Tips on Holiday Let Advertising and Marketing
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by Janine de Lange / Owner
Holiday home waste is now categorised as commercial waste. So, by law holiday lets and self-catering accommodation are not permitted to use the Council’s household collection service. With this in mind, how do you keep on top of your holiday home waste collection.
To find out your key responsibilities read our useful guide to Cornwall holiday home waste collection. Ensuring your property remains safe and clean for guests.
Use the quick links below to navigate to a specific topic or continue reading for our detailed guide on holiday home waste collection in Cornwall.
Effective waste management and collection is essential for a holiday let owner. Ensure your property remains safe and sanitary, keeping your guests happy.
It is vital to remember is that any holiday let is classed as a commercial business, and as such you must follow the rules and regulations associated.
Holiday let owners in Cornwall and across the rest of the UK have a legal obligation to make sure that any waste generated at the property is correctly disposed of with the least amount of impact on the environment. Regulations set out in The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 explain how councils must deal with holiday home waste.
Cornwall Council issued a statement about self-catering waste collections, “It is against the law for a business to dispose of its commercial waste via the Council’s household waste services.”
Councils across the South West have subsequently cracked down on kerbside collections for holiday let properties. They are no longer accepting waste from these properties.
With these regulations in mind, how do you keep on top of your property’s waste collection, and what are your responsibilities?
We’re all used to putting out the bins and recycling in our own homes. But as a holiday let owner, you have a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to manage your property’s waste.
Part of your duty is to ensure that your holiday property’s waste is kept to a minimum, by encouraging guests to reuse and recycle where possible.
It is also your responsibility to make sure it’s dealt with responsibly and only given to businesses authorised to carry out and dispose of your holiday home waste. If not, you can be fined under the Environmental Protection Act 1991.
They should comply with the following:
Check if a business is registered with the Environmental Agency.
In order to ensure that your waste is collected when you need, it is highly recommended to use a business waste collection service.
Most holiday home waste collection companies will removal all general waste, recycling and glass. There are various options from different companies, most of which can be tailored to your individual need.
One huge benefit of arranging waste collection for your holiday home is its flexibility. It means you can organise extra waste collections in the peak holiday period, and even organise a collection before changeover day. It really is a service that works for you and your holiday home business.
They can work on plans for 1, 6 and 12 months, depending upon whether your bookings are year-round or just during the main holiday season.
Please take note: You are legally required to have a signed waste transfer note from the waste management company for each load of waste removed off your premises. You will also need to keep copies of this information to show the council for the minimum of a two-year period. More information can be found on the
There are various options, each will depend on the size of your property/how many it sleeps and the frequency of collections you require.
No – Unfortunately, waste disposal isn’t included within business rates. Different businesses produce different amounts of waste, so it is deemed more appropriate to charge businesses individually based on the quantity and type of waste they produce.
Yes – The legislation says that a holiday let is classed as a business and should therefore pay for a commercial waste service, including collection and refuse disposal charges. Waste collection and disposal costs on a holiday property, are not covered through the payment of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR).
It’s a good idea to make it clear to your guests when your holiday home waste and recycling will be collected. Ask them politely if they will put the bags or bins out in good time on the allocated day.
You should also highlight to guests how to separate waste and recycling. The typical list of recyclables include:
The best way to convey this information to guests is in a guest information folder. Read our blog on how to put together a guest information folder for your holiday home.
When paying for your waste to be collected it goes without saying that in order to reduce costs, it’s important for you to reduce the amount of waste generated by your property.
But how can you do you actually do that in practice? It’s by getting guests to recycle! Making it as easy and simple as possible for your guests is vital to get engaged and willing to participate.
It is also possible to convey a green living image by encouraging your visitors to reuse bottles, to buy glass bottles as opposed to plastic, and to use reusable coffee cups when going out for the day. Place signs around the holiday let to remind them about recycling their waste when possible.
For top tips and ideas on doing your bit for the environment, read our blog on how to make your holiday home eco-friendly.
The Environment Agency has produced a guide to help businesses manage their waste called Right Waste, Right Place. It is a practical hub where you will find handy tips and tools to help you comply with waste regulations.
If you are in doubt on how to manage your waste or if you have any further questions, contact the Cornwall Council who will be able to assist.
We know how important providing a clean, well-presented property is to the success of any holiday cottage. As with any home, a holiday let needs to be maintained to high standards to encourage repeat bookings.
Our managed housekeeping service is available across Cornwall, to take care of your property and ensure it is ready for guests.
This premium service allows our owners a hassle-free solution and complete peace of mind. Working directly with our suppliers, our team can organise and conduct a range of services – including help arranging holiday home waste collection. From normal changeovers to property checks through winter, our Managed Services team are there to help.
If you’d like us to put you in touch with recommended collection services in your local area, please give us a call on 01326 336773 or visit our let your cottage page.
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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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