Internet access via personal computers, tablets or mobile devices is an essential communication tool for all those letting their holiday homes to guests whether owner managed or let via a holiday home letting agency. Any disruption caused by computer viruses or malware is at the least a real inconvenience and worst, very costly. There is […]
A guide to welcoming guests with assistance dogs to your self-catering holiday home Are you aware that there are over 6500 registered assistance dog users in the UK who rely on their trusted companion to carry out practical tasks and support their independence? As a self-catering holiday home owner it’s important that you keep yourself […]
Sustainable Tourism: The benefits of Solar One of the most significant developments in the tourism sector over the past decade has been the continuing growth in demand for accommodation providers and owners of holiday cottages to be green and eco-friendly. Now is the time of sustainable tourism. Worldwide tourism accounts for an estimated 4% of […]
Catering for the growing British cycling market As the pinnacle of worldwide competitive cycling it may seem strange to refer to Tour de France winners as busses, but when Bradley Wiggins was crowned the king of the tour in 2012 very few of us, having waiting more than 100 years for a British winner, expected […]
The benefits of using natural cleaning products around your holiday home As a holiday homeowner what factors do you consider when selecting a cleaning product for your cottage? Are they products that you’ve always used and perhaps see no need in changing? Is it the latest and brightest packaging on the supermarket shelf that catches […]
Rateable Values: Your Holiday Cottage If we said 140 days to you would this seem a long period of time? That’s a little over four and a half months or in terms of the tourism season, approximately the length of time between this year’s Easter Sunday and the return to the classroom of many children […]
Do you own a smart phone? If you do you’re now officially in the majority rather than the minority as latest statistics show that 7 out of 10 UK adults now own a smart phone of some sort. With these phones has come a new way of accessing information, a way of seamlessly integrating a […]
The Met Office has recently provided their weather forecast for the coming months and it’s good news. Their three-month prediction shows the UK may be set for above-average temperatures for April, May and June. Whilst many of us familiar with the inclement nature of the British weather will take this forecast with a pinch of […]
Twitter for holiday homeowners – becoming advocates for your area. In July 2006 a new social network that allowed people to post 140 character text messages was launched. Eight years on that social network is now one of the ten most visited websites on the internet, handling near 2 billion search queries a day and […]
Are you covered for loss of income? This can be an exciting time of the year for holiday homeowners. We know it can also be a busy time; taking bookings, preparing properties and making sure you are fully prepared for the first influx of visitors to your holiday home. So think for a moment. What would […]
Trampolines and holiday homes, a fun combination or an accident waiting to happen? A fact many people won’t be aware of is that the lightest person on a trampoline is five times more likely to be injured. This happens through a phenomenon called “kipping”. This is where jumping at the same time causes the transfer […]
With visitor needs becoming increasingly diverse in nature it’s becoming more and more important to let your potential guests know that your property is the right one for them; that it meets all of their needs and it ticks all of the right boxes in terms of access, facilities and services. An access statement, if […]
Fresh off the printing press, the second edition of Furnished Holiday Lettings – A Tax Guide was prompted by the Pawson case and the implications for business property relief on holiday lets. It has also been updated with revised HMRC guidance in relation to “dwelling houses” and new rules for fixtures in property. This clear […]
Top Trampoline Tips for Holiday Home Owners For families on holiday a trampoline can be a desirable addition to your holiday home’s garden. Whilst bouncing up and down feet in the air will provide plenty of fun you’ll want to ensure you have the mechanisms in place to manage and minimize the risk of injuries […]
PAT Testing As a holiday homeowner it’s vital you keep your property as safe as possible for your visitors and that this extends to all areas including maintaining electrical appliances in your holiday home. Over the years more and more electrical items have been added to the average home and this is no different in […]
The benefits of a holiday home insurance specialist Specialist is a word that is often used and it’s one that means a lot to us as a company. We are specialists; we’ve been specialising in offering insurance to holiday homeowners across the UK for more than 20 years. Here are our thoughts on why using […]
