Guest damage, cleaning and unexpected costs are the issues holiday let owners find most frustrating, according to new research from holiday home insurance specialist Schofields.
The survey of 100 holiday let owners found that 80% cite guest damage as their biggest source of frustration and stress, with a third naming it as their single largest headache. Almost nine in ten owners said they encounter a problem at least once every few months, and 88% have interrupted their own plans to deal with an issue at their property. Managing the let or handling admin takes four or more hours per week for 79% of those surveyed.
"Holiday let owners tend to share many of the same frustrations," said Phil Schofield, head of sales and marketing at Schofields. "But letting out a property remains a valuable way to generate additional income from a second home that might otherwise sit unused for parts of the year.
"Guest damage came out as the biggest frustration, with 80% of owners selecting it as an issue and a third naming it as their biggest headache. Taking a deposit can provide some protection, but having appropriate insurance in place for accidental or more serious damage is important too. There can also be added frustration when guests attempt to hide or cover up damage, while owners may occasionally find items have gone missing from the property. Even when the cost of damage is covered, it can still mean arranging repairs, dealing with tradespeople and getting the property ready before the next guests arrive.
"And it isn't just damage causing headaches. Cleaning and changeovers, maintenance and unexpected costs all ranked highly, while 88% of owners told us they've had to interrupt their own plans at least once because of a problem with their holiday let.
"With 70% of those surveyed using Airbnb or similar platforms, it's clear that making a property available to guests has never been easier, but owners shouldn't underestimate the work that can come with it. Being prepared for those unexpected problems can make managing a holiday let considerably less stressful."
