Lake Views, Victorian Streets, and Short-Term Leases: Cleveland's Best Neighborhoods for Short Term Rentals

Maybe you're in town for a work engagement, or you have a six-month contract downtown and want to live closer. Cleveland short-term rentals work well.

But from my experience, not every neighborhood in Cleveland offers the same access to both affordable and short-term-contract apartment communities. As your local ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Cleveland, I'm going to share some of the best neighborhoods in and around the city for short-term rental needs.

Downtown Cleveland

Probably the best option for those coming into town for a 3- or 6-month engagement with work in the heart of the city is Downtown Cleveland. If your work takes you to the Key Bank Tower or around Public Square, Cleveland apartments to rent will be the ideal choice.

This area of the city is noted for condos and apartments with a view of the lake. But there are some shorter-term options available in the larger office buildings downtown. Most of these historic buildings are no longer operated by a single company. Instead, many have been transformed into residential suites and condos. Downtown is also home to the largest corporations and financial institutions that call the city home.

You'll find that Downtown Cleveland short-term rentals will put you within the urban center. Much of this area is upscale, walkable, and in the heart of it all. You're just a few blocks from Edgewater and the lake's marinas as well as the numerous parks and shopping districts in the area. Many of the updated buildings have nice features, like rooftop pools, fitness centers, and business centers.

You'll also find some furnished Downtown Cleveland apartments for rent. These can be perfect for those in town for an event or project. Many of the higher-end apartments in Cleveland will offer furnished options, but not all. You'll find the downtown area of the city is very commercialized in a corporate way – there aren't a lot of smaller niche neighborhoods for rows of homes. But if you're after pet-friendly Downtown Cleveland homes for rent, you'll find a few offering short-term rentals.

Ohio City

Ohio City is another excellent choice for Cleveland short-term rentals. It's about 20 minutes from downtown, right off I-90. But it's super easy to get around the entire area thanks to its proximity to I-77, I-71, and I-480. If you're in the city or the first belt of suburbs for a short stay, Ohio City apartments for rent work well for access.

Ohio City is a unique blend of residential streets and a few more upscale areas. It's somewhat walkable, with various trendy bars and clubs. If you want to spend your days enjoying craft beer and also want the Ohio City Farm and Metroparks within a short drive, choose to stay here. Ohio City is easily recognized as the home of the West Side Market, but it's also just over the bridge from the downtown area. It's home to several art galleries and the Gordon Square Arts District. I also like to spend time at some of the waterfront areas, like the bike trails that connect Ohio City to Edgewater Beach. You can also count on good food (if you like mom-and-pop and gastropubs rather than chain restaurants.

As for the Ohio City short-term rentals, there are a few fantastic locations right along the main thoroughfare. You'll find this community is a bit more affordable than staying Downtown directly. It's not hard to find apartments for rent with specials in Ohio City either. It's an area with a moderate level of apartments with short-term options, but more so than most of the suburbs.

Apartments have fewer upscale amenities, but most are within walking distance of a park or 24-hour fitness center. Bus transportation to the East and West Side is pretty accessible, but like much of Cleveland, this is a car-first community.

Lakewood

As a West Side community, Lakewood has much to offer those looking for a short-term rental. Perhaps you're staying in the area while you're waiting for your home to be restored (those stunning historic mansions along Clifton and Edgewater Drive could be one you're eyeing!) Many people choose Lakewood apartments for rent because of the city's robust features and proximity to the downtown area. It's about a 25-minute drive down Route 2 to get to the Downtown area near the stadium and entertainment. And, this route keeps you off the busy freeways.

For Lakewood short-term rentals, expect to have options ranging from high-rise towers to duplexes. It's a community of older homes with some new development. Many people rent here instead of own, and it's easy enough to get around. Bus stops are available throughout the city, most roadways have bike lanes, and sidewalks are readily available. Schools are within walking distance of most neighborhoods as well.

The Lakewood short-term rentals are likely to be competitively priced. There are some more affordable areas and some more upscale communities. What you'll find is that Lakewood is full of small town shops, service providers, and restaurants. You don't really have to go out of the city for anything – a strong local economy, hospital system, and large public services division make it easy to stay close to home.

University Circle

You're looking for a short-term rental in Cleveland because you're coming in for a short gig at one of the colleges (Case Western Reserve, for example). Or you may be doing your residency at one of the major hospital systems and medical research centers here, such as the Cleveland Clinic or University Hospitals. In all cases, University apartments for rent put you in the heart of it all. Technically on the East Side of the city, University Circle is a vibrant, culturally important area of Cleveland. It's full of museums, fabulous institutions for research and education, and an upper-end quality of life.

But if you're looking for Cleveland short-term rentals on the East Side, this is likely where you'll find them. It's a community that's always changing. Thousands move into the residences around Case Western throughout the year, coming from around the world for their educational opportunities. Many are also choosing to live in University Circle to be close to some of the redevelopment that's happening in the urban areas of Cleveland. While University Circle is on the upswing, with moderate- to high-end communities, just a few miles away are significant development zones where construction is underway to modernize communities.

