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Is it difficult to let your house out as a holiday home?

I was just saying to someone, I hate living where I live in August and that if I could I would leave for the entire month and come back when everyone else has left...

Then I remembered a conversation I'd had with someone who reckoned my house was worth about £700-£800 a week if it was let out, as it is. It was only a hypothetical conversation, but actually now, thinking of it, perhaps I should.

If I let my house out I could leave for the month, go somewhere away from the crowds and come back quids in.

I'm a tennant, but I am allowed to sub-let, the landlord is pretty good about that. My tennancy is long-term and I'm responsible for my own decorating and furniture etc so I wouldn't have to worry about safeguarding the landlords stuff- it's all mine. (I pay a fraction of the holiday-let value).

Has anyone had experience of this? Is it easy or hard? What would I need to know? Obviously I would need to learn a lot more before I could start doing this, or even work out if it's right for me yet. I don't have a clue where to start though, any pointers?
I refuse to be afraid of the big bad wolf, spiders, or debt collection agencies; one of them's not real and the other two are powerless without my fear.
(Ok, one of them is powerless, spiders can be nasty.)


As of the last count I have cleared
[STRIKE]23.16%[/STRIKE] 22.49% of my debt. :(

Comments

  • Hannah_10
    Hannah_10 Posts: 1,774 Forumite
    50 views but no comments. Anyone?
    I refuse to be afraid of the big bad wolf, spiders, or debt collection agencies; one of them's not real and the other two are powerless without my fear.
    (Ok, one of them is powerless, spiders can be nasty.)


    As of the last count I have cleared
    [STRIKE]23.16%[/STRIKE] 22.49% of my debt. :(
  • adadme
    adadme Posts: 12 Forumite
    It depends on who you rent your house to. If he is careful, it's much easier
    SAVE MONEY
  • It doesn't sound very achievable to me. For a start, holiday lets are just holiday lets, not usually someone's home. You'd have to remove every single personal item from the house, and what, put it in storage? There's a lot of work, and cost.

    Secondly, how would you advertise for someone to let the house for a holiday? You can't join any of the usual agencies/catalogues, they won't be interested if it's just for one month. You'll have to advertise and find letter direct, which again, is a lot of work and cost.

    Landlord - hmmm, you say he doesn't mind sub-letting. He might not mind you having a lodger, but that's different to handing the house over to 3-4 strange sets of people.

    Liabilties - the letting contract is with you. You are responsible for any accidents/injuries they might incur. You will also be responsible for any damage they cause - and your normal house insurance won't cover it. My brother has a holiday home in Portugal that he rents out to friends and family some of the year, not complete strangers, and someone still managed to burn the whole kitchen down. How would you pay if something like that happened?
    Cash not ash from January 2nd 2011: £2565.:j

    OU student: A103 , A215 , A316 all done. Currently A230 all leading to an English Literature degree.

    Any advice given is as an individual, not as a representative of my firm.
  • Maybe a house swap would be a better idea.
  • You don't live in Edinburgh by any chance do you? There are loads of companies that do festival lets over August as there is such a high demand for properties. Maybe you could use a company to help let your house the first year (if there is one in your area) if you decide to do it and then go solo if it's deemed a success?
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