With over 20 years in the hospitality business, running boutique hotels in Suffolk, moving over to the short breaks holiday cottage industry for me seemed an obvious career direction and I’m pleased to say I love it, in fact, 3 Tudor Cottages is my 2nd holiday cottage.
Here’s a list of my top 10 things to consider before purchasing a holiday cottage.
1. Mortgages – A holiday cottage mortgage is considerably more expensive than a ‘buy to let’ mortgage, Before granting a mortgage the broker will check to see if the property has been used previously for a holiday cottage. Properties in prime locations eg by the sea might be a red flag for some brokers.
2. Stamp duty – Stamp duty is more expensive if it’s a second property.
3. Location – This is obviously key for your earning potential (by the sea or in an historical town) and could significantly affect your potential revenue.
4. Open fire – An open fire will keep your holiday cottage busy with bookings out of the peak summer season.
5. Council tax – If your holiday cottage is your only business, you don’t need to pay council tax. Make certain the cottage is registered as a business with the local council.
6. Tax – Once the cottage is up and running, keep all your receipts – tv licence, gas/water/electric/broadband bills , logs, cleaning products etc. Talk to your accountant who can help you with this.
7. Shops – ideally you want your holiday cottage to be within easy walking distance from a local supermarket.
8. Character – This usually means old. A characterful cottage can be made to feel cosy and romantic which your guests will like but I’d recommend getting a full survey before you buy.
9. Parking – Guests want convenience. Being able to park directly outside your cottage is always preferred.
10. Outside seating – An outside seating area is essential, particularly for summer holiday breaks. An enclosed outside garden also attracts guests with dogs, a very lucrative holiday market.
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