How to manage a UK holiday home from a distance

Owning a holiday home is something many people dream about, and with good reason. It gives you a place to escape to more or less whenever you want, and if you let it out, it can potentially bring in some useful extra income.

The challenge, of course, is keeping on top of things when you don’t live nearby. A house doesn’t look after itself, and if you’re trying to manage it from miles away, you’ll need the right support in place.

Here are some of the key things to think about …

Keyholding you can rely on

The first question is always: who’s going to hold the keys? You’ll need someone local you can trust, such as a professional keyholding company or trusted person. A good keyholder can step in during an emergency, let in tradespeople, and carry out routine checks.

Smart locks and coded key safes are also worth considering, especially if you’re letting the property. These let you give guests or cleaners secure access without having to post keys or rely on complicated handovers. That said, it’s still a comfort to know you’ve got a real person nearby in case anything goes wrong.

Cleaning and changeovers

Whether it’s family using the place or paying guests, nobody wants to walk into a house that feels tired or grubby. A local cleaning team is a must. Many already specialise in holiday lets, so they know exactly what’s needed between changeovers – fresh bedlinen, sparkling bathrooms, and a quick check that everything’s in working order.

It’s a good idea to agree a checklist with them from the start, so standards are consistent. Some owners go a step further and hand everything over to a property management company, who’ll deal with bookings, guest communication, and cleaning in one package. It’s a bigger expense, but it takes a lot off your plate if you’re not close by.

Looking after maintenance

Even if you’re not using your holiday home all the time, it still needs regular attention. Gardens grow, gutters fill up, boilers need annual servicing (an annual boiler service is also typically a requirement of your UK holiday home insurance) – and small problems can snowball quickly if nobody spots them.

Do note that if you let out your UK holiday home, you typically will have both legal and insurance obligations in order to keep your guests safe and your insurance valid.

Our Landlords guide to health and safety here has more information.

Building up a network of trusted local tradespeople is invaluable. A reliable plumber, gardener, or handyman can save you a lot of stress and money in the long run.

Making use of tech

Technology can make remote management much easier than it used to be. A few things worth looking at:

• security cameras and alarms you can monitor from your phone;
• smart thermostats, which let you control heating remotely – handy for keeping pipes safe in winter;
• leak detectors and sensors that alert you if there’s a water problem;
• digital guides for guests, so you don’t have to keep printing out instructions;
• booking software that helps you keep on top of calendars and payments if you rent the place out.

These tools won’t replace having people you trust on the ground, but they do give you another layer of control when you’re not there.

Don’t forget insurance and safety

UK holiday home insurance is one of those things that’s easy to overlook but absolutely essential. Standard home insurance won’t be valid for a holiday home, particularly if you’re letting it out or leaving it empty for weeks at a time.

A specialist UK holiday home insurance policy will cover things like longer unoccupancy, guest stays, and accidental damage.

As we mentioned above, you’ll also need to keep up with safety regulations: for example, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, gas and electrical checks, and fire safety measures.

If you’re not local, it makes sense to get your keyholder or management company to keep track of these dates and make sure everything is compliant.

Do note that your UK holiday home may typically require your unoccupied property to have regular, logged visits to make sure everything is in order when it is not in use. Speak to your insurance broker if you are unsure as to what your responsibilities are under your insurance cover – they will be happy to clarify.

Putting a system in place

There’s no single “right” way to manage a holiday home from a distance. Some owners want to keep tight control themselves, while others are happy to hand it all over to a management company. Most find a balance that works – a mix of trusted local people, good systems, and smart technology.

The important thing is to have a plan that gives you confidence. That way, you can enjoy your holiday home for what it should be: a place to relax, recharge, and maybe even earn a little income, without constant worry about what’s happening when you’re not there.