How Do I Start An Airbnb Business In The UK? Advice from a Super Host who had an Air B & B for over 12 years.
How Do I Start An Airbnb Business In The UK?
If you are looking for ways to earn some extra money to help with the bills as the UK’s cost of living crisis rumbles on, you may be considering the possibility of becoming an Airbnb host.
After all, depending on where you live and what kind of accommodation you have to offer, you could make anywhere between a few hundred pounds or several thousand pounds a month. With energy prices set to rise, that amount of additional income is sure to sound appealing.
Getting Set Up
If you have done some research and discovered that the money you could earn from becoming a host will be enough to compensate you for the start-up costs – and provide enough to help with your own monthly bills – then you may be keen to get started.
The first question you are probably asking is: how do you go about setting up your own Airbnb business in the UK?
As you may imagine, there are various factors to take into consideration, including the legal and practical sides of becoming a host. Read on for some helpful advice and tips that will shine a light on what it takes to start your new life as a rental entrepreneur.
A Helping Hand
If you are worried that the ongoing responsibilities of being an Airbnb host could become too stressful or time-consuming, don’t despair. Airbnb management services such as GuestReady can lend you a helping hand, providing a tailored service for both you and your guests.
They will handle every aspect of renting your accommodation, from listings creation to vetting potential renters, and they will also help with cleaning and maintaining the property, among other tasks.
Staying On The Right Side Of The Law
When setting up a business of any kind, it’s important to carry out thorough research on the various regulations and restrictions that you need to abide by – and becoming an Airbnb host is no different.
Before you can start preparing your accommodation and making listings, you will need to familiarise yourself with both the national and local laws concerning short-term accommodation providers. These regulations can vary from one place to another, so it’s crucial that you know what the law states for your particular location.
If you have a mortgage, you should also consult with your mortgage provider. Depending on the terms of your mortgage, you may need to pay extra fees or even change the mortgage to a different type, in keeping with the new use of your property.
You will also need to take tax and insurance into consideration. If you earn more than £7500 from your Airbnb hosting, you will need to pay income tax to HMRC.
As for insurance, you will need to make sure your property is fully insured. Airbnb does offer its own AirCover for hosts, but this should be viewed as additional protection, and should not be your sole insurance provider.
Safety First
Once you have sorted out the legal side of things, it’s time to fix up your rental accommodation and make sure it is equipped with all of the essentials. Ensuring your property offers appropriate safety features is crucial. In the case of illness or injury, Airbnb urges its hosts to provide a well-stocked first aid kit.
While emergencies are unlikely, you should also always provide emergency contact details – among them, your own contact information and the phone number and address of the nearest hospital – and in the event of a fire, make sure there is an easily accessible escape route from your property.
Standing Out From The Crowd
The time has come to begin the most exciting chapter of launching your Airbnb business: creating listings for your property and attracting your first guests!
When it comes to compiling your listings, taking attractive photographs is a must, for obvious reasons. Here are a few tips to help you take stand-out snaps:
- Use a tripod instead of a handheld camera to avoid shaking and blurring.
- Turn on all the lights to ensure the rooms look bright and inviting.
- Make sure the accommodation has been thoroughly cleaned and consider adding some extra homey touches such as freshly cut flowers.
- Use image processing software to fix any defects and improve the quality of the photographs before you add them to your listing.
Of course, it’s not just about your property; as the designated host, the way you present yourself is just as important for developing a successful Airbnb business. Once your listing has been submitted and you begin receiving inquiries, it’s important to make a good impression on your would-be guests by being consistently helpful and polite and responding quickly to their queries.
The Personal Touch
To try to make your Airbnb business as much of a success as you can, it helps to provide thoughtful personal touches that will inspire your guests to leave positive feedback.
Whether you stock your accommodation with a complimentary bottle of wine or provide fresh flowers or snazzy toiletries, those little extra flourishes can make all the difference when it comes to generating a good reputation and attracting more visitors.
Remember – the more 5-star reviews you get, the closer you will come to being dubbed a Superhost!
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