Hosts : FAQs
Everything you need to know about Homely Rentals and our management can be found here. Learn about what makes us different, how to get started, and what to expect
General Questions
Homely Rentals™ is a short-term rental marketing & booking company in the UK. With Homely Rentals™, homeowners can take advantage of effective marketing, booking management and guest support, all aimed at maximising their property’s income potential. Guests also benefit from a wide selection of homes available, supported by our dedicated teams available 24/7, along with local hospitality experts. We currently provide remote services as well as on-site hosting support.
Yes! The Homely Rentals™ Virtual Manager option is available in most areas across the UK. The Full-Service Manager Option is available in the selected areas of the UK. Regardless of where you are located, reach out to us today to learn more about how we can assist you with your short-term rental.
To become a Homely host, you can start by providing details of your home and a member of our team will get in touch. Once we agree on the terms and you sign the agreement, we can produce and optimise your listing across Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com. Typically, your home will be ready for marketing within a few days, and you can then begin welcoming guests on your available dates.
The potential earnings depend on your home’s location, quality, and availability. To learn more, please contact us, and our team will gladly arrange a personalised forecast for you.
Homely Host™ offers comprehensive marketing services for shortlet homes, ensuring a profitable experience. By partnering with Homely Host™, you gain access to a skilled team of hospitality and marketing professionals who manage every detail for you. Our services include creating professional listings on popular booking platforms, targeted digital marketing, reservation management, 24/7 local guest support, and dynamically adjusting your nightly rates to maximize revenue & coordinating housekeeping & maintenance.
We collaborate with reputable local and global accommodation and advertising websites, as well as corporate booking platforms, to enable travellers from around the world to book a stay in your home. Additionally, we take direct bookings through our own website and welcome repeat reservations.
We are dedicated to providing a seamless and stress-free vacation experience for your guests. A great experience leads to more repeat visitors and five-star reviews for you. It all begins with ensuring that they choose the right home. Our polished property listings accurately represent what guests can expect when booking your property. After their stay, we encourage guests to leave a review. If any aspect of their experience was not satisfactory, we communicate with them and our local teams to address the issue and ensure a better experience next time.
Your vacation home is primarily yours. You are welcome to reserve it for personal stays whenever you like, as long as you respect any guest reservations that are already scheduled on your calendar. Homely Rentals™ does not impose any restrictions on how often you can visit or how long you can stay. To block out your travel dates, simply reserve them through your online owner account.
Unlimited Homeowner Usage – As a homeowner, you have unlimited use of the property for yourself, family, or friends.
No Nightly Charge – You will not be charged for the nights you use. However we will charge a cleaning fee.
Please Note:
- The Dates Must Not Have A Current Reservation – We will not cancel guest reservations to accommodate your stays.
- We Require Notice By Email At least Two Weeks in Advance – Shorter notice can be accommodated, but not gauranteed.
- Cleaning Fee – There is no nightly charge for your stay. However we will charge the cleaning fee that we charge to all guests. This allows us to clean, launder, and replenish and maintain a high standard for the next guests. The cleaning fee will be deducted from a future payout.
It’s not just about where your home is listed, but also how it’s presented. We publish your optimised listing on major vacation rental sites like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, which helps ensure with global visibility. Additionally, we have our own direct booking website that attracts thousands of guests every day.
Furthermore, your home will be featured in targeted marketing campaigns aimed at our growing audience of past and potential guests. This includes advertisements through search engines, email, social media, and more..
Not at all! You don’t have to vacate your home entirely. You’re welcome to leave personal items in a wardrobe or designated storage area, keeping your space comfortable and personal while still maximizing your rental potential.
No need. We will visit the property , photograph it and list it for you.
Absolutely! We have a proven track record of delivering exceptional returns for both organisations and individual investors. If you’re interested in boosting your portfolio’s performance, please share some details, and let’s explore how we can elevate your yields together.
Absolutely!. The majority of our hosts have never hosted on Airbnb or any other platform before, but we also work with more experienced hosts that are looking to optimise their yield.
We rent your home to visitors and travelers seeking (generally between 2 and 7 nights) accommodations for a short time. We analyse potential guests reliably and select them according to strict criteria. Among other things, we also look for good reviews from other hosts/landlords so that you can trust your home is in good hands.
Yes, we offer flexible contract terms, allowing you to opt out with minimal notice if you’re not happy with our services.
