3rd edition
Make money from your holiday home
Contents PREPARING
Managing
4 Case Study: Holiday home owners success through Holiday Lettings
28 Tips to help you manage your holidaymaker enquiries effectively
6 Choosing the right property to suit your needs and objectives
31 Advice on helping you to encourage repeat bookings
8 Legal and financial considerations when choosing to let your holiday home
32 Case Study: Moneycorp currency exchange
10 How to furnish and accessorise your holiday home to appeal to your target market 12 Case Study: Conti overseas mortgages mark eting 14 Considerations when setting your rental rates 16 B enefits of marketing your holiday home on the internet 18 Tips on taking good photos to use in your marketing
Holidaylett ing s.co.uk
20 Tips on writing an effective and appealing advert
36 Advertise with us
35 About us
22 Keeping your holiday home advert accurate and up to date
38 Holiday letting checklist
24 Additional marketing channels
41 Resources available to you on holidaylettings.co.uk
26 Case Study: Intasure holiday home insurance
40 Case Study: Tax tips from Campbell Woolley
43 Mark your bookings on this mini calendar
Welcome...
Holiday letting is now a mainstream holiday concept as more and more second home owners realise
the added value of letting their holiday home and more and more holidaymakers enjoy the space, freedom and flexibility of staying in a home over a hotel room. We have experienced with many requests for advice on how best to do
holiday home marketing .
online
What was once a niche market place of renting directly from a handful of private holiday home owners is now a mass market with enormous consumer choice. While holiday home letting is not rocket science this guide has been designed to help you maximise your efforts and your rental income by guiding you on how to
stand out from the crowd .
IN T RODUCT IO N
much growth in this area in recent years, which has come
Many members of our team, myself included, have personal experience of holiday home ownership and online marketing. Part of the strength of the service we provide comes from the passion our team has for
sharing our knowledge and wanting you to get the
most from your holiday home advertising. Whatever stage you are at in your holiday home letting journey, this guide provides advice and suggestions from property choice and purchase through to managing your bookings and securing repeat bookings. There’s no more
passionate or knowledgeable place to be and we look forward
to helping you get the most value out of your holiday home. R OSS E LDE R , Managing Direc t o r
holidaylettings.co.uk
3
casestudy Richard and Lucy Pash happened upon Casa dell’Ava in the medieval village of Chiavenna in 2004. With the help of local craftsmen they restored their traditional mountain home on the Swiss-Italian border and incorporated numerous eco-friendly elements. Opting later to let their beautiful home and share rural mountain life with others, they created their own website casadellava.com and placed an advert with Holiday Lettings. Perching on the south facing slopes of the Engadina valley, skiing can be found at St Moritz and the popular local resort Madesimo. But with the local area offering so much more than skiing Richard will help package mountain holidays for you so that you experience ski, mountain tracks, ice falls, local food and local hospitality. Today they are almost full from June through to mid September and again from December until February.
We rent out our house in Italy to provide income to pay back a family loan that we took on when we bought and restored the house. Holiday Lettings has been superb, our house has its own page on their website which we can amend at any time and the staff are always very responsive and helpful. Richard and Lucy Pash | Home 16033 | Italy
More info To find out how Holiday Lettings can help you make money from your holiday home visit: holidaylettings.co.uk/whychooseus
Preparing
MA NAGING
Location, location, location : 6 | Play safe : 8 | Mass appeal maximised : 10
holidaylettings.co.uk
5
Location Location Location
Try before you buy Be sure to holiday in
Be obj ective What is more important: personal use and preferences or appeal to holidaymakers and rental income? Who are you r g uests? Think about the
PREPARI N G
As you set about your holiday home letting journey make sure you have clear objectives for your purchase, such as the type of property you buy and its location‌
demographic make up of the typical holidaymaker in your location and the type of property and facilities most sought after.
your chosen location before you buy, preferably at
Acc ess ibi li ty Consider which routes and
different times of the year, to gauge how busy the
forms of transport the destination relies on. This
resort is through the seasons.
could affect changeover days and whether or not your guests need to hire a car.
