The Pros and Cons of Using a Holiday Let Management Company
Friday 7th March, 2025 by Host & Stay
Owning a holiday let can be a lucrative venture offering a steady stream of income. However, managing one demands significant time, effort, and expertise. One critical decision holiday let owners face is whether to manage their property independently or enlist the services of a holiday let management company. This blog post delves into the advantages and disadvantages of using a holiday let management company, helping you to make an informed choice tailored to your circumstances.
The advantages of using a holiday let management company
Whether you’re thinking of buying a holiday let or you already own one, there are lots of things to consider and keep on top of. From holiday let insurance to new rules for holiday lets, it can be overwhelming – and that’s before you’ve even welcomed guests!
That’s where using a holiday let management company comes in. Management companies can support with a number of things to help the process feel less stressful and more enjoyable. Whilst holiday let management companies’ offerings may vary, we’ve highlighted the main advantages of using a management company below:
1. Expertise and industry knowledge
Holiday let management companies bring a wealth of experience and industry-specific knowledge to the table. Management companies work with market trends, establish pricing strategies, keep up to date with regulations, and often have years of experience within the industry. Their expertise can be invaluable and provide peace of mind for owners that their holiday let is in safe hands.
2. Professional photography and property presentation
First impressions matter which is why holiday let management companies typically offer professional photography services to capture your property in the best light. They can also provide guidance on interior design and amenities to enhance the property’s appeal to potential guests.
At Host & Stay, we believe that professional editorial property photography is integral as it’s going to set your property apart from the market – especially on the popular online travel agencies such as Airbnb and Booking.com. Potential guests can scan page after page of property results before they click a listing that catches their eye – which often is due to the lead image selling the property in the best light.
We have a team of professional property photographers who are experts in the field and capture stunning photographs which are suitable across multiple sites (we list on over 60+ online travel agencies so it’s important your property looks the best on every single one!). As well as professional photography, we also include floorplans and virtual tours for every holiday let featured within our collection.
3. Efficient booking management
Handling enquiries, reservations, cancellations, payments, and reviews can be time-consuming. Most holiday let management companies will use booking management systems to manage bookings efficiently. This professional approach includes everything from prompt replies to guests to maximising occupancy rates.
At Host & Stay, we use a property management platform which allows us to use one consolidated calendar for your property where bookings from every online travel agency we list on, as well as our own website, sit alongside each other. This minimises the chance of double bookings as we don’t need to manually block calendars and add bookings from different sources – which would be extremely tricky and time consuming as we list on over 60+ online travel agencies! This maximises visibility for the holiday lets we manage as we’re able to list across multiple sites and gives owners a transparent view of bookings at their property on one simple calendar.
Another important part of booking management includes handling the finances which can be a challenging and daunting task. At Host & Stay, we handle secure payments and deposits, reducing the risk of fraud.
4. Property maintenance and housekeeping
Regular maintenance and high cleaning standards are essential to keep guests satisfied and maintain a property’s reputation. This includes completing changeovers to a high standard and carrying out regular maintenance checks to ensure your holiday let is in great condition.
Managing housekeeping and maintenance can be a huge undertaking and hard to fit around everyday life which is why many holiday let owners hand over this responsibility to a holiday let management company. For some property owners, it just isn’t practical to complete housekeeping and maintenance as their holiday let is far from their home address, so the decision is already made for them.
Holiday let management companies can coordinate housekeeping, schedule maintenance checks, and organise emergency repairs to keep your property in top condition.
At Host & Stay, we offer fully managed service plans with in-house maintenance and housekeeping teams who are trained and have experience in the holiday let industry. We offer short-term stays with check-ins and check-outs any day of the week as we have the flexibility of our in-house team to complete changeovers any day of the week. This is different to the traditional Monday – Friday / Friday – Monday model offered by other holiday let management companies and provides guests with more availability when looking for a stay. Our team is trained by our team leaders, overseen by our head of housekeeping, to ensure our standards remain the highest they can be. We have checklists specific for every property we manage, and our housekeepers tick off each item and provide photos at the end of every changeover so owners have peace of mind.
When it comes to maintenance, our in-house team includes qualified and professional tradespeople. Whether it’s attending routine appointments or responding to an emergency callout, we’re on hand to repair issues that may arise at your holiday let. We use a comprehensive maintenance platform for issue reporting and compliance tracking to ensure your property is safe and running smoothly. As an owner with us, you’ll have your own account on the platform where you can raise maintenance issues for our team to attend, see completed issues, and track compliance related tasks so you have complete transparency.
5. Guest communication and support
From initial enquiries to post-stay feedback, guest communication is key to securing positive reviews and repeat bookings. A holiday let management company often provides 24/7 guest support, promptly addressing any issues that can arise during a stay, ensuring a smooth experience for both owners and guests.
