Tax For Furnished Holiday Lets | Expert Advice from PFK Francis Clark
If you are looking for important information about holiday homes and tax, we’ve teamed up with Steve York, Tax...
by Janine de Lange / Owner
At Cornish Cottage Holidays, we’ve been successfully working with holiday home owners for over 50 years, supporting them through every stage of their letting journey. Each owner has their own unique story and we’re delighted to share their successes, tips and insights with you.
Read on for our collection of Cornwall holiday home success stories, or use the quick links below to find out about a particular topic:
The Morris’s own a beautiful Georgian manor house called Penlaurel. This photogenic Grade II listed property lies in the hamlet of Daw’s House, just a mile outside of Launceston.
Their original intention was to create a new build on the land and sell the original property, but their plans took a bit of a detour. Since then, they’ve put a great deal of time, effort and love into restoring Penlaurel back to its former Georgian glory.
There are many elements which make the property a perfect retreat. Here are a few tips from the owners on setting up their lucrative holiday letting business.
Welcome pets: “We are very much an animal friendly property, and as such, we have had plenty of well-behaved pets through the door.”
In fact, 35% of bookings for holiday cottages included dogs in 2022, compared to 33% of bookings in 2021*, proving a high demand for customers looking for holidays where they can take their four-legged companions with them.
Go the extra mile: “We get 100% feedback on nearly every booking which we are really very proud of. We go that extra mile to put up a birthday banner or a Christmas tree, which really does make a huge difference. It keeps guests coming back time and time again.”
Install a hot tub: ‘The sheltered outdoor hot tub sits to the rear of the property. It is surrounded by a romantic and secluded garden which is especially vibrant in the warm months.’
In 2022, bookings for properties with hot tubs were up 36% compared to 2021. It’s easy to see why, with hot tubs creating luxury appeal for both winter and summer entertainment.
Make the most of your location: ‘Guests have very much used Penlaurel as a base to discover the best of Devon and Cornwall, without having to pay premium prices to be near to the coast.”
Their inspiration: The owners own a very well-known teddy bear company, Charlie Bears, and as such, you might imagine the bears have had some influence on the design for Penlaurel.”
While holiday letting wasn’t the original plan for the owners, they’ve made a successful holiday letting business. Find out more about their holiday letting journey.
Adding those extra touches can make a guests’ stay unforgettable. Getting reviews such as “WOW! What a holiday!”, “little Silver Nugget is a gem of a place”, “nice hosts” and “if you need to relax in comfort, book this place, you will not be disappointed,” is every holiday home owners dream.
This is a reality for property owners Lisa and Peter, who own the stunning Little Silver Nugget and consistently receive outstanding reviews.
Lisa and Peter get such outstanding reviews because of the amount of care and attention to detail they put into each guest’s arrival.
Be prepared: “You can never apply enough due diligence and can never think far enough ahead. You have to be as prepared as possible.”
Include local arrival gifts: Upon arrival, guests who are staying for a week receive a hamper filled with local goodies, including homemade jam made straight from the orchard, decadent cookies, scones or fresh bread made in the local village.
Add a hot tub: Guests can enjoy the hot tub which comes complete with stunning views overlooking the River Taw. It is also Peters favourite part of the property.
Read more about how Lisa and Peter have created their own 5-star holiday cottage.
Capitalising on the beautiful rural location in Falmouth, Owners Mark and Bridget converted the three former farm buildings in 2017, and Cornish Cottage Holidays were on hand from the early stages to provide advice and support for their new holiday let business.
At first, the couple considered converting the space into offices and workshops. A financial viability survey highlighted one of the most cost-effective routes was holiday letting.
The couple knew they wanted a clean and contemporary style but were open to suggestions. They worked with a local designer to achieve the high-end finish they now have, and included the additions of Wi-Fi throughout and an integral iPad sound system.
The style of the barns has followed the look of the farmhouse, which was converted some five years earlier. Based on a working farm, The Granary, Long House, the Pig House, the Mill House and The Stable are idyllic. Beautiful stone exteriors, modern interiors, and sociable outdoor areas invite guests to get comfortable, relax and unwind.
Find out more about Mark and Bridget’s journey and how farm diversification can be a highly profitable investment.
Located in the picturesque town of Portloe, Cornwall, Kerbenetty (Harbour Cottage) is a hidden gem. This quaint cottage is set on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Letting her property through Cornish Cottage Holidays, Caroline has opted for the optional managed services option. This enables her to take a step back from the day-to-day running of the property, and let our team take care of operational matters.
