Hot Tubs for Holiday Lets: Rules, Regulations and More
Our data shows that buying a hot tub for your holiday let could boost your revenue by 37%. Hot...
With over 20 years of experience marketing and managing an exquisite collection of holiday cottages in South Devon, we have put our expertise to the keyboard to bring you our Holiday Let Advice guide.
No matter what stage you are at in your holiday letting journey, we aim to ensure you enjoy a hassle-free experience. So, we’ve summarised the key points on everything you need to know to make your holiday let a success.
Use the quick links below for specific details or continue reading for our comprehensive holiday let advice.
When buying any home, you need to understand where the best place is to buy. And there are plenty of stunning locations across the country. Here are a few things to consider when buying a holiday home.
In our experience, the most popular holiday lets include the following features:
South Devon is a region with plenty of these desirable attributes to choose from. With beautiful beaches, vibrant towns, and villages as well as endless unspoilt countryside, it’s the ideal holiday destination for all generations.
From towns like Salcombe, Dartmouth, and Torbay, to beachside villages like Hope Cove and Thurlestone, each of these locations has something different to offer your guests.
For more guidance on locations for your holiday property, we’ve published a guide on where to buy a second home in South Devon. For useful industry data, read our 2024 Holiday Letting Market Insights Report.
Our property experts are located in the South Hams and have a wealth of local knowledge and experience when looking for desirable properties in the area. We have offices in Salcombe and Dartmouth, where properties with a parking spot book quickly, as well as those within a short walking distance of the town centre.
If you’re buying in a beachside location, a sea view will allow you to charge premium rental prices. Whilst properties near a town may traditionally have achieved more year-round bookings, some of our most successful holiday lets are those in remote locations.
For more information about other influencing factors, read our informative articles on what to know when buying a holiday home in Dartmouth and what to know when buying a holiday home in Salcombe.
The location of your holiday let will influence the type of guests who book to stay. It is important to understand who your target audience is and what is most likely to influence their decision to book.
Properties let by Coast & Country Cottages are booked by the following demographics:
Considering seaside locations can be perfect for families, whereas small apartments in the middle of a bustling town may be more suited to couples. These factors should be considered when selecting the best place to buy a holiday home.
Holiday lets require specialised mortgages, as opposed to residential or buy-to-let mortgages. This is an important thing to consider if the property is not your main residence and is being let out to guests on a self-catering basis.
Understanding which mortgage you qualify for as a holiday let depends on specific criteria. For a far more detailed look into the requirements of qualifying, read our holiday let mortgages guide.
In the same way you need a specialised mortgage, renting out a home to guests will mean you need different insurance to a standard home policy. The nature of renting out a short-term holiday let means your property is exposed to unique elements compared to a residence which is occupied throughout the year.
Not only does letting a holiday cottage mean you could potentially be exposing yourself legally and financially if guests are injured, but also any damage or loss of earnings to your property. Every holiday home is unique and has different insurance requirements, so be sure to read our holiday let insurance guide for more information.
One of our best holiday let advice tips is to be conscious of legal requirements and tax benefits. These rules and regulations are in place to protect not only your guests, but you and your holiday let business too.
A crucial factor to consider is effectively upholding and managing a good level of health and safety. This is important for the well-being of your guests and to reduce your liability in the event of an accident. Ensuring that your property is a compliant and safe environment will allow both you and your guests to relax.
We’ve provided plenty of additional guidance and useful information to help you understand which holiday let legal requirements apply to your property. Read our blog on holiday let rules and regulations for a comprehensive guide.
Furnished Holiday Lets have a unique taxation classification, meaning they have certain tax benefits and allowances. A Furnished Holiday Let is classified as a commercial trading business by the UK government and must meet certain criteria to qualify for special tax advantages.
Read our guide to Furnished Holiday Let Tax for more information on the criteria and tax advantages.
The Furnished Holiday Let tax regime is ending from 1st April 2025, meaning certain tax advantages for holiday home owners will change.
