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
For many of us, pets are members of the family, with one in three of Brits owning a dog. Since the pandemic, ‘paw-cations’ have increased, with 35%* of all bookings now including dogs. This is a rise of 2%* since 2022, as Covid has played a part in an increase in dog ownership.
As an intrepid owner, capitalising on this surge of interest and making your holiday let dog friendly may open you to a wider audience, increased bookings and higher earning potential. If you’re thinking about accepting pets in your property, here is our guide to becoming a dog friendly holiday cottage.
Use the quick links below to read about a particular subject or continue reading our guide on making your holiday let dog friendly.
Looking for more expert advice on holiday letting and what rules and regulations you need to be aware of? Give us a call on 01326 336773 or download our free owners guide for more information.
The UK has always had a high level of pet ownership, but since the pandemic, these numbers have skyrocketed. Many of these owners want to take their pets with them on holiday, so self-catering properties across the nation will benefit from increased demand to offer pet-friendly stays.
According to the Sykes Cottages’ Holiday Letting Outlook report, properties that accept pets can earn 9% more by doing so. It’s also great way to increase your income per booking, as we charge an additional £25 per pet, per week. Whilst we would advise owners to consider more frequent deep cleans if they accept pets, this pet supplement more than covers those costs.
As a holiday home owner, making your cottage pet-friendly gives you greater exposure to more customers and potential bookings. Topping the most-searched features are properties that are pet friendly. Welcoming dogs in your holiday cottage opens your potential to a wider target audience and in turn increases booking and income.
In addition to increasing your holiday let income and opening your property up to a wider audience, having a dog friendly holiday cottage lends itself to an extended letting season. Going dog friendly will drive low season bookings, as Autumn and Winter are a popular time of year for pet holidays as this is typically when seasonal beach restrictions on dog visits are lifted.
Making your accommodation pet friendly is easier than you might think! There are plenty of simple and cost-effective ways to create a successful pet friendly holiday cottage and attract more bookings.
Making sure that your holiday property is geared towards welcoming your four-legged guest is an important first step. Furnishing your property with items that are durable and easy to clean will prevent any unnecessary damage or the need to replace. Wipeable surfaces are easier to clean and don’t hold odours in the same way as soft furnishing. Consider investing in protective covers for soft furnishings or opting for stain resistant or treated items.
Furnishing your property with expensive carpets may not be the best choice if you have a dog friendly holiday let. It’s a far better idea to opt for solid floors that are resilient and hard-wearing, and that won’t scratch or spoil easily. Hard floors are dog-friendly, especially downstairs and in high-traffic areas such as near the front door. A hard floor is easier to sweep and mop, so you won’t have the stains and embedded dirt that carpets gather. If you do have carpets, consider using a stain treatment, or rugs which can be removed and cleaned.
Cornwall is a dog-lovers paradise. With countless countryside walks and an array of dog friendly beaches to choose from it is often hard to know where’s best to go. Consider leaving advice in your holiday home welcome pack on local walks and dog friendly pubs and restaurants that guests can go to with their furry companions. You should also make a note of any places that don’t allow pets and if there are any beaches that do have restrictions.
Include information on where owners can stock up on supplies, or where to pamper their pooch. If your guests plan on popping out, leave details of trusted dog sitters or local doggy day care facilities in the area. It’s also worth providing information on local vets and emergency contacts on the off chance that it is needed.
Make your four-legged guests feel at home in your holiday cottage with a little welcome hamper of their own. A few simple items like food bowls and a comfy bed for them to use on their stay will not go amiss. Even treats and perhaps a squeaky toy for them to play with, spare leads and disposable waste bags are also useful.
Having an outdoor space or garden where pets can stretch their legs is always a bonus, but it’s important to make sure that it’s safe and enclosed. It’s important to have a dog-proof fence or barrier, also making sure any holes or gaps in fences or hedges are closed to prevent pets from escaping. It’s worth pet proofing your flower beds and making sure your garden doesn’t have any plants or substances that could be harmful to pets.
While most household pets are unlikely to damage your property, there are risks to allowing pets to stay. But there are precautions you can take to limit your risk as a host.
New places are as exciting for dogs as they are for humans, so even the best-behaved pooch might run around in a holiday home. Secure spaces in your property that are off limits to pets by using stair and baby gates, which can also help prevent any unexpected muddy marks from spontaneous zoomies.
Be sure to set out clear rules and guidelines for guests, to help them respect your property. Outline requirements such as no pets to be left unattended. Being in a strange new place can cause animals to be anxious or lonely, or simply curious. This could lead to chewing, soiling and barking. Most dog owners would not leave their pet, but it’s worth stipulating this. Specify areas of the home which are restricted to pets, and that they aren’t allowed on beds or furniture.
A crucial element of letting a property is that you are responsible for the health and safety of your guests – and that includes the canine variety too. Take the time to identify any potential hazards that could jeopardise a pets safety. Look at things like securing loose electrical wires and cables, keeping remote controls, knick-knacks and breakables out of reach from four-legged friends. Be sure to move any houseplants that may be poisonous out of reach.
Read our blog on holiday let legal requirements to make sure your property is safe and follows all the necessary rules and regulations.
By providing cleaning supplies you can help guests eliminate or minimise potential mess or stains which could cause long term damage. You can also include a pet-friendly vacuum cleaner in the property and encourage guests to use it.
Make sure you check with your insurer as to whether your policy will cover cases of damage caused by a pet. This can put your mind at ease when it comes to unlikely accidents involving your four-legged guests.
You’d struggle to find a better UK destination more dog-friendly than Cornwall. It’s a pets paradise not only because of the numerous beaches and coastal stretches just waiting for them to roam, but for the dog-friendly businesses and attractions too.
It doesn’t get much better than a beautiful dog walk on one of Cornwall’s dog friendly beaches. Many pubs and attractions throughout Cornwall also welcome pets, so there really is no need for guests to leave your four-legged friend behind on holiday.
Many of Cornwall’s popular attractions are now dog-friendly. Eden Project, arguably Cornwall’s most well-known and popular attraction, sits near St Austell and welcomes dogs into its outdoor areas with plenty of paths to explore. The Minack Theatre in Porthcurno allows dogs to visit too, as well as Helford’s Trebah Gardens, and Falmouth’s Pendennis Castle.
With so many reasons for owners to bring their canine companion to Cornwall, there’s no doubt that there’s never been a better time to accept pets in a holiday let.
At Cornish Cottage Holidays, we manage over 500 dog friendly properties in Cornwall and understand the benefits of accepting pets in a property. If you are new to letting or thinking of accepting dog in your cottage but need advice on how best to do so, our team can help.
We want letting your holiday home to be as enjoyable and effortless as possible for you so we’ve created some helping guides to answer any queries that you may have. Simply visit our Owner Advice Page to find out more.
If you would like to find out more about letting your holiday home, request your FREE owner’s pack or give us a call on 01326 336773 (option 2) today.
*Statistics provided by Sykes Staycation Index 2022 and Sykes Holiday Letting Outlook Report
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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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