According to a specialist broker, StayCotswold, holiday home landlords who own real estate in desirable locations may make up to three times more money than a buy-to-let investor each year.

The bumper income is the result of high weekly rental rates that holiday homes may command during the peak season – particularly summer, Christmas and New Year – which pushes up the annual total and offsets times when the property is unoccupied.

Investors who are tempted to enter the vacation lettings market must carefully consider the extra expenses and work needed, in addition to a normal buy-to-let.

Bumper income 

It’s not unusual for a letting agent to demand 20 to 30% more in tax, as well as extra fees when a property is listed on their website. According to Phillips, this is the case with many UK-based letting agencies.

The extra effort is rewarded with a significantly higher rental yield – the rental return as a proportion of the property purchase cost. Another aspect that contributes to holiday home investment’s long-term attractiveness is that it will not be affected by any tax reform that would limit the amount of tax relief buy-to-let investors may claim.

This implies that a basic-rate taxpayer will get 20% tax relief, while those at a higher rate will receive 40%, and top-rate taxpayers may get 45%. Tax relief will be calculated on a flat basis of 20% when the amendments come into effect.

The government’s proposal to raise the threshold at which basic-rate taxpayers are taxed (from £42,386 to £50,000) would mean that no individual pays more than 2% on personal earnings above this amount. Higher-rate taxpayers would be unaffected by the change. However, individuals who earn more money will discover themselves losing far more in mortgage interest payments as a result of the reform.

Assuming a landlord pays higher-rate tax on a property worth £200,000 with a £150,000 buy-to-let mortgage and monthly rents of £800, the company found that he would currently have a net profit of around £2,160 per year. However, under the new system, the net profit would be significantly lower at around £960.

How to invest in a holiday let

There are a variety of ways to finance a vacation home. Specialist mortgages from a variety of lenders, including local building societies, are available if you aren’t fortunate enough to be able to pay for it with cash.

Borrowers will discover that their possibilities are more restricted than with traditional buy-to-let loans. However, because of the potential for void periods, which buy-to-let lenders would be wary of, buy-to-let mortgages are not available to those buying holiday homes.

LOCATIONS IN HOT DEMAND

The Cotswolds are one of the most coveted vacation rentals in the UK, with the final week of school vacations (21 to 28 August) being especially popular this year. This year, compared to last, there was a 20 per cent increase in bookings for the area on their website.

StayCotswold has it all; whether you’re searching for a full-service holiday rental company or simply want to find out more about how rent is paid, we’ve got you covered. We think that having a vacation property should be a joy, not a burden, and we go above and beyond to make sure your holiday lets run smoothly and profitably using our holiday home management services.

Pratiksha