For up-to-date information on Furnished Holiday Let tax changes, read our parent company, Sykes Holiday Cottages’ guide. There are also official details on the Government website.
If you own a second home or holiday property, you will either need to pay holiday let business rates or council tax. This currently depends on the amount of days your property is advertised and occupied for each year.
To find out the difference between holiday let business rates and council tax, and which one you’ll need to pay, be sure to consult our article on the topic.
The addition of desirable features and amenities can give your holiday let a distinct advantage over other properties. They can also increase your rental rates and secure more bookings. Consider these popular features to increase your bookings:
We love dogs, and it’s no surprise that so many of our returning customers do too.
Choosing to make your holiday home dog-friendly can cater to a wider audience, which can result in increased bookings and higher revenue. According to our 2025 Holiday Letting Market Insights Report, properties accepting pets earn on average 2.5 extra bookings and 18% more revenue per year.
We understand that allowing pets into your holiday home is a big decision, so our team are available to offer advice on this. Our blog, Should I make my holiday let dog-friendly?, offers more information to put your mind at ease.
Hot tubs have become increasingly popular with holidaymakers over previous years. According to our research, properties with hot tubs can earn on average 37% more income per year than properties that do not.
One important thing to consider if you’re looking to install a hot tub is running costs. Our Hot Tub Guide for Holiday Lets provides plenty of information to help you decide if having a hot tub is the right thing for your holiday let.
Research suggests that guests are looking for lavish self-catering accommodation that offers a 5-star luxury experience. So why not set your property apart with premium amenities that exceed guests’ expectations?
This can be as simple as furnishing your holiday let with high-quality interior decor or the latest tech and entertainment, though luxury doesn’t have to be expensive.
Check out our blog on Creating a Luxury Holiday Let to gain more insight on how you can make your property stand out from the crowd.
Electric vehicles are revolutionising the way we travel. According to Zap Map, there were roughly 1.25 million fully electric vehicles on UK roads at the end of September 2024. So, it only seems logical that installing an electric charging point at your property is a worthwhile investment.
Only 5% of our current properties have an EV charger, which means there’s a great chance for owners to make their accommodation stand out from the crowd by adding this feature.
Considering the current climate, it’s worth noting how environmentally friendly your property is. In our recent survey, 74% of the UK public said they wanted travel companies to offer more sustainable choices. Around 65% said they would prefer to stay in accommodation that has a sustainable certificate, and 43% said they were willing to pay more for sustainable options.
Adapting your holiday cottage to be more eco-friendly will not only go a long way in reducing your running costs, but could increase your property’s desirability to guests. It’s worth considering installing a smart meter, not only to help you monitor your running costs but also to prompt guests to consider their energy usage.
Similarly, leaving a note in your welcome book with suggested energy-saving techniques can be a good idea. For instance, ask guests to shut doors and windows to reduce heat loss, encouraging them to be mindful of their energy and water consumption, for the sake of the planet.
We would recommend regularly reviewing your property’s insulation, glazing, heating and boiler systems as well as lighting, to make sure you are running your home as efficiently as possible.
Read more in our comprehensive guide on how to make your holiday home more eco-friendly and sustainable.
Little gestures or added touches can make your guests feel extra welcome and leave a lasting impression.
Turning on the heating in the winter months prior to your guest’s arrival can make the property feel warm and inviting when they walk through the door.
Leaving a welcome note with some local treats such as fudge, chocolate, or cream teas, can make all the difference to how your guests feel during their stay. These added extras cost very little and can help your property get 5 star reviews.
While the popularity of UK staycations is here to stay, how do you make sure your holiday let business is a success? Here are a few tips from our team to help you succeed:
Our first tip is to maintain an element of flexibility. By being flexible you will encourage bookings, increasing your holiday let income potential.
Our data shows that the demand for short breaks has increased year after year. In 2024, 32% of our bookings were for short breaks last year. This is a 4% increase from 2023.
