Lay My Hat

My agent was acquired by cottages.com (I think! Its hard to work out who they are 'Awaze' or Cottages.com) They've been awful. Ignore messages from me. Deducted the wrong amounts when there were cancellations and rebooking and continually ignore my requests to re-do photographs. Keen to move on but ...

It would seem that something so complicated is beyond the wit of the 'average' guest. However, blinds with cords are banned in many situations as they represent a health and safety issue - children hanging themselves! My cords are secured in a contraption fixed to the wall. Some guests seem to have...

My house has vertical blinds in two separate patio doors as well as some roller blinds in windows. Each time I have visited they have either been broken or pulled apart. The cleaners don't report any issue nor it seems attempt to put back together. I have continually replaced and repaired. On one se...

I had a similar problem with Sky. I bought a holiday let that already had Sky and therefore I had no choice but to continue as the guests had been promised. When I called Sky they confused me by saying I couldn't have Sky. before realising that I actually should be speaking to Sky. Business. Eventua...

So can you do that with Sykes and use other promoters such as Airbnb, Facebook and own website?

I thought you were saying you have to be exclusive with them.

I'm thinking of looking at alternatives and Sykes/Facebook/Airbnb will be the way I'd go.

No, they are my agent. Sykes produced 80% of my bookings last year. My intepretation is that a letting agent is a company that sets prices for you (Sykes) a booking service is a company that lets you set your own prices (Airbnb). Sparks. If Sykes are exclusive and do 80% of your bookings. Who does ...

Yes, I would set up a new email account for stuff like this. It's a bit frustrating having to log in to BBC iPlayer nowadays so I would make that as easy as possible. Also the last guests won't log out for your TV will remember their log in. That does not include Netflix and such like as they will h...

Although I'm relatively new to this. The booking patterns and hits to the website are being quite consistent. Each January we get the biggest spike in views and bookings - but my agency does promote a January sale. These bookings tend to be for the summer months (May - Aug) March is also very busy -...

Mine pays the beginning of the month after the guests departed.

When you search an area on Airbnb, it pops up with the relative prices of each one. I presume that this is before the cleaning charge so perhaps you are better to add one?

It doesn't really matter how you store your records so long as you can provide them if asked.

I save all PDF invoices and receipts on my bookkeeping system.

Yes, I agree. In my instance, the fact that they immediately suggested legal action made me decide that I would not give them any goodwill gesture. I knew that they have breached the T's&C's so I felt comfortable.

All great advice above. It's horrible to get a situation like this and I had a similar instance where they suggested they would take legal action if I did not give them all their money back and travel expenses (on their initial complaint). Similarly to you. If it went to court, they don't seem to ha...

You can use whichever bank account you wish. Your bank may identify that you are using a personal account for business use and insist you upgrade and start paying charges. Some banks offer free banking for limited periods but it will depend on what you require. I guess an easy online experience perh...

Through my work I have started working with a company that hire hot tubs on short term rental. In the not too distant future I can see an option being given to hire a hot tub and be forwarded directly to the supplier so the holiday let owner does not get involved.