At Host & Stay, our guest relations team use one centralised inbox allowing them to promptly reply to guests. Whether it’s answering queries about a guests stay or responding to an issue, our professional and friendly team are always on hand to help. We also schedule messages at the correct touch points of a guests journey to maximise guest experience.
As well as this, we provide a digital guide for every holiday let within our collection to elevate the guest experience. This provides guests with a beautifully presented, tailored guide covering everything from access information, parking, what to do in the local area, where to eat, and much more! This means that guests have all the information they could need for their stay at the touch of a finger and it also means we’ve eliminated paper welcome books in the holiday lets we manage to help with our environmental goals.
6. Comprehensive marketing and advertising
Effective marketing is crucial for attracting guests. Management companies often have dedicated marketing teams that utilise various channels. Their established relationships and reputation can lead to increased visibility and bookings.
At Host & Stay, we have a fantastic marketing team who manage our organic social media channels, paid social ads, Google ads, affiliate ads, SEO, PR, and email campaigns. As well as this, our product team has a wealth of knowledge in product and design to enhance our website for better usability.
With years of experience and in-depth knowledge, our teams work tirelessly to build our brand and improve our online presence to drive more bookings and offer a better guest experience.
7. Legal and regulatory compliance
The holiday let industry is subject to various legal requirements. A holiday let management company can guide you through the complexities of compliance, helping you avoid costly mistakes.
At Host & Stay, we take it one step further and offer compliance service plans, so you have peace of mind that your holiday let is compliant to UK law. Our plans are competitively priced and tailored the specific requirements of your property, whether it is run from gas, oil or electric. Our plans offer a monthly fee in place of a big upfront bill, so that owners can spread the cost whilst still receiving the same service.
The disadvantages of using a holiday let management company
Whilst using a holiday let management company has many advantages, we understand that this option isn’t for everyone. Whether you prefer to manage how your holiday let is run yourself or you simply don’t want the expense, we’ve highlighted the possible disadvantages of using a holiday let management company below:
1. Management fees
Perhaps the most significant downside of using a holiday let management company can be the cost. Holiday let management companies typically charge a commission, ranging from 15% to 30%. While this fee covers a range of services, it can eat into your profits especially if there are additional charges on top so it’s essential to weigh the benefits against the expense and always check your terms and conditions before signing.
For some holiday let owners the expense of using a holiday let management company is completely worth it if they don’t have the time, experience or desire to manage their holiday let themselves. In some cases, using an experienced management company could actually earn you more – especially if you’re new to the industry or can’t commit the time to running it efficiently.
2. Loss of control
By outsourcing management, you do relinquish a degree of control over how your property is run. Decisions about pricing and guest approvals may be made without your direct input, which can be challenging for hands-on property owners. Another factor for many owners is that using a holiday let management company may mean they’re unable to visit their own property as much as they’d like to.
At Host & Stay, we believe that it should be flexible and you should still be able to enjoy your property yourself which is why we have an owners portal where you can add your own bookings at any time of the year. We also believe that whilst we can guide owners with our knowledge and expertise, as an owner you should have the final decision. This is why when onboarding your holiday let with us, we schedule a call with our revenue team where you can discuss all aspects of pricing so you’re comfortable from the get-go with how your property is priced. Once your property is onboarded with us, our wonderful client success team are always on hand to answer any questions or provide support where needed.
3. Variable quality of service
Not all management companies offer the same level of service. Research is key – reading reviews and speaking to other property owners will help you select a reliable and effective partner. It’s also worth noting that holiday management companies can’t guarantee bookings so it’s important you consider any recommendations or advice they provide to maximise your holiday lets potential.
Is using a holiday let management company right for you?
Deciding whether to use a holiday let management company hinges on your personal circumstances, goals, and the amount of time you can dedicate to managing your property.
If you live far from your holiday let, have multiple properties, or lack the time and expertise to handle day-to-day operations, a management company could be a smart investment. On the other hand, if you enjoy being hands-on and have the time to manage bookings and guest relations, self-management might be the way forward for you.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to balancing convenience, cost, and control. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, you can make the best decision for your holiday let business.
How we can help
At Host & Stay, we can take care of as much or as little as you’d like. We can cover everything for you with our fully managed service plans or if you’d prefer to manage some aspects still such as housekeeping or maintenance, that’s totally fine too. We’re here to help holiday let owners succeed and offer a flexible, expert approach to holiday let management. If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our friendly team are always on hand to provide support and knowledge.
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All information in this article is accurate at the time of writing based on our research. This article does not constitute the giving of legal, financial or tax advice. Please contact your own professional advisor if you require advice in this regard.