Caroline prides herself on ensuring the property is well maintained and responds to all complaints promptly. Often taking suggestions on-board, Caroline has adapted the property so that it’s adored by its returning guests.
Find out more about Caroline’s letting journey:
Read our guide on choosing a holiday letting agency in Cornwall with details on what to expect, managed service options and more.
Sea the View is an absolutely exceptional luxury holiday property, nestled close to picturesque Sennen Cove. This sumptuous bolthole stands proud on the coastal route towards Lands End, with far-reaching views across the luscious landscape of the Cornish countryside and out to the coast. Sea the View is certainly not your average two-bedroom holiday property.
This eco-friendly property ooze style and opulence from top to bottom, with plush fabrics and sumptuous decor throughout. Something which makes it truly unique and stand apart from competitors. Sea the View offers a touch of luxury, unique design and a bespoke level of opulence.
We spoke to the owner and asked him a few questions about the addition of this luxury property to his portfolio.
“I’ve learnt a lot from my other properties and have really made sure to spend the extra money to make sure they have something special and unique. I think people will be blown away. It has blown me away seeing it all come together the way it has.”
When thinking of a new holiday let business, it is good to look for new trends that are set to stay, as well as up and coming areas of the market. This gives you the opportunity to create an interesting and unique proposal for guests to enjoy, letting them sit back and escape day to day life while on staycation.
Glamping accommodation continues to be high in demand, with bookings for shepherd’s huts and yurts up 46% compared to 2021, and 94% compared to 2019, with owners earning an average of £17,000 annually – as much as a two-bed property
We find out more from Amber and Tony, owners of Honey @ Stars & Embers and Bumble @ Stars & Embers how a former cow pasture became a unique glamping experience, set amongst the picturesque rolling hills of East Cornwall.
What can guests expect from a glamping experience? “Our site offers a unique combination of tranquillity, quality accommodation and convenient access to the very best Cornwall has to offer.”
Advice to others who are thinking of holiday letting: “To anyone thinking of starting their own glamping business, we would say go for it. Do your research, visit other sites, be clear what you want to offer. Above all else, get planning advice. Different councils take differing approaches to glamping sites.”
Discover more about running a successful glamping business:
Sea Cliff Cottage was previously a four-bedroom property, but after speaking with the Quality Assurance team at Cornish Cottage Holidays, owner Marie took the bold move of transforming the property into a two bedroom luxurious coastal bolthole.
Having more bedrooms doesn’t necessarily mean you are guaranteed to generate a higher return on your investment, as Marie has found to her pleasure. Being even more luxurious with extras for guests to enjoy, Sea Cliff Cottage has now opened up a whole new market for itself. Turning one bedroom into a plush bathroom and the other into a decadent cinema room seemed a bold move, but one that really worked for Maria.
“The changes I have made make me smile, and the icing on the cake is as soon as it was relaunched, the bookings started pinging through! It is offering guests something special, unique and I am confident this is; and will be reflected in the bookings.”
What makes Sea Cliff Cottage unique? “I love its quirky drama. It doesn’t reveal itself at once but you turn a corner or go up the stairs, there is a gradual reveal of how special it is.”
Your advice to new owners? “That’s easy. Take advice early on. Choose your letting agents with care. I am actually thinking of doing another property, and if I do, I will involve Cornish Cottage Holidays, take advice before I buy and get realistic projections of what is possible. It is rewarding to do personally and financially, and I have a holiday home that I love and can enjoy which also provides me with an income.”
Read more about Mareen’s holiday letting journey:
At Cornish Cottage Holidays, we have a wealth of experience in supporting our owners through every stage of letting. We help unlock the full potential of holiday cottages across Cornwall.
Choosing the right holiday letting agency is about creating the right partnership. With over 50 years of holiday letting experience, we pride ourselves on delivering the bookings you deserve, accompanied by unrivalled local service. Start your holiday letting journey with Cornish Cottage Holidays today.
Get in touch to see whether we could increase your current holiday letting income. Request your FREE owner’s pack or give us a call on 01326 336773 (option 2) today.
*Statistics provided by The Sykes Staycation Index 2022.
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by Janine de Lange / Owner
I’ve had the privilege of living in the beautiful South West since 2010, and in my opinion there’s no better place in the worl...
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