Be sure to holiday in your chosen location before you buy, preferably at different times of the year. Find your wo w factor Find a property’s Windo w sho p Before your buying trip check
unique selling points, i.e. great views, pool, hot tub.
out portals such as rightmoveoverseas.co.uk,
Check out you r com pe tit io n Do your
which advertises thousands of properties for sale
research and find out which properties are most in
around the world.
demand and where.
Seaso n l eng th Think about whether transport links are seasonal and if amenities and attractions are always available. These will impact on the length of season and the times of year the location appeals most to tourists.
More info Visit our Advice Area: holidaylettings.co.uk/ownersarea for more tips on choosing your property.
holidaylettings.co.uk
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Playsafe
Before letting out your property there are some very important financial and legal considerations. It is vital that you comply with the necessary legal obligations and understand the tax laws in your country of choice before embarking on the holiday lettings journey...
1
B e lega l Are you allowed, legally, to let your property on a short term basis? Ask someone
5
Get covere d You will need public liability insurance should guests injure themselves
other than the person or company you are buying
whilst at the property; not forgetting building and
the property from.
contents insurance. Some insurers combine these
2
elements and market their products as ‘holiday
Kn ow t he r ule s Some countries
require special licences allowing you to rent out your holiday home. Regulations may vary
on a national, regional and resort level, so check with a local solicitor and the local authorities.
3
C omp le x situ at ion If buying on a complex, check with the community president
whether there are any restrictions on short term lets. Check the complex/community rules for
home insurance’.
6
Safe and soun d Check your policy for a minimum vacant period clause. For peace of mind ask local contacts or pay a caretaker
to visit your property regularly during the closed season to check for burst pipes or dripping taps.
7
ta x AWARE You will need to pay tax on rental income earned from your property.
restrictive covenants and for any other obligations
Tax has to be paid first in the country in which it
you may need to make guests aware of.
is earned and then in your country of residence if
4
income tax rates differ. The UK has double taxation
Lock i t u p Check that your property adheres to all of the security measures required by your insurance policy such as
specific door and window locks or alarms.
agreements with most countries to prevent you from paying twice. For more information on tax advice see page 40.
PREPARI N G
8
Tax t ip Check for variances in non-resident and resident status in relation to taxes. You could save money.
holidaylettings.co.uk
9
mass appeal maximiseD
INNER B EAUTY
Furnish with flair Use a medium to high standard of furnishing that will last longer and require less maintenance whilst still looking attractive to holidaymakers.
Acc eSso rise
Think like a holidaymaker What items would you expect or like to find in a holiday home on arrival at your destination? Add a few essentials
PREPARI N G
Decorating and furnishing your property also needs careful consideration if you are to make it appealing to potential guests‌
for your guests.
Consider essentials First aid kit (which should contain no medicines), local emergency contact details and a fixed position safe for valuables.
Blowing hot and cold Consider the climate; kit your property out with air-conditioning and fans and think about a pool and barbecue for hotter climates, or a log fire, central heating or Jacuzzi for cooler climates.
Family friendly If appealing to families consider providing a high chair, stair gate and cot. Parents will love the added touch of toys, TV, videos, DVDs, board games and books for keeping the kids happy on rainy days!
On your bike If the location is good for cycling,
Appeal to the masses Select a neutral palette
provide a couple of bicycles to encourage guests
of colours when decorating and use brighter accent
to explore the local area and reduce their carbon
colours on accessories to maximise mass appeal.
footprint at the same time.
Banish clutter Use a lockable cupboard to hide
Pool play Keep a collection of inflatables and pool
your own personal items and valuables when
toys if your property has a pool or if there is a
holidaymakers are staying.
beach nearby.
holidaylettings.co.uk
11
casestudy Stuart and Gail Ferns from Dumfries have just completed on a lovely one bedroom apartment in the coastal town of Zambrone, in the Italian region of Calabria. As they enjoy regular visits to Italy, it will be the perfect family holiday home for them and their two young children. To help cover their mortgage costs, the couple intend to rent it out to tourists for the remainder of the year.
