A holiday cottage near river with boats

4 Things to Know if Starting a Holiday Let Business in the UK

Starting a holiday let business in the UK is not a bad idea at all. Many tourists are looking for a more personal space than a hotel especially if they’ve chosen to spend time away from the city. However, you must be prepared to provide immaculate customer service if you want to be successful. Here are some of the things you need to know before embarking on this venture.

1. Customer Satisfaction is Key

No matter where your holiday let is located and how much you charge for it, you must always strive to make your visitors happy. Ensure that they feel welcome in the accommodation by providing some products for breakfast like bread, milk, jam and butter. Other extras to consider include:

2. Find a Holiday Let Cleaning Company

Having worked with many holiday lets in Oxfordshire, we know how important the maintenance of a short-let accommodation is. If you have decided to start a holiday let business you must find the right cleaners that will always go the extra mile and do a fantastic job. Remember, customer satisfaction is key. Your perfect holiday let cleaning provider should include the following in their service:

  • Trained and security checked cleaners
  • Flexible working hours (out of hours ideally)
  • Fresh linen change
  • Laundry services
  • Toiletries restocking
  • Ad-hoc washing, ironing and dry cleaning.

Tip: When you are choosing a holiday let cleaning company to work with, check if they are fully insured. Things happen, but your security and peace of mind should always come first.

3. Get a Tourist Board Accreditation

This can be a great way to boost your bookings as it makes your holiday let business more trustworthy and your accommodation more desirable. In the UK, all regions have their own Tourist Board, so you can apply for accreditation from your local board. The requirements will vary, but generally, your holiday let will be examined and it will be awarded between 1 and 5 stars. Another option would be to get accreditation from the VisitEngland’s National Quality Assessment Scheme.

4. Be Smart About Pricing and Taking Bookings

You need to be careful when setting your prices. There are several things you need to be taking into consideration. Here’s a short list:

  • Running costs (including holiday let cleaning service)
  • Home Insurance (Public liability and contents)
  • Tax
  • Advertising and booking platform fees

After you’ve calculated all of that add the share you want to make as profit and that will give you the final price. However, be mindful of the competition and the market. Do not make your prices too low, because this can make people think you don’t offer good quality or too high, which can serve in favour of your competitors.

When taking bookings protect your interest by requiring a deposit. 25% is a reasonable request. To compel your potential visitors also offer payment method flexibility and free early cancellation options.

Bonus Tip: Make sure you comply with the relevant rules and regulations when it comes to running a holiday let business in the UK. These include:

  • Fire resistance on upholstered furniture (especially if you are using vintage furniture)
  • Gas appliances and fuel safety check
  • Fire safety assessment
  • Electrical appliances safety test

How fast does fire spread in a minute? Find out at https://www.webuyhousesfastnationwide.com.

Holiday lets are indeed a great way to add another stream of income for yourself and your family. If you happen to run a business like that in Oxfordshire or plan to do so, we would love to provide the housekeeping service for your holiday accommodation. Already have a cleaner? Oh well, you can look at our website just for information. We won’t tell anyone!