Staying Power

We meet Victoria Bilborough of Yorkshire Escapes hen Victoria Bilborough set up Yorkshire Escapes in 2017 she was determined to create a unique holiday lettings company – one that would give both holidaymakers and property owners a far more personal and ‘hands-on’ service than anything the big established lettings agencies could offer.

And it was an ambition for which her previous work experience had equipped her remarkably well. Victoria initially worked as a London estate agent for several years, then went on to run her own interior design business before moving back to Yorkshire in the 1990s. Her husband Chris is a property developer, and this led on to her project managing a variety of different house refurbishment projects.

With all this under her belt – along with her abiding passion for Yorkshire and its rich and varied landscapes – it’s hardly surprising that the idea of creating a bespoke Yorkshire-based holiday lettings company struck her as the perfect match for her skill-set.

“After doing my research I realised that the best way to get started was to put my properties on Airbnb,” she says. “I hit the market at just the right time, because not a lot of letting agencies were using the platform at that point.”

“It proved to be a good way of getting access to a younger generation of clients, people who weren’t particularly aware of the larger lettings companies. So I started with a couple of cottages and worked my way up from there. We’ve got nearly forty properties on our books now, covering the whole of Yorkshire.”

Spectacular Staycations

“Although we do have a handful of cosy country cottages, perfect for romantic getaways for couples, we tend to specialise in large, high-end properties.

“Big houses have become increasingly popular with staycationers, especially since the pandemic. They provide a great opportunity for families to get together and relax without anyone having to worry about hosting, cooking and so on. And our guests don’t necessarily come from miles away –many of them live within a couple of hours’ drive.

“The largest house currently on our books is Highleases Farm near Richmond, which sleeps 24 people in nine bedrooms. It’s probably our most popular property – in fact it’s already pretty much booked up until next summer. As you’ll see if you take a look at our website, it really does have that all-important ‘wow’ factor.”

“Highleases Farm has been renovated and decorated to a very high standard. It has a contemporary feel, with an interesting openplan layout, a fabulous spiral staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the spectacular views over Swaledale. The house is surrounded by decking and has lots of outdoor space.

“Another example? Caldbergh House in the village of Caldbergh in Coverdale sleeps seven guests in three bedrooms. It’s a lovely old Dales house that has recently been carefully renovated and immaculately kitted out. There are stoneflagged floors with underfloor heating so it’s lovely and cosy all year round and there’s a beautiful farmhouse kitchen complete with Aga. Like Highleases Farm and many of our other properties, it’s dog-friendly.”

Going The Extra Mile

“In contrast to most of the big agencies we’re prepared to get very involved with owners and guests. If you have a property that you are thinking of using as a holiday rental, we’re happy to help with the project at an early stage. Thanks to my background in project management and interior design I can advise on how to do up and style a property to maximise its appeal – everything from finding suitable tradespeople to organising furniture, curtains and so on.”

“When a property is ready to be marketed we will have detailed discussions on pricing with the owners rather than simply relying on algorithms like the big agencies do. And we’ll go as far as the owners need with the management of each property. We’ll vet and communicate with guests, take security deposits and organise check-ins. And if the owner wants we can deal with all aspects of cleaning and ongoing maintenance, and be the point of contact for guests in the event that anything goes wrong. We’re very flexible!

“We’re equally hands-on when it comes to guests. As well as giving them detailed information about their rental property of choice, we can advise on the area and its attractions to enable them to experience the very best of Yorkshire. We can also help visitors access a wide range of services including bespoke catering, baby sitting, outdoor sports and activities, beauty therapies and much, much more.

“What do I most enjoy about the job? Well, I’ve always been fascinated by property and I love beautiful houses. And I very much enjoy the interaction with everyone – you develop a genuine bond with both owners and guests.

“I’m very ambitious and I want to build the business into something really special. Because I get a huge amount of pleasure from doing it, I’m happy to work for however long it takes, seven days a week and all hours. I’ve got a wonderful team behind me, which makes for a great office environment – we look after each other, and we genuinely care about creating the best possible experience for all concerned.”

For more information about Yorkshire Escapes visit yorkshireescapes.co.uk or call 01677 460196.