Conti because of its close relationships with
We received a 1st class service from Conti, they acted professionally in dealing with all aspects of the mortgage process. We knew that there would be many things to consider and wanted to ensure that everything was done properly.
a number of Italian mortgage lenders and detailed
Stuart and Gail Ferns | Italy
The Ferns were initially unsure about who to approach for their overseas mortgage, but chose
knowledge of the Italian mortgage process. This level of expertise extends to mortgage lending in more than 45 countries. Conti’s service also includes liaising with other carefully selected local
More info
professionals, such as lawyers, surveyors and
To find out how Conti can help
currency traders, saving Stuart and Gail a lot of
with your overseas mortgage visit:
time, cost and hassle.
holidaylettings.co.uk/overseas-mortgages
Marketing The right price : 14 | Benefits of online : 16 | Every picture tells a story : 18
MA NAGING
Word perfect : 20 | Ahead of the game : 22 | Spreading the word : 24
holidaylettings.co.uk
13
The right price... Don’t over or under value your property: rental prices should reflect demand, seasonality, quality and the competition. Hit the target Identify your target
Be flex ible Include prices for short breaks and long weekends, not just week long breaks; these offers may work well for you in quieter periods.
market given your location,
Ev en ste vens Calculate how much money
accommodation
you need to break even and where you can afford
type and tourist
to be flexible in order to offer reductions.
demographic: couples, adult groups young families, or large families.
GET IT RIGHT Don’t over or under value your property. Under pricing peak periods will reduce your ability to be flexible on price in quieter months. Special promot i on s If you have last
Pric e wis e Prices should reflect demand,
minute cancellations or empty weeks, promote
seasonality and the quality of the property. Look at
these at a special offer price and advertise this
similar properties, what they are charging and when
clearly so that people realise your property is
– then price your property accordingly.
normally worth more.
check ov erheads Consider variable costs such as utility bills, cleaning and laundry and factor these into your pricing. Nobody wants to receive a bill at the end of their stay for ‘hidden costs’.
More info Visit our Advice Area: holidaylettings.co.uk/ownersarea for more tips on your holiday home marketing.
MAR KE TING
Seaso n s avvy Peak or high seasons will vary according to location, but school holidays are invariably in demand and your pricing can reflect this.
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Benefits of online Internet advertising reaches larger audiences than all other forms of holiday home advertising... FREE DOM Online adverts are generally quick and easy to create and edit. Portals such as holidaylettings.co.uk enable you to edit and update your advert 24/7.
Valu e for mone y Advertising online is more effective and better value than print advertising and you tend to get more space for property descriptions and photos.
I get practically all my bookings through your website‌ I no longer use any other marketing. Thank you Holiday Lettings. Lesley | Home 11276 | Spain
Online holiday home advertising portals give you the ability to show more photos of your property than other mediums. On holidaylettings.co.uk each advert can include up to 24 photographs, allowing you to showcase the best features
MAR KE TING
Access all areas
of your property inside and out as well as the
Stay in control
local area.
Advertising your holiday home online enables you, in most cases, to retain complete control over who stays in your property and when.
B road en you r h o rizo ns Choose a company that is not afraid to tell you how many holidaymakers use their website each month. You can expect to reach audiences of over two million holidaymakers a month with the big players.
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Every picture tells a story Good photography is the single most important tool for effective advertising. It may be worth paying a professional photographer, but if you do take the photos yourself try these useful tips‌
1 2 3
Lighten
up Open the windows and let in plenty of natural daylight;
try to choose a bright, sunny day.
Let
it shine Take external photos in good weather; blue skies are
much more conducive to booking a holiday than overcast days.
