Is now a good time to invest in a holiday let? According to Rachel Brennan, Senior Manager of Property Onboarding at Sykes Holiday Cottages, the answer is yes – provided you approach it the right way. In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, Rachel explains why holiday lets continue to be a smart long-term investment and shares her top tips for choosing the right property and maximising returns.

From picking the perfect location and securing the right mortgage to staying on top of regulations and making your property guest-ready, Rachel breaks down everything new and aspiring owners need to know. Whether you’re just starting your investment journey or looking to grow your portfolio, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world insight from someone who’s helped hundreds of owners get it right.

Key takeaways:

1. Location still reigns supreme. Choose your spot wisely: proximity to local attractions, amenities, and guest demand makes all the difference.

2. Think like a guest. Whether it’s quirky features, high occupancy potential, or thoughtful furnishing, stand out by delivering what travellers want.

3. Get expert support. From specialist mortgage brokers to tax advisors like Zeal, and trusted agents like Sykes, don’t go it alone.

2:07 Why holiday lets are a good investment

5:37 Is it a good time to buy a holiday let?

8:07 Hang in there and reap the benefits

8:47 Buy-to-let vs. holiday let

13:25 Top tips for buying the right property

19:10 No. 1 tip: location, location, location

21:02 No. 2 tip: get the right mortgage

22:40 No. 3 tip: contact Zeal for tax advice

23:31 No. 4 tip: consider health and safety procedures

25:06 No. 5 tip: regulation, rules, licensing

26:51 No. 6 tip: think about renovation and furnishing

28:01 No. 7 tip: get the occupancy level right

29:13 No. 8 tip: pick your niche

30:34 No. 9 tip: local amenities

32:18 No. 10 tip: use the right agent

34:38 Bonus tip: consider quirky rentals

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/

James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/

Rachel Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-brennan-26098118a/

Sykes Holiday Cottages: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/

Episode to check next: 10 Tips For Holiday Let Success: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kakSRC83aeo&t=2s

Holiday Let Insider is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Contact the show: [email protected]

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