The short-term rentals in University Circle will include apartments in their traditional form, but also condos, duplexes, and full-size homes. Numerous dorm-like apartments for rent are available in this area, targeting the students who plan to call it home for a semester or two. Case Western has its own housing for students, but most will transition into the community after the first few years. That's where these University Circle short-term rentals become so important. If you're after cheap University Circle apartments to rent, start watching early – especially for college and graduate students. Many book in February and March for the next year.

University Circle offers ample bus and public transit options. It's about a 20-minute drive down the road from the Downtown area, but it feels much further on a busy traffic day. Within the neighborhood are numerous restaurants and shops, including most chains. It's an urban community but is fairly walkable, especially if you head into the Little Italy section or up into the Cleveland Heights area. That's where you'll find lots of amenities, too.

Tremont

Tremont is an upscale, trendy place to call home on the West Side of the city. It's just off I-90 and down the road from Ohio City. But it's a far more residential area than others on this list. If you're looking for a Cleveland short-term rental that's less urban and more walkable, with tree-lined streets, Tremont is a fantastic location. The Tremont apartments to rent are rather versatile, offering everything from mid-rise complexes to condos and some single-family homes. Some areas are a bit more historic than others, so you'll find something for most needs.

Quite the beautiful village-like area, Tremont is the place to go for breakfast-only restaurants, diner-style meals, and the very best in coffee shops. The Victorian homes dot the city streets, some of which have undergone transformation into apartments. Tremont is all about its hip lifestyle and art galleries. Small gastropubs and boutiques outnumber chains in the city. It's certainly a bike-worthy area, close to the Metroparks, and with solid schools.

In terms of what you'll find in short-term rentals in Tremont, expect smaller apartments but larger homes for rent than the downtown areas. Some live in this area and go to school downtown, making short-term rentals rather common. It's also a fantastic option if you're also in need of a short-term rental that's pet-friendly. Everyone loves their pups in Tremont.

Choose Cleveland short-term rentals in Tremont if you're planning to work in the area, Downtown, or in the southern suburbs. If you're in town for a loved one receiving medical care downtown, it's about a 35-minute drive to the East Side.

Kamm's Corners

The final recommendation for Cleveland short-term rentals is Kamm's Corners. It's an ideal place to find affordable apartments for rent in Cleveland, though you'll feel like you're well outside of the downtown area. It's still Cleveland proper, though! It's a community noted for its competitive prices, working-class quality of life, and passion for getting to know the neighbors. This isn't a huge area of the city, but it's quite modernized and certainly offers a safe environment. Kamm's Corners apartments to rent range widely in size, style, and modernization.

Kamm's Corners feels suburban, with mostly single-family homes and duplexes running along tree-lined streets. There are apartments here, including mid-rise multi-home buildings as well as condos and duplexes. You won't find many high-rises here, with the exception of a few along the Metroparks area. Keep in mind that this area has fewer short-term rentals than the Downtown area or University Circle because it's more established as a local community that feels like its own suburban area. But that creates some nice opportunities. I-71 is just around the corner, and I-90 has off-ramps right into the Kamm's Corner area.

You'll find lots of grocery stores, smaller shops, artisan locations, and pubs. Much of Kamm's Corner has a strong Irish-centric feel. Pubs are more common than bars here, but everyone is sure to welcome you in. The Kamm's Corner's area is pretty close to most of what you need in the area. There are a lot of fabulous parks and green spaces just down the road into Rocky River, especially if you want to check out waterfalls and riverfront walking trails. The Metroparks provide easy access to fishing, golfing, and hiking as well.

Choose Kamm's Corners short-term rentals if you want to live in an area that's more peaceful and less urban. If you're looking for a short-term home for rent that's close enough to the city, this area works well. It's also a fraction of the cost of the inner core neighborhoods in Cleveland.

Other Areas to Check Out for Cleveland Short-Term Rentals

It's hard to name just a few of the best Cleveland areas for apartments for rent because there are so many fantastic options. Consider these nearby locations that can also be good options for short-term rentals:

Old Brooklyn short-term rentals, ideal for low-income options and easy access to I-480.
Edgewater short-term rentals, ideal for those who want to be right on the beaches and minutes down Route 2 from the downtown area.
Broadway -Slavic Village short-term rentals, ideal for those who want low-cost and overall more space close to Cleveland's downtown area.

Cleveland's apartments for rent come in all forms, and without a doubt, many are available on short-term contracts. Since many come to the city for research projects, developments, to study, or to wait for home construction, these short-term rentals can be the right fit for 3 to 6 months.

There's no shortage of wonderful places to call home here, but not all areas offer the same access to short-term rentals. You'll need to be ready to act quickly, especially around the hospitals and research centers.