Serviced Accommodation

Furnished property let on a short-term, nightly or weekly basis (Airbnb / Booking.com style), earning materially more than a standard tenancy in the right location.

Typical ROI 2 to 3x single-let income
Timeline 1 to 4 months
Difficulty Medium
Key metric Yield

Strategy overview

  • Acquire or lease a property in a high-demand short-let location
  • Furnish and equip to a high, guest-ready standard
  • List across the major booking platforms (OTAs)
  • Manage bookings, pricing and turnovers, in-house or via an agency

Advantages

  • High revenue potential versus a standard tenancy
  • Flexible — can revert to a normal let if needed
  • No long tenancy commitment; dynamic pricing captures demand peaks
  • Benefits from tourism, business and relocation demand

Considerations

  • Income is seasonal and volatile; running costs are higher
  • Very hands-on: cleaning, guest comms, turnovers
  • Regulation is tightening: the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime was abolished in April 2025; London's 90-night annual cap applies to whole-property lets; a national registration scheme and a new C5 short-term-let planning use class are rolling out across England (expected 2026, timing has slipped — councils will be able to designate control zones)
  • Check mortgage lender consent, freeholder/lease terms, and business-rates vs council-tax position