A trend toward shorter vacations has left some high-end vacation homes unrented this summer, but demand for houses that are available by the week or weekend is still high along Connecticut’s shoreline.

The last few years have not been particularly strong for the summer rental market, according to Liz Viering, broker-owner of Stonington Real Estate, but she’s not sure why. Viering handles the renting of mostly high-end vacation homes near Mystic. Because of the quality of the homes, many of the owners do not want to see high turnover of renters and so have specified that their homes can only be rented by the month. But monthlong rentals don’t seem to be as popular as they once were, Viering said.

“I just didn’t get the requests for those that I have in the past,” she said. “The last few years, the demand has not been there.”

July was the most popular time for monthlong rentals, said Viering, who added that she hopes the market sees an increase in activity next summer.

But she has spent all summer turning away potential renters who want a house for a week or a weekend because of lack of availability.

“It seems to be as much of a tourist destination as always,” Viering said.

Camille Taylor, broker-owner of ERA Taylor in Mystic, agreed. The tourist board in the area has been advertising to promote its beaches and attractions, and it has been working, Taylor said.

Taylor’s firm handles vacation homes in and around Mystic, many of which rent by the week or weekend. She said she has noticed strong demand for those rentals. Most renters want to be on the beach, she noted, and some come to the area to attend events like the Coast Guard Academy’s graduation. Her renters often come from New York, Massachusetts and Europe.

‘Good Activity’

Farther up the shoreline, near New Haven, the summer rental market has been healthy, said Peter Watson, a broker with H. Pearce Real Estate Co. in Guilford.

“It’s been very good,” he noted.

The market for rentals there has been steady for the past few years, according to Watson, who handles rentals of homes along the water in towns like Madison, Guilford and Branford.

Watson said many of his renters come back every year, and this year, some new properties have come on the market.

“There’s good activity,” he said. “We’ve had a brisk market.”