Ins id e
and out Try to strike a good balance between exterior and
interior shots. People need to know what your property looks like inside, but they’ll be spending time outside too, so you will need to feature this as well.
4
Anti gl are Take photos with the sun behind you so that your images do not suffer from a lack of contrast.
I could not believe how userfriendly Holiday Lettings is. The space available for photographs and text is more than generous. Phil Denman | Home 61789 | Portugal
Dusk
6
Stage
7
Hide
o r d awn Daylight is most
complementary in the first or last few hours of the day. shots Think ‘show home’:
lay the dining table, put out a bottle of wine and fill the fruit bowl.
10
themselves in the picture.
8
Sh ow
9
o ff Make the best features stand
P hoto wise Keep shots of the bathroom and kitchen to a minimum – they’re not very conducive to getting people in the holiday mood.
11
t he fam ily Don’t use people in
photos – allow holidaymakers to imagine
12
Cl ean
and clear Present a clean
and clutter free property so that people can imagine themselves staying there.
CREATE the mood
out in your photos and highlight them in your
When taking photos
advert by adding captions.
of the bedroom switch
F irst
on any bedside lamps
i mpre ss io ns Photos are
the first thing online advertising sites show and therefore the first thing holidaymakers see. Use your best photos online and be
MAR KE TING
5
to create a warm, atmospheric lighting effect.
sure to add as many photos as space allows.
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Wordperfect Here are some useful tips to help you write your online advert to highlight the best features of your holiday home and entice holidaymakers… Don’t be s hy Remember you are selling the features and benefits of your property to holidaymakers, so don’t be afraid to boast about the best ones.
Keep it relevant State important points in easy to read lists in the body of the advert, but also provide a good introductory paragraph that sums up a great holiday at your home. Personal appro ach Holidaymakers may also like to contact the owner directly by phone, so think about listing your telephone number on your advert. Tailor your t ext Customise information about local attractions and facilities to your target audience. They may not know the local area and need the destination selling to them just as much as the property.
Be en thusiast i c Keep your advert upbeat
Keep paragraphs t idy If paragraphs are
and exciting – show holidaymakers that you love
too long people won’t bother to read all the way
your property and they will too.
through, too short and they’ll look elsewhere for the
Clear and hone st pricing Be clear
information.
about costs and make them inclusive. If your prices
DON’T USE CAPITALS It looks like you are
look low but don’t mention extras like heating or
shouting and makes the advert much harder to
cleaning, you may lose potential bookings when the
read. You need to come across as approachable
true cost is revealed.
through your advert.
BE CREATI VE Write descriptions of your property and local area MAR KE TING
brimming with unique selling points, detailing what’s really great about your holiday home. You know your property the best.
holidaylettings.co.uk
21
Ahead of the game It is important to keep your holiday home advert up to date for holidaymakers. Here are a few top tips to remember‌
Be proactive If you do get last minute cancellations or have some empty weeks you want to fill, think about offering a special deal to bring in the bookings. Likewise, if you want to attract the early birds, offer people a special price for booking early. S EASONAL CHANGE Sites such as MAR KE TING
holidaylettings.co.uk allow you to update your advert whenever you want, so take advantage of this. Adapt your advert to different seasons and different client bases throughout the year. For example, if you own a ski chalet think about how it can be marketed for other seasons and promote activities such as walking or cycling.
