What Are Holiday Lets / Serviced Accommodation?
10th September 2025
Holiday Lets: What They Are and Who They Benefit
In today's flexible living and working landscape, short-term stays from a single night to several months are more popular than ever. Whether you're hosting holidaymakers, contractors, corporate visitors, or relocating tenants, managing these as holiday-style short-lets (based on nightly rates) can be lucrative and efficient when done properly.
What Counts as a Serviced Accommodation?
The term “holiday-let” or “serviced accommodation” refers to fully furnished rental property offered on a nightly or weekly basis, typically ranging from one night to six months. This term spans a variety of stay types:
Holidaymakers: need a home-away-from-home for leisure.
Corporate or contractor stays: require comfortable, work-ready temporary housing.
Relocation clients: need immediate accommodation while settling in.
In the UK, “short-term lets” are generally defined as stays of six months or less. More flexible definitions include rentals from a night to a few weeks or up to six months.
Who Benefits from Holiday Lets?
Guests opting for these serviced accommodation benefit from:
Varied stays: perfect for spontaneous holiday trips, short assignments, or temporary relocation.
Home comforts: enjoy full furnishings, kitchen access, reliable Wi-Fi, and privacy, unlike a hotel stay.
Immediate availability: great for clients needing to settle in immediately, whether relaxing on holiday, moving home or starting a contract.
For Guests: Flexibility, Comfort, and Convenience
This model offers several advantages:
Nightly pricing often results in significantly higher income than long-term lets.
Multiple guest types: opens your property to a wider pool of ‘tenants’, from families on holiday to business professionals.
Turnover opportunities: You can block off time for personal use, maintenance, or high-season pricing, offering unmatched flexibility.
For Landlords: Higher Yields and Dynamic Demand
Things to Consider
When managing holiday-style short-lets, being informed is essential:
Local limits may apply. For example, in London, residential short-lets are capped at 90 nights per year without specific planning approval.
Regulation is evolving. England may be introducing a national register and requiring planning permission in certain areas.
Tax and council obligations are shifting and many property owners are switching to business rates instead of council tax to save on costs.
These are all important areas to consider when setting up a serviced accommodation to prevent issues further down the line and profit in confidence from the get go.
Why Work with a Holiday Let Management Company?
If you're managing multiple properties or want to maximise income while reducing stress, a holiday let management company can offer major advantages:
Full-service approach: From professional listings to guest communication, cleaning, and maintenance, you get a turnkey service.
Dynamic pricing: Let the experts optimise your nightly rates based on demand, events, and seasonality.
Regulatory compliance: Stay on top of planning rules, tax changes, and licensing, especially in evolving markets.
Guest satisfaction: Provide a hotel-standard experience without the hassle, leading to better reviews, repeat bookings, and higher occupancy.
Final Thoughts
Holiday-lets or serviced accommodation from one night to six months are not just trending; they’re adaptable, profitable, and in demand across multiple guest types. Whether it's a family getaway, a contractor relocation, or a client’s corporate stay, these lets deliver higher yields and greater flexibility.
Partnering with a specialist holiday let management company gives you the operational edge: maximised returns, simplified operations, and compliance peace of mind.
