.
Corporate relocation Burbank employers handle has picked up as more companies, not just studios, plant offices in the area. A relocating employee usually needs housing that's ready the day they land, not something they have to furnish from scratch, which is exactly the gap corporate housing fills.
For HR teams and relocation coordinators, working with one point of contact instead of hunting for a new furnished unit every time saves real time. That's part of why property managers who already understand the local rental laws and studio schedules tend to get repeat bookings from the same companies year after year.
Billing is another spot worth getting right early. Companies handling relocation often want a single monthly invoice rather than a standard security deposit and rent structure, sometimes routed through a corporate account instead of an individual employee. Setting that up clearly at the start, rather than trying to retrofit a standard lease template mid booking, keeps the accounting side from turning into a headache for everyone involved.
Short term furnished apartments Burbank owners list need pricing that accounts for more than monthly rent divided by 30. Furnishing costs, more frequent cleaning, higher utility bills since owners usually cover them, and gaps between bookings all eat into the math. A unit that would rent unfurnished for $2,800 a month might reasonably charge $4,200 to $5,000 furnished, but that premium needs to actually cover the extra overhead, not just pad the bottom line.
Owners should also check current regulations through the City of Burbank before listing anything on a short term basis, since local rules on rental length and permits do change, and getting it wrong can mean fines that eat straight into the premium you were counting on.
Demand also shifts with the production calendar, which catches new owners off guard. Certain months bring a wave of new shows starting up and crews arriving all at once, while quieter stretches follow when fewer productions are actively filming. Owners who track that rhythm, rather than pricing the same year round, tend to fill vacancies faster and avoid sitting empty during the slower months.
Temporary housing near Warner Bros Studios stays in steady demand simply because of how much production activity runs through Burbank year round. Crew members often book for the length of a shoot, which can run anywhere from six weeks to several months depending on the project. The studio's own site gives a sense of just how much year round activity runs through that lot, and Disney and NBCUniversal operations nearby add to the same demand, so units within an easy drive of the studio district tend to fill faster than ones further out.
Owners curious about the broader rental picture in that specific neighborhood can check our earlier piece on apartments near Warner Bros Studios, which covers the standard rental side of that same area.
The Media District and the streets closest to the studio lot tend to command the highest corporate housing premiums, simply because the walk or short drive to work is such a draw for crew members putting in twelve hour days. Units a bit further out can still do well, especially if they offer covered parking or a quieter street, but pricing should reflect that slightly longer commute honestly rather than assuming top dollar just because the zip code says Burbank.
Corporate housing rates Burbank landlords charge vary quite a bit based on unit size, furnishing quality, and how close the property sits to the studio corridor. A one bedroom might run $3,500 to $4,500 a month furnished, while a two or three bedroom home suited to a relocating family can run considerably higher, especially during peak production season. As with any property management arrangement in California, the company handling bookings should hold a valid real estate license through the California Department of Real Estate, and screening for corporate housing guests still needs to follow the same fair housing standards outlined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, even though stays run shorter than a standard lease.
Our customers are really happy with our approach to this niche, and one owner who converted a townhome to corporate housing told us it never expected the furnished unit to fill faster than the regular rentals, but it has, almost every single time. If you're weighing whether your property fits this model, contact us and we'll walk through the numbers honestly, including what it would take versus listing it as a standard rental.
Not every rental makes a great corporate housing candidate, and that's worth being honest about before committing time and money to furnishing a unit. A property tucked away on a quiet residential street with limited parking might struggle compared to something closer to the studio corridor with easy freeway access. Size matters too, since a cramped one bedroom will have a harder time justifying a premium rate than a comfortable two bedroom with a real workspace.
The properties that tend to do best share a few things in common: a location within a reasonable drive of the studios, a layout that works for someone essentially living out of a suitcase for weeks at a time, and an owner willing to invest a bit upfront in furnishing it properly rather than cutting corners. Get those three right, and the rest tends to fall into place.
Q: What's the difference between corporate housing and a regular short term rental?
A: Corporate housing is furnished and typically booked for 30 days or longer by relocating employees or production crews, while short term rentals usually run under 30 days and lean more toward vacation stays.
Q: How much does furnished corporate housing cost in Burbank?
A: Rates typically run $3,500 to $4,500 a month for a one bedroom, with larger homes running higher, depending on furnishing quality and proximity to the studio district.
Q: Do I need a special permit to offer corporate housing in Burbank?
A: Requirements depend on the length of stay and how the unit is marketed, so checking current City of Burbank rules before listing is worth doing every time.
Q: Why is Burbank such a strong market for corporate housing?
A: The concentration of studios and production companies nearby means a steady stream of crew members and relocating employees who need furnished housing on a temporary basis.
Q: Is converting a rental to corporate housing worth it for owners?
A: For units near the studio corridor with strong furnished appeal, it often is, though the higher rent needs to cover furnishing, cleaning, and vacancy costs to actually pencil out.