Availability Be sure to use and regularly update your online availability calendar as many holidaymakers
Be aware Keep abreast of transport changes
like to search by date and many listing sites will
in the area. This may be the introduction of
order search results by availability. Updating
a new route to your destination or even an
the calendar regularly shows that you are a
airline or route cutback. It may also include new
responsible owner and holidaymakers will not
attractions in your location or the closure of an
waste time sending you an enquiry if you’re
existing attraction that you have mentioned in
already booked.
your advertising.
holidaylettings.co.uk
23
Spreading the word Internet sites are now the main method by which owners advertise their properties to holidaymakers. However, if you want to consider extra marketing options try some of these‌ Self promot io n Produce a simple brochure
G et perso nal Think about setting up your
or flyer with some photos and text that best
own personal website for your holiday home.
summarise your property. You can put these up
Ask holidaylettings.co.uk about the WebCreator
at work, in the newsagents, in the gym or hand
service which enables you to have your own
them out to interested people.
website that is easily managed and updated through
social ne two rking If you have a profile on websites such as Facebook or Twitter then add a link to your online advert and promote your property this way to your friends and their friends magazine adv ertising Worth a try if your property appeals to a niche market such as golfers, skiers, families with young children or pet owners. However, magazine advertising can be pricey.
your holidaylettings.co.uk account.
The response we have had this year from holidaylettings has been amazing and we have been fully booked throughout the season. Adrian George | Home 12204 | Turkey
Word of mout h Be sure to tell your friends, family and colleagues about your property as this is the cheapest form of advertising.
TI ME FO R YOU Keep some weeks free for you and your friends and family to enjoy! Sometimes it can be tempting to accept all of the booking requests and forget to save dates for
MAR KE TING
yourself.
holidaylettings.co.uk
25
casestudy Cheryl Chapman fell in love with Nerja on her first visit there and soon afterwards she and husband Andy bought a four bedroom villa which they advertise on holidaylettings.co.uk as well as keeping some weeks free for themselves. When torrential rain caused flash flooding in Nerja for the first time in living memory, the 40 foot long wall running along the bottom of Cheryl’s terraced garden was washed away. With a full season of holiday bookings lined up, Cheryl had braced herself for the prospect of having to organise a local, Spanish builder from the UK. She needn’t have worried, Intasure provided an
You hear all these horror stories of having to deal with local trades when you don’t speak the language – but this whole process couldn’t have been more straightforward. The new wall is very well built and the Intasure rep was just 1st class. Cheryl Chapman | Home 11601 | Nerja, Spain
English speaking representative based in Nerja as Cheryl’s single point of contact. After explaining the step by step process of making the claim, Intasure identified and hired an approved builder locally and kept Cheryl up to date with the works until they were completed.
More info To find out more and to get covered visit: holidaylettings.co.uk/holiday-home-insurance
Managing
MA NA GING
Care & Attention : 28 | Above & Beyond : 31
holidaylettings.co.uk
27
&
Care
Attention
It is essential that you back up your great marketing with an equally great service for holidaymakers. Here are eight essential tips to help you deal with enquiries and bookings in a professional manner whilst maintaining that personal edge…
1
5
as you would want to be treated.
maximise your chances of securing a booking.
2
6
during their stay and make sure you also have theirs
property. A sample booking contract is available
in case you need to get hold of them.
Servi ce wit h a smile Remember you are running a business and providing
a customer facing service. Treat all holidaymakers
C over you r back Ensure that you send a booking contract to all guests stating
the full terms and conditions of renting your for all holidaylettings.co.uk advertisers. Any contract would need to be tailored to your exact
Quick o ff t he m ark Ensure you respond to holidaymaker enquiries as quickly
as possible. Being polite and professional will also
Just in c ase Make sure you supply your guests with emergency contact details to use
7
Da mage dep osi ts A refundable deposit of £100-£500 (depending on your rental rates
requirements with the help of a solicitor.
and the value of your breakables) should be taken
3
as part of your contract. This should cover you
On the ball Check your emails for new booking enquiries at least once a day. Most
Internet listing sites also offer to send free SMS
for most instances of loss or damage to your property.
text messages to your mobile every time an email enquiry is sent.
More info
4
Visit our Owner Advice Area:
Spam aware Check your spam filters to
make sure enquiry emails don’t get dumped in
your junk mail folder.
holidaylettings.co.uk/ownersarea for more tips on managing your bookings.
8
Spotless Get a cleaning company on board to manage your changeovers
MA NA GING
and carry out basic inventory checks between guests.
