Cost of servicing a holiday let

[rufusgti]

I've spotted a potential opportunity in the form of a holiday let. I'm currently trying to get an idea of overall costs.
When it comes to cleaning and changing the sheets between visits I don't really have a clue on costs. I am a little too far away to make it feasible for me to do it. Has anyone any experience of this. And how long would you expect to pay someone for this 1hr -2hr? I think most people tend to leave as they find so a quick once over and fresh sheets. Or am I being optimistic.

I guess there's companies out there that cater for this which charge the earth, whilst the other end of the scale would be a local lass who's looking for a few extra quid.

What should I budget.
South Wales.

[BoRED S2upid]

2 hours £50? Something like that depending on the size. Don't allow dogs.

[rufusgti]

Really that much?
I was thinking less. £25 ph is a lot for a cleaner, but then you are putting an element of responsibility and trust in them so maybe that's fair enough.

[BoRED S2upid]

rufusgti said:

Really that much?
I was thinking less. £25 ph is a lot for a cleaner, but then you are putting an element of responsibility and trust in them so maybe that's fair enough.

Exactly your going to have to trust them with the keys, your place, to leave it spotless every time and to be reliable they can't miss a single shift ever or you can kiss good buy to your holiday let. Worth paying decent money.

[Pistom]

PH may not be the best to ask. Try Lay My Hat.

Do you want them to wash sheets? Make extra visits when you get awkward guests?

Are they going to dry sheets/towels at home for you? Do they have to drive to your property?

£30-£35 is reasonable considering they will lose a chunk of their day.

[foliedouce]

I sold a holiday let (Northern France) in 2007. At the time I paid the cleaners £50 per change over which included washing the sheets / towels. This was for a small 3 bed cottage. The fee remained the same irrespective of whether all rooms were full or just 1.

Are you expecting someone just to clean or will you have a local agent to be in hand if there are any issues / managed security bond etc?

We rented a cottage in Padstow in July and we were charged for not stripping the beds and also putting rubbish (some dead flowers) in the dustbin but not in a bin bag. This was deducted from our security bond. Someone had to manage that process and it wasn't a minimum wage cleaner.

[Herdwick]

£25 p/h sounds about right.
£50 for a changeover is OK. A 'quick once over' and fresh sheets will do for 2 weeks...and then the place will be virtually uninhabitable. No matter how much people think a place is left as they found it, it is NOT.
E.g. We had guests at the weekend who spent 30 mins vacuuming before they left, the place looked good when we walked in, but the log stove was still full of ash, under the settee and TV cabinet were dog biscuits, sweet wrappers etc, SO, start over again with the vacuum.
Bath mats, tea towels = 1 load of a washer, bedding = 2nd load for a one bed property. Then to be dried and ironed. Cost of a local laundry can be £30 per set foe a one bedroom.
Factor in the scenario of the cleaner not turning up to clean and you are deeply in trouble - maybe the pub was more appealing or shopping took priority (Yes we have had it happen to us), and £50 starts to seem good value.

[Bill]

This. A quick once over isn't good enough, particularly if you want people to return. We have a one bed cottage and pay a cleaner £30 for two hours but do the sheets ourselves. We're next door though so on hand to sort other issues.

[Djtemeka]

I misread that are you had a HOLIDAY JET.

[NDA]

Djtemeka said:

I misread that are you had a HOLIDAY JET.

So did I.

I thought £50 was a bit cheap to be honest.

[rdjohn]

We pay £35 for the cleaning / laundry side of things and on top of that 10% of rental income for someone to do the thinking side of things - meeting and greeting, key handover, manage cleaner, inventory checks, problem solving. We do all the money managment and marketing side of it.

I would say it is more complicated than trusting the client to do the right thing. Cleaning and being a clear thinker are poles apart. We tried in both UK and Spain to find one person who is capable of doing both to a good standard. I don't think that they exist.

[boyse7en]

Friend of mine has got a studio apartment-sized cottage attached to her house. She reckons on three hours for a changeover on a Saturday morning.

Clean sheets and towels
checking cutlery, plates, utensils etc. and replacing if missing
Hoovering (including moving the bed and sofa)
Clean toilet and shower
new loo roll, new kitchen roll
Dust surfaces
Welcome note and basket...

it all adds up

[rufusgti]

Crikey. Ok, so reading this has made me realise just what's involved in a holiday let.

Certainly more to consider.

[Pistom]

rufusgti said:

Crikey. Ok, so reading this has made me realise just what's involved in a holiday let.

Certainly more to consider.

But don't be worried by it. Have a let in a decent location, serve your guests well and it is really enjoyable and very easy money.

In North or South Wales, £35 will get you the best caretaker in the area.

[Whistle]

I have a place in Bowness on Windermere and after a couple of quiet years since buying the place we have just had a cracking summer.

A friend of ours up there cleans for us for £25.00 we ask our guests to take their own bed sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels.


We will provide them for an extra £35.00

It works for us.

[johnte]

Personally, if I saw I had to take my own sheets and towels, I wouldn't be going ... (It's a bit like asking to put coins in the meter)