The Intermediary – March 2026 - Flipbook - Page 40
BUY-TO-LET
Opinion
Staying or going?
Holiday lets in 2026
I
n the past five years, we’ve
seen a real shi in what we’re
looking for in a holiday.
Of course, the demand for
trips abroad remains high,
but so too does the cost of
living, which has resulted in many
of us looking closer to home for some
much-needed downtime.
According to holiday let
management company Curated
Property, the demand for short-term
UK lets remains strong, with city
breaks, coastal destinations and rural
getaways proving popular.
This is something our own data
supports – from the initial boom of
the holiday let market at the tail end of
2020 into 2021, where scenic hotspots
were the go-to, to the past two years
where city locations are on the rise.
Cornwall leads the list for the top
10 UK staycations, with London,
Edinburgh and the Scoish Highlands
all featuring, showing that there really
is demand UK-wide. Hodge’s data
aligns with the UK top 10, with the
Scoish Highlands topping the list and
both North and South Wales featuring
in the top five.
Based on the conversations I
find myself having with brokers,
there seems to be real interest in
larger properties as holidaymakers’
preferences evolve. Where we’ve
previously seen family holidays built
around the stereotypical 2.4 children
dynamic, we’re now seeing a rise in
intergenerational holidaying.
From what they’re seeing, people’s
holiday choices have changed – yes,
they still enjoy a foreign holiday,
but the desire to spend time with the
extended family in one large house is
definitely on the up.
This is also reflected in the enquiries
landing in my inbox. They are bigger
houses, with more bedrooms, and
more living space. It’s not just your
two-bed flat by the seaside anymore,
it’s new-builds with four, five or even
more bedrooms – it’s the countryside
pad which might come with a games
38
The Intermediary | March 2026
room or even a pool. It’s how I now
holiday in the UK – if I’m away with
my three girls and my in-laws, or my
own parents, my sister and partner
will usually come along, too. It means
instead of paying for two or three
rooms at a hotel chain, I’ll book an
Airbnb which we can all stay in. Quite
oen, with the cost of hotel rooms
forever increasing, the option of a
rental for all of us can be far more
competitively priced – and usually,
more comfortable.
And let’s not forget, it’s not just
family-friendly getaways holiday let
landlords are catering for. Whether
it’s accommodation designed with
hen party groups in mind, elaborate
birthday celebrations, or simply
groups of friends looking to spend
some quality time together, UK
staycations are becoming a fixture on
the calendar.
Ultimately, the outlook is good
for holiday lets, and the continued
support through business rates
relief makes a huge difference to
landlords and significantly reduces
operating costs. That’s along with
the stabilisation and reduction of
energy bills.
Another positive is the fact that
two-to-three-day holidays are the
most common taken by UK residents
– according to Statista – which opens
up the possibility for more guests and
more stays in the accommodation
during peak months.
Now that the market is seling into
a more established paern, seasonality
is becoming more predictable each
year, with April to June seeing most
demand, according to Sykes Holiday
Coages Pulse Report in January of
this year.
There has been a lot of speculation
around the impact increased
regulation will have on holiday let
landlords, but I think those who
manage their properties professionally
and ensure they are well managed
will only see the benefits of a more
regulated industry.
STUART OTTERY
is business development
manager, South, Wales and
West at Hodge Bank
Holiday choices have
changed – yes, they still
enjoy a foreign holiday,
but the desire to spend
time with the extended
family in one large house
is definitely on the up”
I predict this increased regulation
may create greater demand on the
market, meaning more expectation
to deliver the highest quality
accommodation, coupled with service
worthy of a five-star Trip Advisor
review. I’d also anticipate more
reliance on dynamic pricing when
it comes to bookings, something
landlords may see as a positive step
towards greater profit margins.
All in all, the future looks bright for
the UK holiday let market. The one
thing I’ll always say to brokers who
are unsure about a case or have a client
with a unique set of needs, is to have a
conversation. Whether that’s with us
at Hodge or another lender, keeping
the lines of communication open is
so important as we enter a new era of
complex income streams and nonlinear life journeys.
Anyway, I’m off to book family trip
to the coast. Ice creams all round! ●