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29
Stay in touch To encourage repeat business, keep in touch with previous guests informing them of any special offers and improvements to the property.
&
Above
Beyond
Stand out from the crowd and give your guests even more reasons to remember you and your property for their next holiday‌ Get listed Keep up to date with local events and activities and get listed with event organisers as this is often free. It is also advisable to list with the local tourist office.
Share the love Provide a guest book for visitor comments providing useful feedback and valuable testimonial comments. These can also be used on your online advert to entice new guests.
Warm welcome Leave, or ask your cleaner to provide, a welcome pack for guests. This could
What’s on? Provide details of local attractions,
include a bottle of wine and some basic food items,
including popular restaurants with opening
which are always welcome after a long journey.
times and any prices.
Eye on the ball Keep an eye on the market and MA NA GING
make sure your pricing and facilities remain up to date and competitive. Be sure to review your advert regularly in this respect.
Know your neighbours Work with other owners; they may be your competitors but if you get an enquiry you can’t honour then someone nearby may have availability. They may return the favour another time. holidaylettings.co.uk
31
casestudy Peter King from Basingstoke recently invested in a luxurious four bedroom villa in the Kalkan region of Turkey, to give him and his family a fantastic holiday home as well as to capitalise on an overseas investment opportunity. Peter bought the property in mid 2007 and has been enjoying regular holidays there since as well as letting the property out to other holidaymakers through holidaylettings.co.uk. Turkey is one of the top 10 most popular holiday searches on Holiday Lettings and Kalkan is particularly renowned for its tranquil setting. Peter recently switched to Moneycorp and set up a Regular Payment Plan (RPP) to pay the property mortgage. In doing so he has saved hundreds of pounds through better rates of exchange and
I used to use my bank to transfer money to Turkey, but they had problems in getting Lira and I would incur a charge for receiving money into my bank account. Moneycorp on the other hand were great – using them has been very straightforward and much cheaper than using the bank. Peter King | Home 20189 | Turkey
lower transfer fees. The RPP is totally flexible and is perfect for people with overseas properties who want to save money when making regular payments.
More info To find out how Moneycorp can help with your foreign currency needs visit: holidaylettings.co.uk/currency-exchange
holidaylettings.co.uk About us : 35 | Stand out from the crowd : 36 | Holiday letting checklist : 38
MA NA GING
Resources‌ just a click away : 41 | 2010 – 2011 Calendar : 43
holidaylettings.co.uk
33
About us Britain’s favourite holiday home website has over 10 years experience of offering the very best in holiday home advertising. Holidaylettings.co.uk is the UK’s busiest website for holiday home lettings. Trusted by 20,000+ owners accommodation is second to none and holidaymakers just cannot get enough of it. The site offers incomparable levels of holiday home advertising for its advertisers seeking the best online presence for their properties. It is our goal to make your holiday home work harder for you. We are constantly investing in improving the presentation of homes on our site as well as the
HOLI DAYL E TT ING S . co . u k
of private holiday homes and a whole host of letting agents and property managers, the range of holiday
ease with which holidaymakers can search and navigate the website. Founded and run by Ross Elder and Andy Firth, Our passionate and expert team of over
we celebrated 10 years of business in 2009. Since
70 staff is eager to ensure your holiday home
March 2007 we have been part of Rightmove plc,
advertising works for you from day one. Our
the UK’s busiest property portal. In addition
endeavours and achievements are reflected in
to being part of a reputable household name
the praise for our customer service staff, our reputation within the industry, our marketing reach and our press coverage.
Holiday Lettings has won awards for business growth and entrepreneurship as well as website traffic.
holidaylettings.co.uk
35
Stand out from the crowd‌ Advertise with us on holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK’s busiest holiday home website
Join the UK’s No.1… • Reach 25 million holidaymakers worldwide • Advertise for just one low annual fee and pay • Everything you earn is yours, take bookings direct and stay in control • Our multi-lingual team of expert advisors will help you every step of the way • Include up to 24 photos at no extra charge
By far the best holiday site on so many levels! Best at attracting guests, best for navigation and best for customer support. Great job! Home 22864 | France | June 09
How does it work?
