Holiday let articles

27 Sept 2026RulesUK-wide Airbnb rules in the UK: what every host needs in 2026 Letting on Airbnb makes your home a business in the eyes of the law. Wherever you are in the UK you need a written fire risk assessment, gas and electrical safety, suitable alarms, the right insurance and to declare the income. On top of that, Scotland needs a licence, Wales needs registration, Northern Ireland needs certification, England is getting a register and London has a 90-night limit. Read 27 Sept 2026LicensingUK-wide Do you need a licence to run an Airbnb in the UK? It depends where the property is. Scotland requires a short-term let licence, Northern Ireland requires Tourism NI certification, Wales requires registration now with licensing to follow, and England has no licence but a national register is on the way. Read 27 Sept 2026TaxHMRC Airbnb tax in the UK: how holiday let income is taxed now Since April 2025 holiday let income is taxed like any other property income. You may be able to use the £7,500 Rent a Room allowance for letting in your own home or the £1,000 property allowance, otherwise you pay tax on your profit after allowable expenses. Airbnb now reports host earnings to HMRC every year, and Making Tax Digital is bringing many hosts into quarterly reporting. Read 27 Sept 2026AirbnbFees Airbnb host fees in the UK: what you really pay in 2026 Airbnb has moved almost all hosts to a single host-only service fee of 15.5%, taken from your payout. UK hosts who are not VAT registered also pay 20% VAT on that fee, so the real cost is about 18.6% of each booking, including the cleaning fee. Read 27 Sept 2026Getting startedPermissions Can I Airbnb my flat or house? The permissions to check first Often yes, but five things can stop you: your lease, your mortgage, your insurance, your tenancy if you rent, and local planning or licensing rules. Checking them first costs nothing, while getting it wrong can mean a breach of your lease or mortgage, a refused insurance claim or enforcement action. Read 27 Sept 2026PlanningUK-wide Do you need planning permission for an Airbnb? In most of England you do not need planning permission to let your home short-term, but London limits whole-home lets to 90 nights a year, Scotland has control areas where permission is needed, and very intensive use anywhere can count as a change of use. England's proposed C5 short-term let use class has not been brought in. Read 27 Sept 2026Fire safety Airbnb fire safety plan: what to include for guests Your fire risk assessment is the legal document. The fire safety plan is the short version guests actually read: how to get out, how to call for help and what to do. Keep it simple, put it where guests will see it, and include it in your house guide. Read 27 Sept 2026GuestsHouse rules Airbnb house rules: examples that work, and a free template Good house rules are short, specific and explain why. Cover the things that actually cause problems: occupancy, parties and noise, smoking, pets, the hot tub, and check-out. Then get guests to agree to them before arrival, so you have a record if something goes wrong. Read 27 Sept 2026CleaningChangeovers Airbnb cleaning checklist: the changeover jobs that matter A good changeover is more than a clean. Alongside fresh linen and a spotless kitchen and bathroom, your cleaner is your eyes on the property: photographing its condition, spotting damage, testing alarms and flushing unused taps. Building those into the checklist protects you and your guests. Read 27 Sept 2026Getting started How to start an Airbnb in the UK: a step-by-step guide Starting an Airbnb in the UK comes down to eight steps: check you are allowed, make the property safe and legal, sort insurance and tax, work out your numbers, prepare the property, take great photos, write the listing, and set up cleaning and guest communication. Read 27 Sept 2026WalesRegistration Welsh holiday lets: what to do before 31 March 2027 Every holiday let in Wales must be registered with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027, whether or not your council charges the new visitor levy. Registration is free and opens in October 2026. Missing the deadline costs £100 per property. Read 27 Sept 2026TaxMTD Making Tax Digital for holiday let owners: what changes and when Making Tax Digital for Income Tax started on 6 April 2026 for people with more than £50,000 of self-employment and property income. The threshold falls to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Holiday let income counts, so many hosts will be brought in over the next two years. Read 27 Sept 2026Damage claimsAirbnb How to win an Airbnb damage claim: the evidence to collect Airbnb damage claims are won or lost on two things: evidence and timing. You usually need to report damage within 14 days of check-out, or before your next guest checks in if that is sooner, with clear photos, proof the item was fine before, and receipts or quotes. Read 27 Sept 2026Electrical safetyPAT testing Can I PAT test my own holiday let appliances? You can, and should, do regular visual checks on the appliances in your holiday let yourself. Full PAT testing with a tester needs training and the right equipment, and in Scotland your licence needs a proper PAT report. In England and Wales PAT testing is not a legal requirement, but keeping appliances safe is. Read