Hard times for the holiday let industry in the UK?

[user1477391263]

Seems like the post-COVID recovery, crappy weather, COL and other factors have dampened the situation for people owning holiday lets in places like Cornwall. On the other hand, perhaps (as the article hints towards the end) there will be an increase in long term rental properties coming on to the market.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/apr/07/britains-staycation-boom-may-be-over-as-bookings-dry-up?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1712464698

Anecdata from talking to friends tells me that many people are fed up with the rising cost of holiday lets in these places, more and more demands being placed on guest re cleaning etc., and the fact that so many local places like restaurants are understaffed; of course, part of the issue may be that locals have to an extent been priced out of the local housing market, meaning there are fewer people available to clean, mow lawns or wait on tables. It may be a good thing if the local housing market self-corrects in this manner.

It's definitely a good thing - the holiday let industry has devastated communities in the most beautiful parts of the country. I don't have even a sliver of sympathy for the greedy, immoral individuals and companies who profit from it.

The housing market is waiting for the holiday let industry to collapse , its what we need to happen to help provide more housing for families and people who have been pushed from these areas. Local businesses will be supported all year round and not just when the weather is nice.

The immorality of this industry is just mad when we have people without homes.

Time to put people before profit.

I normally feel underwhelmed by holiday homes in England - overpriced, poor weather, rigid rules about not arriving until 4 or 5pm yet being out of door by 10am on the dot. Plus since Covid, the ridiculous expectations that you will have stripped the beds, loaded the dishwasher, emptied the bins & tidied the house by10am, despite being charged a large supplement for cleaning.

If bookings are down it’s because they don’t represent good value for money & because the owners forgot their guests are supposed to be on holiday not helping them to run their business as easily as possible.

I agree, they aren't the bargain they used to be.

I don't mind if it's an annex in a home but l will never rent a house for a holiday in this country. Its immoral.

owners forgot their guests are supposed to be on holiday not helping them to run their business as easily as possible.

Yes!! We went to a tourist area recently and after seeing all the complicated rules on some holiday lets PLUS cleaning supplements, we booked a b+b instead. Had a brilliant time, beautiful room and lounge, lovely owners with such an interesting backstory, and no need to get up at 6am on the last day to clean or worry about being fined!

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2 but would you rent a property abroad? Why isn't that immoral for the residents of that area?

We just went on a UK break and booked a room above a pub. It was still way too expensive for what it was, but at least there was no cleaning, stripping beds or sorting of rubbish for us to do, and they let us check in at lunch time.
I'm done with holiday lets. Extortionate prices, stupid rules, cheeky check in times and none are as nice as our own home.

There have been significant numbers of new entrants to the holiday let model. Since covid and as a result of long overdue tax changes to BTL. I think it's saturated now and will rebalance over the next couple of years. Air B&B, as a business, has also become particularly greedy with the fees both charged to owners and people making bookings. I don't think there is much growth left in it now. Hopefully that will mean the industry is going to have to compete a bit harder to offer better value.

Same - we've stayed in garage conversions, chalets in owner's gardens, old farm buildings, granny annexes etc. Airbnb has had a horrendous effect in my hometown Edinburgh.

Last summers weather during the school holidays was abysmal, I think that would have been a key factor.

Over priced. Restrictive conditions such as minimum three nights. Cleaning regulations. Recycling rules. Mean spirited stocks of loo roll, firewood, dishwasher tablets etc. nosy unprofessional owners. Early check outs.

We much prefer pubs with rooms in nice walking areas with decent grub and a breakfast. No pots. No shops. No bed stripping. Toiletries provided. Decent towels.

The prices these places now charge is extortionate!

After looking for a holiday let for two people in the UK we discovered a week abroad in a hotel was cheaper so we decided to go overseas instead.

I think the post lockdown staycation kind of holidays boosted the home grown tourist trade. It also helped (if I remember) by good weather.

I agree with the check in/ check out times and cleaning. It makes for a very stressful end to a holiday… not what I’m hoping to achieve.

I complained about a 9 am checkout after sending photos of rubbish cleaning and they changed it to 10 (wow). Do complain if you’re not happy though. I agree the cost is ridiculous, I’m paying a fortune for this summer.

Agree with everyone above. They’ve become poor value. We’ve always stayed in holiday rentals but this year it’s been hotels as better value. You can also leave your bags early and enjoy your arrival day.

im sure air b and b will be just fine in the school holidays but outside of that they are going to have to offer 3-11 check in and out again etc

It's swings and roundabouts. I'm dealing with gites de france at the moment - and Airbnb is a dream in comparison. Plus many French properties charge extra for linen and cleaning, and huge deposits (mostly cash which you don't want back right at the end of your holiday). I'm sure the holiday lets damage the local area as much as anywhere in the UK too.

I have never done that, always done package holidays. I'm very common.

This says it all. Normalisation of the 10am checkout was what finally did it for us

I'd like to see "aparthotels" become commoner in the hotel industry, so parents can put their kids to bed in the adjourning connected room and have some childfree time in the evening.

Because the problem of "being with your kids in the same room ALL THE TIME" when you stay in a standard hotel room, is honestly the main reason why a lot of people decide to do the whole holiday cottage thing. Take away that problem, and I think most people would prefer a hotel. I don't want to scrub bathrooms on holiday.

OK fair enough! You said you never rent a house in this country so I thought you meant that you do in other countries.

Over the past few years I've booked AirBnB type places and so many have been cancelled due to "maintenance" issues it cannot be real. I don't trust them anymore and I think there's the equivalent of gazumping going on. I don't both anymore and stick to hotels.

I wish Airbnb could go back to what it was originally i.e. staying in someone's home. I have a friend who lives in Cornwall with two kids and they move in with her mum for a few weeks over the summer while she puts her place on Airbnb. She's a cash strapped single mum so it's really helpful for her. Completely different from the rich holiday let owners who are destroying local communities.

I know - it’s too early! Leaving at 11am from a pub with rooms or B&B/hotel is so much nicer, especially when you have breakfast cooked for you & don’t have to do any cleaning before checking out.

I agree with aparthotels- with 3 kids a package holiday gets prohibitively expensive and we’re all in one room.
Re scrubbing bathrooms for holiday let- never done this!
Also as someone who rents holiday cottages quite a lot, I’ve seen the same houses on agencies like Sykes also on airbnb and they’re cheaper on Sykes, who will price match or beat.
I avoid airbnb because when you have an agent they can sort things out more.

We haven't bothered since we rented a cottage in Cornwall, only to be contacted a few weeks before because of a "price error", where they wanted over double the money or they would cancel. We cancelled.