You can estimate holiday let income by multiplying your average nightly rate by the number of nights booked each year, then subtracting running costs such as cleaning, utilities, insurance, and any management or OTA fees. Our calculator does the hard work for you.

A typical holiday rental occupancy rate in the UK ranges between 50%–70%, depending on the property location, seasonality, and marketing efforts. Higher occupancy of 90% is possible with strong online visibility, steady flow of direct bookings and repeat guests.

Online Travel Agents (OTAs) such as Airbnb or Booking.com can take between 3% and 25% in commission fees. Reducing reliance on OTAs and focusing on direct bookings can significantly increase your net income.

You can grow direct bookings by having your own website, optimising it for SEO, using social media marketing, running email campaigns, and offering incentives for guests to book directly.

You should factor in costs such as management fees, OTA commissions, cleaning and maintenance, utilities, insurance, taxes, mortgage, property maintenance, and any marketing spend. Ignoring these can make your projected profit look misleadingly high.

Yes, income from holiday lets is taxable. In the UK, furnished holiday lets can qualify for certain tax reliefs, but you should always check the latest HMRC rules or consult an accountant.

A property manager can save you time by handling guest communication, bookings, and cleaning schedules, but their fees (often 15–25% of revenue) should be factored into your profit calculations.

Seasonality can significantly affect your income. Peak seasons (summer, Christmas, school holidays) usually bring higher rates and occupancy, while off-peak months may require promotions to attract bookings.

Your property’s location – whether it’s near beaches, city centres, or attractions – can significantly influence your nightly rate and occupancy.

Pricing should reflect not only area averages but also factors like seasonality, amenities, guest expectations, and how your property compares to competitors.

Rental yield helps assess profitability. It’s calculated as (Annual rental income ÷ Property value) × 100. You can calculate gross yield or net yield after operating costs.

It’s 100% possible, but it depends on factors like monthly expenses, occupancy, pricing, and local regulations. For example, some areas restrict short-term lets, impacting overall income.

Specialised holiday let insurance protects against risks that regular home insurance doesn’t cover – like guest injury, loss of income due to unoccupied periods, or accidental guest damage.