How to start a holiday let business
Whilst owning a holiday cottage can be a financially rewarding and exciting venture, it can be incredibly daunting knowing...
Have you always dreamt of owning your own holiday home? Somewhere you and your family can relax and spend time together, as well as earn an extra income from letting it out to guests? The good news is a holiday let mortgage could help you realise your dream, boost your revenue stream and it has tax benefits too!
Understanding any mortgage process is daunting, but more so if your intent is to use your property as a holiday let. If you qualify as a Furnished Holiday Let, you will need a specific type of mortgage. Here is our guide to everything you need to know when buying a holiday cottage and applying for a holiday let mortgage.
Use the quick links below for specific details or continue reading our comprehensive guide to holiday let mortgages:
A holiday let mortgage is specifically designed for an owner to borrow money in order to purchase a property that will be for personal use, as well as let out on a short-term basis for holiday guests. Understanding the difference between the types of mortgages available to you as a holiday home owner is imperative.
To make sure you qualify as a holiday let, rather than a buy-to-let, there are a number of specific criteria. For a far more detailed look into the requirements of qualifying, read our Furnished Holiday Let tax guide.
The type of mortgage you will need for your holiday home and where you get it from will depend on how you intend to use the property.
It is vitally important that you understand the difference between which type or mortgage you qualify for. There are implications involved in what costs can be offset against profit as well as far more stringent assessment criteria if applying for a buy-to-let.
Most mortgage providers will assess each case according to various criteria. Your credit history, income, property type as well as your current mortgage commitments (if applicable) will be taken into consideration.
Financing, rates and requirements all differ between the various lenders. Bear in mind that lenders will require details on your personal expenditure, cross-referencing tax returns and rental bank statements.
Being a niche area of finance dependent on specific requirements, there are organisations who offer tailored mortgages for holiday lets.
While it is possible to manage the process yourself, to find and approach a lender and get a mortgage on your own, it’s always a good idea to get professional mortgage advice. A regulated financial advisor can research the market for you and help you through the application process, so you don’t have to do it alone.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or already own a holiday cottage it’s beneficial having a holiday let mortgage broker to explain the charges and fees. As well as guide you through the process of choosing the best lender for your needs.
Price range/loan amount: You’ve decided that you are ready to start the search for your holiday cottage. You know that you meet the criteria to qualify for a holiday let mortgage, so the next step is to work out your budget.
You don’t need to have chosen a specific property at this stage, but you do need to have a price range in mind. This will naturally determine the type of property and what location you can afford.
Holiday let mortgage deposit: A deposit on a property is one of the biggest costs to consider. Having a deposit is a requirement from any lender in order to grant you a mortgage.
The amount of deposit that the mortgage company require will be dependent on various factors as set out by the mortgage financer. As a furnished holiday let generating an income, lenders will class this as a full holiday let property or business and you’re likely to need a deposit of 25%.
Holiday let mortgage rates: Part of working out an accurate budget will require you to consider the lending rate at the time you are searching for your mortgage.
These will vary according to the amount of deposit, your expected rental income, credit history, your personal income and other various factors. Depending on whether it’s your first holiday home or you have a portfolio, lender rates will also differ. At present rates are around 2% to 4% depending on the size of your deposit.
Choosing the right mortgage provider can be a complex process, but it’s a vital step that affects your finances and whether or not you are able to purchase a property.
In order for a lender to consider your request, you will need to provide key information and documentation including the following:
Financial institutions will need a proof of deposit, and the source of the holiday let mortgage deposit funds. The proof needs to be in the form of a formal confirmation letter from the relevant bank or investment company.
Before you begin the journey of choosing the perfect holiday cottage, it is worth agreeing with your lender – in principle – to give you a mortgage, subject to final checks and approval of the property you intend to buy. This is also referred to as an ‘agreement in principle’ or ‘AIP’.
The key to finding out whether your chosen property is the right one for you will depend on research. Considering factors such as location, parking, local amenities, views and even if you intend to make your holiday let dog-friendly. These will all impact the potential return on investment and what amount you will be lent.
Once you have this information, you should be able to accurately work out your potential income and outgoings. If you are thinking of buying a holiday home in South Devon, our local New Property Consultant team work closely with experienced local estate agents and are able to assist in providing detailed information on all aspects of holiday let income and expenses. They can also let you know if any of the fantastic established properties we currently let are up for sale.
Read our blog on the cost of running a holiday let for a general overview of what to expect.
Once you have found the property which meets your requirement as well as budget, and the offer has been accepted, there are various criteria that need to be satisfied in order for the mortgage to be agreed. The property will need a valuation to confirm that the home is worth what you intend to pay for it.
Lenders then conduct a thorough credit search and confirm the documentation you provided is in order. Once a formal mortgage offer has been agreed, your conveyancer arranges the funds to be transferred to the seller on the day of completion.
You now have your perfect holiday cottage and are ready to let it out to guests. This can seem as much a daunting task as it was securing a holiday let mortgage.
Whether you are a first-time holiday cottage owner or already have holiday lets, choosing the services of an experienced and reputable holiday home management agency is the first step towards running a successful business. Coast & Country Cottages are able to guide you through preparing your home for guests, marketing your property and administering bookings.
Whether you choose to be hands-on or prefer to have the hassle taken out of the day-to-day running of your holiday let, we have an option to suit you. To make your letting journey as easy as possible, the following property owner guides may be useful to you:
At Coast and Country Cottages, we are fully committed to providing both our customers and holiday home owners with the highest possible levels of service.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve assisted many owners when buying and setting up their holiday homes in South Devon. Our local team in Salcombe (01548 843773) and Dartmouth (01803 839499) are on hand to provide you with all the knowledge and support you’ll need.
To find out more about the holiday letting services we offer, visit our Let Your Cottage page to order a copy of our free Owners Guide.
Please Note: The information contained in this article was accurate at the time of writing, based on our research. Rules, criteria and regulations change all the time, so please contact our prospective new owner team if you’d like to hear how. Nothing in this article constitutes the giving of financial, tax or legal advice to you; please consult your own professional advisor (accountant, lawyer etc). in this regard. If we have referred within the article to a third-party provider of unregulated holiday let mortgages, this is due to the fact that such mortgages aren’t currently regulated by the FCA.
As a helpful reminder, your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage, so again anything you decide to do in this particular area this is one on which you should take your own professional advice on too, as we aren’t providing and can’t provide you with this.
Discover how a local brand with national reach can work for you. We're a British Travel Award winning holiday letting agency, priding ourselves on delivering consistent year-round bookings and bespoke property management options.
Find out how we can work together. With over 25 years’ experience, our local expertise will give you peace of mind and bring you the bookings you deserve.
I’ve had the privilege of living in the beautiful South West since 2010, and in my opinion there’s no better place in the worl...
Read More About Author
Sign up to receive exclusive offers, competitions and the latest news to your inbox, and you'll be entered into our monthly prize-draw 3 times!
Whilst owning a holiday cottage can be a financially rewarding and exciting venture, it can be incredibly daunting knowing...
Owning and running a holiday home can be a fantastic and rewarding experience as well as a great return...
Whether you plan to use your second property for your own holidays or let it out and make a...