1
Register free
2
Create Advert
3
Make payment
4
Take bookings
Sign up to create
Enter property details
Check and preview
Receive enquiries by
your account…
and upload photos…
your advert, when
phone, email or text.
HOLI DAYL E TT ING S . co . u k
no commission on bookings
happy pay online…
How can I find out more information? Visit: holidaylettings.co.uk/whychooseus Need help with your advert? Call now on:
+ 4 4 (0)1865 312000
holidaylettings.co.uk
37
Holiday letting checklist Unsure where to start with letting out your holiday home? Look no further...
1
Preparing : When choosing and preparing your property think about…
Your objectives: personal use or rental income
Your target market, e.g. families, or couples
Length of rental season in your area
Your running costs versus your potential rental income
Routes and transport the area relies on
Holiday home insurance
Your property’s ‘wow factor’ and USPs
Taxes payable and legal requirements
Your target holidaymaker when furnishing and equipping your property
Useful items to make your property a real home from home
2
Marke ting : When marketing your holiday home think about…
Rental prices reflecting your offering, demand, season length and the competition
Overheads such as cleaning and utilities when setting your prices
Your breakeven point when setting your prices
Advertising online to reach millions more holidaymakers
Using well staged and attractive photos in your advert to entice holidaymakers
Writing enthusiastic and informative property and area descriptions in your advert
Extra marketing – tell your friends and maybe even consider your own website
Keeping some weeks free for you to enjoy your holiday home
Advertising on holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK’s busiest holiday home website
3
Managing : When managing your bookings remember the following…
Respond quickly and in a professional yet friendly manner Take deposits and send tailored booking contracts to your guests Check for cleared funds from holidaymakers before handing over keys
HOLI DAYL E TT ING S . co . u k
Make sure you keep some weeks free for you, your friends and your family to enjoy!
Get the property thoroughly cleaned and inventory taken during changeovers Arrange for the cleaner to leave a welcome pack for guests
More Info Visit: holidaylettings.co.uk to set up your advert, or to speak to a team member call:
+44 (0)1865 312000
Provide a folder packed with useful information on local attractions and activities Keep your availability calendar and advert details up to date
holidaylettings.co.uk
39
Taxtip When letting a holiday home you may have to pay tax on profits so it’s important to work in the most tax efficient way. Conversely your investment could cost you more than you make initially, which isn’t necessarily bad news as you might be entitled to a tax refund. Under current* UK rules, tax payers with furnished holiday homes can sometimes offset losses against their annual income. Tax rules often change but you can typically make claims (which can be worth thousands of pounds) for rules that applied in previous years.
Tax isn’t always a bad thing as tax breaks can provide additional reasons for owning a holiday home. It’s a good idea to check things out with an expert and we’re always happy to help holidaylettings.co.uk advertisers on any tax matter.
A number of holidaylettings.co.uk advertisers have
Tony Woolley | Tax Partner
already benefitted thanks to the help of Campbell
Campbell Woolley
Woolley, a specialist tax adviser. There’s a free questionnaire at campbellwoolley.com/taxback that determines whether you’re entitled to a refund
More info
and the potential amount. They also monitor
Check whether you’re due a tax repayment
changes in tax rules so can advise on your best
with the help of Campbell Woolley, visit:
options going forward.
holidaylettings.co.uk/taxback
*Current at time of print, November 2009
Resources... just a click away Visit holidaylettings.co.uk... Owner s’ A rea Read more tips and advice on choosing, managing and marketing your
Adverti se your holid ay home More info on the advertising products we offer, our prices and why holidaylettings.co.uk is the No.1 place to advertise your property. FREQ UEN TLY ask ed QUESTIONS See our advertiser and holidaymaker ‘FAQ’ pages to answer any questions you may have. Te sti monia ls If you still need convincing then visit our testimonials page and read what hundreds of our advertisers have said about us. Searc h fo r hol iday h omes to rent We’ve tens of thousands of holiday
HOLI DAYL E TT ING S . co . u k
holiday home, property investment news and a property services directory.
homes to rent around the world. Search by dates, rates, availability and more!