Although your holiday home will have a thorough clean at every changeover, overtime dirt, grime and dust can gradually build up in those hard to reach areas affecting the natural aroma of your property. Dazzling your guests with a sparkling holiday home that smells clean and fresh will encourage them to treat it with respect […]
The marketing benefits of having an access statement for your holiday home, letting apartment or holiday cottage complex A recent House of Lords committee found the country is “woefully under-prepared” for the social and economic challenges presented by an ageing society. Britain is indeed ageing; by 2030 it’s predicted the City of London will have […]
Despite the economic recession of recent years one item once considered a luxury is beginning to find it’s way into holiday home gardens all across the UK. Sales of hot tubs and outdoor spas have continued to skyrocket; some suggest as many as one in 10 households now boast one, with more conservative figures placing […]
Holiday home insurance specialists Boshers are highlighting the importance of property owners making regular checks on their homes. The advice comes with more severe weather forecast and with the first school half term of the year bringing visitors in to those areas already affected by extreme wind and flooding. The firm has issued guidance including […]
Very few areas of the country have been able to avoid the battering the UK has faced from the recent winter weather. With more high winds and heavy rain predicted in the coming weeks we’re encouraging holiday home owners to stay vigilant and proactive in regularly checking their properties in order to minimise potential damage. […]
Impress your holiday let guests with a welcome pack app. www.Coponis.com takes the traditional ‘Welcome Information Pack’ provided to guests at self-catering accommodation and utilises technology to put that information (and much more) straight into the hands of the guest prior to their arrival. This gives the guest clear and succinct information to enhance their […]
Your key to protecting your holiday let. As claims increase so do premiums. Fortunately there’s lots you can do to protect your holiday let, your guests and help keep insurance costs down. Take the time to read this informative infographic which explains some of the more common claims affecting holiday homes. There are also top […]
In this post we explore 10 steps to revive your holiday homes exterior. A holiday let property with real kerb appeal will lift your spirits and that of your guests. First impressions count for so much, especially in the self-catering accommodation sector where guests expectations have risen to new heights as the availability of good quality […]
In this post we explore the subject of holiday let insurance for your annexe. It is becoming more and more common in popular rural and coastal self-catering holiday areas for owners of larger properties and empty nester’s to sub-divide their homes and let an annexe to guests holidaying in the area. In doing so, due […]
There has never been a better time to reduce your energy over heads and ‘Do your bit’ for the environment. You may have made changes to your home but have you given thought to “How green is your holiday home?” As energy assessors and building surveyors our friends at footPrint Energy Assessments Ltd have experienced the various […]
Whilst letting your holiday home you expect an amount of general wear and tear such as scuffs on walls and the odd broken piece of crockery which you no doubt absorb into your general running costs. Occasionally your holiday home guests may cause more serious damage either accidentally or with malicious intent. Damage by holiday let […]
Tourism Accommodation and the Law – A One Day Conference on Legislation Affecting Tourism Accommodation Businesses including self-catering holiday homes, cottages and apartments run as furnished holiday letting properties. VisitEngland hosted the above conference in London on the 12th February 2013 to update attendees on recent and forthcoming legislation changes that affect tourism accommodation in England and […]
It’s a sobering thought but 9 out of 10 burst pipes happen when no one is at home. Escape of water accounts for approximately £1billion of damage annually in addition to the distress caused and loss of irreplaceable items. There is a solution which will be of particular interest to holiday home owners: Escape of water protection […]
Holiday Home Owners should check their holiday home properties more regularly during adverse weather. Specialist Holiday Home Insurance broker, Boshers Ltd suggests that holiday home owners would be wise to inspect their furnished holiday lets more frequently during periods of adverse weather, irrespective of their holiday home insurance policies minimum inspection requirements. Already this winter the UK […]