Current economic challenges, coupled with the ease of booking last-minute getaways, has meant that flexibility in accepting late bookings is essential to maximise annual occupancy and income as a result. Two short breaks in place of one week-long booking returns on average 178% of the weekly rental. Our average short break is currently taken at 88% of the weekly rental price.
A key factor to consider is the rise in the ‘save-cation’ holiday trend directly relating to the cost-of-living crisis. When targeting these holidaymakers, it’s important to balance generating income with remaining competitive in the market.
Holiday cottages priced too high are at risk of losing bookings, but pricing that’s too low will obviously lead to lower income. Optimising your pricing will allow you to achieve the right balance of bookings and income.
Coast & Country Cottages offers dynamic pricing tools, which automatically adjust prices in line with demand by analysing searches, booking trends, and individual property performance. Owners that utilised these dynamic pricing tools in 2024 saw an average of 6 additional bookings and 21% more revenue, compared to those that did not.
For a free, no obligation projection of your property’s bookings and income with Coast & Country Cottages, book a visit from one of our local New Property Consultants.
Listening to guest feedback is a must when it comes to running a successful holiday let. Most holiday cottages that achieve excellent ratings are proactive about responding to negative feedback. They resolve issues promptly, even after guests have stayed, to ensure future guests have the best experience possible.
Make sure you provide guests with a way of giving feedback and recommendations so you can continually make improvements to improve your guest experiences. This will hopefully result in increased bookings.
There are many things to consider when welcoming guests to your property. Examining what it is they are looking for and making sure all the details and small touches are thought of will not only delight your customers, but lead to rave reviews and repeat bookings.
Creating a well-presented and spotlessly clean interior is a crucial part of your holiday lets’ success and key to making guests feel welcome. Holiday let cleaning, housekeeping and laundry are some of the most important elements to consider.
Providing a comprehensive welcome pack is one of the easiest and most effective ways to show your hospitality to guests. It’s the chance for you to distinguish your home from others and a great way to quickly answer all your guests’ questions, ensuring an enjoyable, hassle-free stay. Read our blog on creating the perfect holiday home information pack for more information on what to include.
Today’s guests expect properties to be immaculate, fully functional, and equipped with all the essential amenities. To ensure your property meets these expectations, refer to our handy holiday let inventory checklist for everything you’ll need.
Holiday home management is a challenging yet vital element of running a successful holiday let business. This includes managing bookings, cleaning, maintenance and changeovers, all of which are integral to running your holiday let business.
Depending on how involved you would like to be in running your property, finding the right holiday home management agency for expert advice and support can make all the difference to help you achieve success. There are lots of things to consider, so we have written a comprehensive guide explaining holiday home property management to help you understand what’s involved.
One of the benefits of choosing a letting agent is that they often have local offices, close to the holiday homes they manage. Choosing a holiday home letting agency in South Devon, like Coast & Country Cottages who have local offices in Salcombe and Dartmouth, can be extremely helpful, especially if you don’t live nearby.
Letting your holiday home should be enjoyable and we are here to help make it so. If you need advice at any stage, whatever the problem, please do not hesitate to call or email us. No query is too small and we are delighted to help.
Thinking of letting your South Devon holiday home? Coast & Country Cottages have been taking care of holiday lets for over 20 years, and are pleased to market a portfolio of over 500 properties in South Devon. At Coast & Country Cottages, we help to take the hassle out of holiday letting for our property owners.
If you would like to find out more about letting your holiday home, call our experienced team on 01548 843773 (option 2) or visit our Let your Cottage page to request a free Owner Guide today.
As a holiday letting owner you are responsible for compliance with health & safety laws, regulations and guidance, and for having suitable insurances in place (not Sykes Holiday Cottages or its brands (Sykes)). From time to time, Sykes shares information with you on the topic of health and safety and insurance. When it does so, it is not providing you with advice (legal, financial, tax or otherwise); please seek your own as you see fit. In addition, it is not making any representations or warranties about the information being complete or free from errors or inaccuracies. Sykes shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising under or in connection with your reliance on it.
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