Holiday Let Management in the UK: What It Costs and What’s Included
Holiday let management fees in the UK are typically a percentage of booking revenue. Staymo’s commission starts from 15% for complete management and 18% for flexible management, calculated on gross booking revenue and including setup. Airbnb also deducts a 15.5% service fee from most hosts’ bookings. What the fee covers depends on the level of service.
How much are holiday home management fees in the UK?
Holiday home management fees are usually a percentage of booking revenue, starting from 15% at Staymo. Complete Management costs from 15% on a 12-month agreement, and Flexible Management costs 18% on a rolling agreement. Both are calculated on gross booking revenue, and setup is included. A percentage fee means you pay more in busy months and less in quiet ones. For London short lets, see how Airbnb management fees work in London.
Check what the percentage covers before you compare offers. Cleaning, linen, consumables and repairs can sit inside the fee or be charged separately. Two offers with the same percentage can leave you with different amounts.
Booking platforms take their own cut on top. Airbnb deducts a 15.5% service fee from most hosts’ payouts, and the fee includes VAT where it applies. Ask any manager whether their percentage is calculated before or after the platform fee.
Tax rules for holiday lets have also changed. The Furnished Holiday Lettings regime was abolished from 6 April 2025 for individuals and from 1 April 2025 for companies. Holiday let income is now taxed in the same way as other rental income. The UK Airbnb tax guide for hosts 2026 covers allowances and how to declare income.
Business rates can replace council tax. In England, a holiday let is valued for business rates only if it meets several conditions. Among them, it was available to let for at least 140 nights and actually let for at least 70 nights in the last 12 months. You must also plan to offer it for at least 140 nights in the next 12 months. In Wales, the thresholds are 252 nights available and 182 nights let. Tax and rates depend on your circumstances, so confirm your position with an accountant.
What do holiday home management companies do?
A holiday home management company runs the daily work of letting your property to guests. Under full management, that usually covers:
- listing creation and professional photography
- pricing that changes with demand and season
- listing the property on several booking platforms
- guest messages and support at any hour
- check-in and guest coordination
- cleaning, laundry and restocking between stays
- maintenance coordination with local contractors
- income and performance reporting for the owner
Not every company covers the whole list. Some handle listings and bookings only and leave cleaning and repairs to you. Compare the scope first, then the percentage. Staymo’s full-service property management covers each of these stages.
What is the cost of self-managing your holiday rental?
Self-managing your holiday rental saves the management fee but costs you time. You still pay the platform fee, which is 15.5% on Airbnb for most hosts. Cleaning, linen, consumables and repairs are paid by you directly. The rest of the cost is hours: guest messages, price changes, check-ins and booking cleaners between stays.
| Task | Self-managing | Letting agency | Full management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing and pricing | Owner | Agency | Company |
| Guest messages | Owner | Agency | Company, at any hour |
| Check-in | Owner | Owner or paid extra | Company |
| Cleaning and linen | Owner arranges | Owner arranges | Company coordinates |
| Maintenance | Owner | Owner | Company coordinates |
| What you pay | Platform fee and your time | Agency fee and platform fee | Management fee and platform fee |
The right option depends on how close you live to the property and how many hours a week you can give it. For a London comparison, see self-managing a short let vs using a management company.
What is the expected occupancy rate for a holiday let?
Average occupancy in the UK’s largest short-let markets runs at around 52–65% of available nights. That range comes from AirDNA data for the 12 months to September 2026.
| Market | Average occupancy |
|---|---|
| Highland | 65% |
| London | 63% |
| Cornwall | 57% |
| Devon | 54% |
| Kent | 52% |
Occupancy here is the share of available nights that were booked. It reflects real demand, not how many nights an owner chooses to list. Your own rate will depend on the season and on how the property is priced and presented. For London in more detail, read the guide to Airbnb occupancy rates in London.
What changes with holiday let management in London?
In Greater London, short lets (any stay shorter than 90 consecutive nights) are limited to 90 nights per calendar year without planning permission. Letting beyond that needs planning permission from the council.
Airbnb applies the limit automatically to entire home listings in Greater London. Once a listing reaches 90 booked nights in a calendar year, it stops taking bookings unless the host confirms they have permission to let for longer.
A manager working in London plans the calendar around this limit from the first booking. That affects pricing, the choice between short and longer stays, and when the property is offered at all.
England is also preparing a national registration scheme for short-term lets. According to gov.uk guidance on letting a holiday home in England, it is not yet in force and is expected to begin in March 2027.
Your local council decides on planning permission, so confirm your position with it before letting beyond 90 nights.
How do you choose a holiday property manager?
Choosing a holiday property manager comes down to four checks. Ask each company the same questions and compare the answers in writing.
- Contract terms. Find out the minimum term and the notice period. Staymo, for example, offers a 12-month agreement on Complete Management and a rolling agreement on Flexible Management.
- What the fee covers. Ask for a written list of what sits inside the percentage and what is charged separately, such as cleaning, linen or repairs.
- Reporting. Check how you will see bookings, income and costs, and how often.
- Local response. Ask who deals with a guest problem late at night or a leak at the weekend, and how quickly they can reach the property.
A lower percentage with a narrow scope can cost more than a higher one that covers everything. Compare what you keep, not the headline rate.
If you would rather hand over the daily work, compare Staymo’s two plans. Complete Management covers the full running of the property on a 12-month agreement. Flexible Management adds flexible availability and a rolling agreement for owners who also use the property themselves. Choose the plan that fits your goals.
Frequently asked questions
What is holiday apartment management?
Holiday apartment management is the full running of a flat let to holiday guests: listing, pricing, guest messages, check-in, cleaning and maintenance. Flats need a few extra checks. Confirm that your lease allows short lets, and agree how guests use shared entrances, lifts and bins so neighbours are not affected.
Is there a holiday let income calculator?
Yes. Online calculators estimate what a property could earn from its address, size and local booking data. Treat the result as a starting point. Real income depends on occupancy, nightly rates, fees and, in Greater London, the 90-night limit. Staymo’s estimate is based on your area, rental strategy and property type.
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What do holiday hosts in London need to know?
The main rule is the night limit. In Greater London, short lets (any stay shorter than 90 consecutive nights) are limited to 90 nights per calendar year without planning permission. Airbnb applies this limit automatically to entire home listings unless the host confirms they have permission to let for longer.
Do I need holiday rentals software in the UK?
If you self-manage on more than one platform, a channel manager or property management software keeps calendars in sync and helps prevent double bookings. If a management company runs the property, it supplies the software. Staymo’s Complete Management includes an owner dashboard with bookings, income and performance in one place.
Do holiday home management fees include cleaning?
It depends on the company. Some include cleaning coordination in the fee and recover the cost of each clean through a guest cleaning fee. Others charge the owner per clean. Check too who pays for linen and restocking between stays. Ask for the arrangement in writing before you sign.
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