Also men t ione d in this guide... Conti Overseas mortgages – see page 12 Intasure Holiday home insurance info – see page 26 Moneycorp Foreign currency exchange – see page 32 Campbell Woolley Holiday home tax info – see page 40 Rightmove Overseas Overseas property for sale – see page 42 Need help or advice? email: support@holidaylettings.co.uk call: +44
(0)1865 312000 holidaylettings.co.uk
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Keep m e in your wa stick me llet or on your fridge
2010 Calendar Cross off when your property is booked for an instant snapshot… February
March
April
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
1
2
1 2
5
1 2
5
2
4 5
8
9 10
6 7
3
3 4
6
7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
3 4
6
7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
5 6
1
7 8
3
4
9 10 11
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
29 30 31
26 27 28 29 30
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
May
June
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
4
2
1
2 3
8
1
2
3 4
8
9
7 8
7
August
F S S
5 6
July
M T W T 1
2 3
5
6
9 10 11 12 13
5 6
1
7 8
3
4
9 10 11
4 5
F S S
6
7
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28 29 30
26 27 28 29 30 31
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
31
30 31
September
October
November
December
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
1 2
3
1
2
1 2
5
7
1 2
3
6 7
8 9 10 11 12
4 5
8
9 10
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
6 7
8 9 10 11 12
4
5
6 7
3
3 4
6
4
5
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
29 30
27 28 29 30 31
More info t +44 (0)1865 312000 e support@holidaylettings.co.uk
HOLI DAYL E TT ING S . co . u k
January
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Keep m e in your wa stick me llet or on your fridge
2011 Calendar Cross off when your property is booked for an instant snapshot‌ January
February
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
4
4
1
2
4 5
8
9 10
1
2
3 4
8
9
7 8
7
April
F S S
5 6
March
M T W T 1
2 3
5
6
9 10 11 12 13
1
7 8
2 3
5
6
9 10 11 12 13
6 7
F S S 3
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28
28 29 30 31
25 26 27 28 29 30
31
May
June
M T W T
F S S
July F S S
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
F S S
3
1
2
1 2
5
4 5
8
9 10
1
1 2
2 3
8
6 7
8 9 10 11 12
4 5
6
7
August
M T W T
4
5
6 7
3
3 4
6
7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
27 28 29 30
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
29 30 31
November
December
30 31
September
October
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
2
1
3 4
8
5 6
1
7 8
3
4
9 10 11
5 6
F S S
7
M T W T
F S S
M T W T
2
4
9
7 8
1
2 3
5
6
9 10 11 12 13
5 6
1
7 8
F S S 2
3
4
9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28 29 30
26 27 28 29 30 31
26 27 28 29 30
31
More info t +44 (0)1865 312000 e support@holidaylettings.co.uk
Third edition, published November 2009 Š Holiday Lettings Ltd. 2nd Floor, Barclay House, 242-254 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7BY. w www.holidaylettings.co.uk | t +44 (0)1865 312000 | e support@holidaylettings.co.uk. Holiday Lettings Ltd. registered in England and Wales No. 5282912 Holiday Lettings has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this guide. However, it is for general guidance only. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the author or publisher for the accuracy of the information and guidance or for any loss or expense resulting from reliance upon it. Readers should always obtain specific up-to-date advice from a suitably qualified expert before making any commitment. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Holiday Lettings Ltd, 2nd Floor, Barclay House, 242-254 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7BY, England. Front cover image courtesy of www.veer.com
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