How to prepare your holiday let for winter: Expert tips from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Start preparing your holiday let for winter in early autumn. Book heating services and repairs before tradespeople get busy. Price to keep your calendar full rather than to maximise profit. Update your listing with cosy seasonal photos. And make sure guests arrive to a warm, well-lit property.
That's the advice from Rachel Brennan of Sykes Holiday Cottages on the latest instalment of Holiday Let Insider. Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
When should you start preparing a holiday let for winter?
Early autumn, before the cold arrives. "Prevention bills can be much cheaper than an emergency repair," Rachel explains. The bigger risk, though, is what a breakdown leads to: cancelled bookings, unhappy guests, and bad reviews.
Tradespeople get booked up quickly in winter, so arrange work now. Check your booking history for a quieter week and use it for maintenance.
Winter maintenance checklist for holiday lets
Service the heating system
Clear the gutters
Check insulation and pipes, which are at risk of freezing
Seal windows and doors to keep out damp
PAT test your electrical appliances
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Check the outdoor lighting, since many guests will arrive after dark
Keep salt on hand for slippery paths
How should you price a holiday let in winter?
Rachel sees two common mistakes.
1. Adding higher energy bills to the nightly rate. Guests do use more heating in winter, but pricing too high leaves your property empty. "A January five-star review is worth so much more than charging an extra £20 a night on a booking that's never going to exist," she says.
2. Setting one flat winter price. Demand changes in winter, but it doesn't disappear. Christmas, New Year, school holidays, and local events such as Bonfire Night and Christmas markets all create peaks.
Rachel says winter pricing should keep your occupancy up, cover costs, and bring in strong reviews. Regular bookings and good conversion rates also help your ranking on booking platforms.
Who books holiday lets in winter?
Winter guests include couples on romantic breaks, families, walkers, dog owners, and retirees looking for quieter, cheaper breaks.
The cost of living crisis is also changing how people book. Many guests are keeping their holidays but cutting back: booking shorter stays, cheaper properties, or off-peak dates instead of summer.
To win these bookings, be flexible:
Accept last-minute bookings
Allow arrivals on any day of the week
Offer flexible check-in and check-out times
Consider a discount for smaller groups in large properties
How do you make a holiday let feel cosy in winter?
Heating is only part of it. Rachel recommends:
Quality bedding, plus extra throws, blankets, and cushions
Warm, soft lighting and comfortable seating
An open fire, heated towel rails, robes and slippers
A boot tray and somewhere to dry wet coats
Towels for dogs
Guests spend much more time indoors in winter, so plan for rainy days: reliable Wi-Fi, a games box with puzzles and books, streaming services, takeaway menus, a well-equipped kitchen, and a hot chocolate station.
Rachel's test: spend a few hours in your own property and ask yourself whether you'd be entertained or climbing the walls.
How do you create a warm winter welcome?
First impressions shape the whole stay, and they shape your reviews. So:
Put the heating on before guests arrive
Leave lights on for late arrivals
Give clear parking and key box instructions
Provide torches and umbrellas, especially in rural areas
Leave a welcome pack with local treats
Supply cleaning products for muddy boots and paws
A thoughtful welcome also makes guests more forgiving if something does go wrong.
The one thing to do before winter
"See winter as an opportunity, not a problem," says Rachel. Hosts who prepare well and focus on the guest experience can make winter a valuable part of the year, not just a gap before spring.
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