Looking to buy an investment property in Somerset or start a holiday let business in the West Country?
Devon and Cornwall have always been popular, with holiday-goers flocking in their thousands to the beaches. Now Somerset is getting the recognition it deserves. The lesser known, but no less enjoyable destination has seen a huge growth in the last year.
From walking breaks to paw-cations there are many ways to holiday in the West Country. Read on to discover our top 3 reasons to start a holiday let business in Somerset, a fantastic year-round staycation destination.
Somerset: A Sought-After Destination
Use our quick links below to navigate to a particular topic or continue reading to find out why Somerset is the best place to start a holiday let business.
1. Increased Somerset staycation demand
It’s no surprise staycations have grown in demand over the last few years. Fuelled by Covid-19 and the ongoing uncertainty of travelling abroad, a Brit’s mindset has changed with a new holiday habit post-pandemic. Spending time with family and friends is now more important than ever.
A recent report released by Sykes shows an in-depth review revealing the nation’s favourite holiday hotspots as well as the trends driving the surge in staycations. We are delighted to see Somerset is putting its mark on the UK staycation destination map. The fastest growing region in 2021 was the Peak District closely followed by the beautiful county of Somerset!
Calculated by the number of bookings, the top three most popular regions for summer bookings in 2021 were North Wales, Cumbria and the sought-after staycation destination, South West England. Somerset staycations and holidays in the South West of England are in-high demand. So, there is no better time to start a holiday let business in this beautiful region.
2. A perfect destination for your own holidays, as well as a holiday let business
37% of Brits (2 in 5) are now more likely to visit new locations versus pre-pandemic and what’s more the average income for a holiday let owner is £21,000*. Whether you want to generate additional income, enjoy your own holidays in Somerset or simply share a beautiful part of the UK with others, holiday lets are a great investment.
The top three types of UK break according to Brits are:
- Cottage-style holiday home
- Beachfront holiday home
- Lake & mountain retreat
Somerset has all the above! Chocolate box cottages in quaint rural villages, 40 miles of coastline stretching from the Bristol Channel to the Seven Estuary boasting 34 beaches. 190 mountains (also known as Somerset Peaks) and a plethora of lakes and reservoirs, featuring one of our of favourites, Wimbleball Lake.
Wimbleball Lake is situated in the south-east corner of Exmoor National Park surrounded by rolling hills and stunning countryside, a must-see sight on any Somerset staycation.
Not only does Somerset have many wonderful attractions but it is conveniently located with easy access from London and the Midlands. Offering the perfect place to enjoy your own holidays with family and friends.
Somerset borders the traditional staycation destinations Devon and Cornwall, meaning a day trip to either county is in easy reach too.
So, what are you waiting for? Seek out a new investment property in Somerset or start your own holiday let business today. You too could end up with a hugely desirable property. For more buying advice read our blog ‘Top tips on buying a holiday home in the West Country.’
3. UK staycations are here to stay
The entire travel industry has undergone tremendous changes and disruptions over the past couple of years, but the UK staycation market has fought back, with the appetite for holidays at home now stronger than ever.
A strong UK staycation market will remain a fixture of the future. With 46% of Brits* more likely to consider a staycation now versus prior to Covid-19. What’s more, 33% of Brits say they will spend more on holidays following the pandemic.
On average Brit’s plan to spend £940 on their main UK break for them and their family, compared to £860 prior to the pandemic. It seems our outlooks and priorities have changed as a nation.
Not only is there a growing demand for a Somerset staycation, but there is also growing demand for paw-cations, group getaways and work-cations.
Paw-cations (staycation booking with pets) have risen by 40% compared to 2019. This is undoubtedly helped by the surge of UK households acquiring a pup or furry friend over lockdown. Making your holiday let pet-friendly can increase your money-earning by an additional 11%.
Work-cations (working from home whilst on holiday) has risen by 22%. With more people working remotely and many companies adopting hybrid-working, there is a new opportunity for employees to take work-cations.
The added benefit – a change of scenery whilst discovering a new location (outside working hours!). However, good Wi-Fi is a priority in your holiday let with 1 in 5 of us more likely to take a work-cation versus pre-pandemic. Having Wi-Fi in your holiday home can increase your money-earning by an additional 16%.
To read the full in-depth review of the self-catering market for UK breaks view the Sykes Staycation Index here.
Holiday letting agency in Somerset
Let your cottage with South West holiday letting agency, Helpful Holidays. Helpful Holidays have 40 years’ experience in letting properties in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Our specialist team organise all aspects of property management, from bookings and finances to holiday let cleaning and maintenance.
With extensive local knowledge, an office in Chagford, Devon, and a wider team at our national Sykes office, we offer a winning combination of both local and national marketing.
Kickstart your holiday let business and maximise your bookings this year. Download your FREE owner’s pack or give us a call on 01647 401799 today.
Holiday home owner advice
For more top tips and advice on buying a holiday home in the South West or starting your own holiday let business in Somerset, read our owner blogs:
*Statistics published in Sykes 2021 Staycation Report.
