Preparing Your Holiday Let For The Winter Season
As the cosy days of autumn fade into the crisp winter air, many holiday let property owners may be expecting an upcoming period of reduced occupancy and profitability. While the winter does tend to see a dip in short-stay holiday bookings, if you’re a savvy landlord, you can leverage the quieter season by strategically targeting extended stays, known as ‘flexi lets’.
As a seasoned holiday let landlord, you may believe that winter is a gloomy period for your property business. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. The quieter season can be lucrative for those who know how to tap into the market. This time of year is a unique opportunity to attract longer-term, extended bookings which can significantly reduce void periods, increase occupancy rates, and ultimately boost your profits during those colder months!
The Power of Winter Flexi Lets
A winter let is a property that typically sees bookings anywhere between 30 days to 6 months. What’s great about operating a holiday let in the winter is the fact you can bridge the gap between the peak holiday seasons. Guests staying on a longer-term basis help to ensure you see consistent occupancy year-round, ongoing revenue that not only pockets you profit, but also covers your fixed costs. No longer will you need to worry about your property’s monthly bills as your guests will cover this for you.
Attract Long-Term Winter Let Guests
Guests looking for longer-term accommodation tend to have slightly different requirements to those staying short-term in peak season. Guests tend to seek a flexi let that offers access to amenities, a comfortable space to relax and live in, somewhere that they can feel is just like home during their stay.
As a landlord, it pays to highlight these features in your property when it comes to marketing your holiday let online. Not only will you position your property as a high quality stay, you will attract an audience that values the benefits of a winter flexi let.
Retain Control of Your Property
One of the many benefits of a winter flexi let is you can retain the flexibility of your holiday let, while securing longer-term and consistent occupancy. Implementing this strategy for your property means your guests never become tenants, since your property is not their main residence and so cannot claim tenancy laws.
As a dedicated short let management company, we provide the services your property needs and deserves that also sees the stay of your guests interrupted. By providing services such as cleaning and laundry, as a landlord you have proof to show your winter let is not your guest’s main residence.
What does this mean for you? If a guest violates the terms, conditions, or rules of staying within your winter let, you have the right to terminate their stay, giving you full control of your property.
Get The Most Out of Your Property As A Winter Flexi Let
Landlords should ensure their property is fit for hosting guests for extended stays during the winter, while also making sure the proper controls are in place so you continue to get the most from your property.
Check out our recommendations below for making your property winter-ready for flexi letting:
Convenient control measures. As a landlord, it’s key to keep your costs low during the off-peak season. An excellent method to do this is managing your property’s heating and energy output. By installing systems, such as a NEST smart thermostat system, you can have full control of the heating in your winter let. Ensuring these costs never get out of control by guests taking advantage.
Warmth and comfort. On the other hand, make sure your property is well-equipped with adequate heating and insulation, providing your guests with a comfortable and cosy stay. This will also ensure your heating and energy bills are well-managed.
Regular property inspections. Organising a regular bi-weekly inspection of the property is highly recommended where guests are staying on a longer term basis. As a property management company, we provide inspections every 15 days to ensure your winter flexi let is being looked after and respected by your guests.
Adequate amenities. From a well-designed kitchen space, to a warm and cosy living room, providing your guests with a home-away-from-home is key for the winter months. Not only will they provide you with a 5-star review, you’re likely to see your guests return.
Winter safety measures. The UK is well-known for its wet and windy winters. So it’s key to ensure your property remains safe and secure for your guests, from a tidy garden to maintaining clear pathways, enhancing the safety of your guests.
Maximise Your Short Term Let in the Winter
By embracing the off-peak seasons and adapting your holiday let strategy to attract longer-term guests, you will only transform the usually-bleak winter months into a period of certainty, high occupancy and maintain a consistent profit. Flexi letting is the perfect opportunity for you as a landlord, to diversity your property portfolio in the winter.
At Grandeur Property, we are experts in short term let management. Whether you are looking for short-term or longer-term property let management, we have a team dedicated to taking care of your property business. No longer will you need to spend 24/7 managing your winter flexi let. We’ll look after everything from guest bookings to property maintenance, to ensure your guests are comfortable, while obtaining you consistent occupancy and income.
Find out more today about short term let management with us, or call us today to speak to our team.