A Step-By-Step Guide To Setting Up Your Holiday-Let
10th September 2025
A Step-by-Step Guide to Renting Out Your Property as a Holiday Let
Holiday rentals can be an incredibly lucrative way to maximise the return on your property, but it’s not as simple as just handing over the keys. From legal requirements to guest experience, there are a few essential steps to get right if you want to succeed.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the basics of turning your property into a holiday let, along with some insider tips to help you stand out and avoid common pitfalls.
1. Choosing the Right Property
Location is everything. To attract strong, consistent bookings, you’ll want a property that’s:
In a desirable area with good transport links.
Close to popular attractions, walking routes, or amenities.
In a location with strong tourist demand (which often means higher nightly rates).
Before you start, also check whether there are local regulations or restrictions on holiday letting. In the UK, you’ll need to be aware of tax rules around Furnished Holiday Lettings and ensure your property meets the criteria.
2. Preparing the Property for Guests
Guest safety and comfort should be your top priorities. This means ensuring your property is legally compliant, properly insured, and set up to impress from day one.
Key safety steps include:
Fitting smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Keeping up-to-date gas and electrical safety certificates.
Ensuring furniture meets fire safety standards.
Having suitable holiday let insurance in place.
From there, focus on comfort and convenience. Essentials like Wi-Fi, fresh linens, towels, kitchen appliances, and quality toiletries can make all the difference to your guests’ experience (and reviews).
3. Creating a Listing That Stands Out
Your online listing is your shop window, and in competitive markets, presentation is everything.
Photography → Invest in professional, well-lit images that show off every room and outdoor space.
Description → Highlight unique features, nearby attractions, and why guests should choose your property over others.
Marketing → Use platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and your own social media to reach the right audience.
Tip: Keep your calendar up to date. An accurate, well-managed listing not only ranks better on booking platforms but also builds trust with guests.
4. Managing Bookings and Guest Experience
Once bookings start rolling in, you’ll need to manage every part of the guest journey, including:
Clear check-in/check-out processes (self-check-in can be a big plus).
Guest communication before and during their stay.
Policies on deposits, cancellations, and house rules.
Availability to handle queries, problems, or emergencies 24/7.
The guest experience doesn’t end when they walk out the door, prompt follow-up and encouraging reviews are key to building long-term success.
5. Turnovers and Maintenance
After every stay, you’ll need to:
Inspect the property for damage or missing items.
Deep clean and reset everything to a high standard.
Restock consumables (toiletries, kitchen basics, etc.).
Consistency here is vital. A spotless, well-maintained property leads to positive reviews, repeat bookings, and fewer complaints.
Or, Let the Experts Handle It For You
Managing a holiday let can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also time-consuming and stressful, especially if you don’t live nearby.
That’s where a holiday let management company comes in. A professional team can take care of everything for you, including:
Professional listing creation and marketing.
Dynamic pricing to maximise your revenue year-round.
Guest communication and support.
Cleaning, turnovers, and ongoing maintenance.
This means you get the income and benefits of a holiday let, without the constant workload of managing it yourself.
Final Thoughts
Holiday lets are a fantastic way to generate income from your property, but success comes down to preparation, consistency, and guest experience. If you want to get it right the first time (and maximise returns without the stress), working with a management company can be a game-changer.
