Why our simple and clear fee structure might not please everyone

HolidayHost operates on a clear 9% plus VAT flat fee – no hidden extras, no layered commissions. In an industry where additional charges can quickly add up, we prioritise transparency, owner control and modern, tech-enabled efficiency to maximise returns without compromising local support.

There’s an obvious dilemma for holiday home owners when it comes to marketing their cherished properties – how to get guests to see my property, make valuable bookings, all without overpaying for the service.

And that struggle is only amplified by the array of ways that are available to get a property seen these days.

In holiday letting, a major area of progress since 2019 has been the burgeoning co-host eco-system that harnesses technology to reduce costs for everyone without compromising on service.

Our service at HolidayHost launched in 2020 and it combines local, reliable presence and knowledge with this harnessing of technology, to produce the best in class service available in our locations, for a clear fee.

The industry progress from conventional agencies, some of which have been established since the 80s and 90s in some cases, isn’t welcomed by everyone, though.

Competing models

Transparency should be key for every business in any industry, and especially for holiday letting services.

That’s because, historically, headline commission rates designed to attract attention haven’t always included all the fees that owners must pay – a bit like buying an airline ticket and then realising you’ve got to pay for a seat and then a bag.

At HolidayHost, we are completely clear about our total charges, including those that come directly from us, and those that come from third-parties, such as online booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

That can be quite a different experience from more traditional models or more opaque online operators, where beyond the commission, there can be a booking fee, insurance, cancellation protection, and damage waivers.

These all add to the price paid by the end customer and are generally additional to the owner in terms of the cut that is taken by their marketing agency.

And that’s all before a potential increase in the rental price of a property to cover the fees charged by online booking platforms.

Quite the opposite to that, HolidayHost prides itself on giving owners clarity and confidence in our fee structure, and most importantly, ensuring every owner understands what they are getting in return for their custom.

Crystal clear

Our flat fee is 9% plus VAT.

This low charge doesn’t compromise control as owners are still in charge of their calendar and pricing, and it brings with it real and authentic local support from people who truly know the local area.

Alan Taylor, one of our directors with experience of leading a conventional agent through the 2000s and until mid 2010s, explains why a clear charging structure is vital.

“Arguably, there’s no right or wrong pricing model for services, but what is paramount is that owners can easily work out what they’ll be paying and to whom,”.

“Transparency is the key here, and that’s what we pride ourselves on. That doesn’t mean that different ways of charging shouldn’t exist, but the best are simple for owners to work out what they will pay and what their returns will be.

“Owners can look at the rental price that agents will list their homes for and compare that with different models, being aware that a higher price point might mean fewer bookings or could indicate higher total fees from an OTA or agency.

“We are a modern, owner-first solution built on openness, flexibility and choice; we’re not suggesting everyone in our industry has to do things exactly the same as us, but if owners are struggling to work out their costs, then they might want to explore what HolidayHost offers as an alternative.”

Embracing technology

Our agile, tech-enabled model allows us to keep costs low, which is why we can charge fees that are far more competitive than legacy providers paying for bricks-and-mortar shop fronts.

There will be room for more traditional business models to serve a segment of the holiday home owner market for a while to come, but unless they adopt more modern ways of working, it could be challenging to compete on price with digital-driven peers.

What’s more, even though HolidayHost is an online business, owners don’t lose that personal touch because guest support is always on hand in your property’s location, and it comes with unrivalled local insight to help ensure visitors have the best possible experience.

If you would like to find out more about marketing your property with HolidayHost, please get in touch.

Here’s how our fees differ from our more traditional peers