Yes, you can access a client portal to view real-time data on bookings, rental income, and occupancy rates, keeping you fully informed.
Listing your property in the short-term rental market offers several potential benefits. Owners can benefit from increased income potential compared to traditional long-term rentals due to the flexibility in pricing and higher nightly rates. Additionally, you gain greater control over your property, allowing you to use it for personal use whenever desired. Short-term rental properties offer increased exposure to a broader range of potential guests, potentially leading to faster occupancy rates.
The Homely Rentals™ owner dashboard provides real-time insights into your property’s performance, allowing you to monitor reservations, track earnings, and understand the impact of our pricing strategies. Our team is also available to provide regular updates and insights into your property’s performance, ensuring you are always informed and in control.
No, we will handle everything for you
Yes, absolutely, we can arrange all testing and certification on your behalf.
Competition on Airbnb can be high, success depends on factors such as location, property quality, and management. Our expert strategies can help your listing stand out.
No. Homely Rentals does not believe in locking people into contracts, in fact, just the opposite!
Our contract has no time commitment, although we hope to work with you for a long time.
Few Things to Note:
- We do require that homeowners allow us to fulfil all future guest reserverations. This makes it so we don’t have to cancel on guests.
- While our contract is flexible, we expect that you’re entering into this partnership with a longterm vision.
Yes. We require all homeowners to have adequate insurance that covers short term rentals.
We have no requirement to be pet friendly
Being a pet-friendly unit is ultimately up to you as the homeowner. We manage both pet-friendly and non pet-friendly units.
In our experience, pet-friendly units can demand a higher rate and maintain a higher occupancy. However, there is risks including the potentional for extra cleaning and increased wear-and-tear on your property.
For pet-friendly units we have certain guidelines we expect from guests:
- Pick up after your pet
- Don’t let your pet get on the furniture (a £100 charge per bed may be applied for violations)
- Try to clean the excess hair
- Close bedroom doors if you need to leave your pet in the unit
In addition, we charge a pet fee and may charge a larger damage deposit
Homely Rentals has a ZERO tolerance policy on smoking and parties.
Guests are not allowed to smoke/vape within the unit or building amenities.
Parties are not allowed within any Homely Rentals properties.
As the property owner, you remain rsponsible for council tax, electricity, gas and other utilities.
Onboarding
Generally, it depends on the property’s readiness. Onboarding on our Marketing & bookings only plan is quick and straightforward. The main requirement is to ensure the property is fully furnished and equipped with essential amenities, and high-quality photos are available. It typically takes our team a week or two to prepare the property for listing.
Due to the variability of photography costs, we are unable to offer this as a free inclusion on our plans. If professional photography is requested on the Listing Onboarding form, Homely Rentals™ is happy to coordinate with our vetted professional photographers.
Pricing & Payments
If you use a channel manager or work directly with channels, you’ll need to pay the channel commissions, service fees and cancellation fees separately. This creates a lot of work for you and your accountant.
When you work with Homely.Rentals, we pay the channel commissions and other fees on your behalf. So you won’t need to deal with their invoices or support. Our channel fee is a flat 15% fee for channel bookings (+ VAT where applicable).
Homely Rentals™ has absolutely no upfront cost to you. Homely Rentals™ only makes money when you make money! We offer different commission models to meet your needs. Homely Rentals™’s management fee starts at 10%, while our full-service management fee begins at 20%. Please note that these fees may vary based on your home’s location, the number of bedrooms, and its availability. Management fees are negotiated individually with each host based on their specific situation. This fee is calculated on the nightly rate of each booking, minus any platform commission charges. If you’d like to share details about your property, our Account Management team will reach out to answer any questions you may have.
When you get paid, our management fee is seamlessly deducted and reflected in the total payout that lands in your bank account. To view the payment breakdown in more detail, you can use the monthly earnings report in your Owner Account.
Our goal is to achieve an average monthly occupancy rate of 70% to 80% of possible bookings. However, this can fluctuate based on seasonal trends, special events in the area, and your chosen pricing strategy.
Nightly rates vary based on factors like seasonality, local events, and differing demand for weekends compared to weekdays. Prices may also adjust depending on the booking timeline (e.g., a stay booked for next week versus one made two months in advance).
Additionally, if there are minor gaps between bookings (for example, two consecutive weeknights), we might decrease the price slightly to incentivize occupancy, as these slots often prove more challenging to fill. If you wish to establish a specific pricing strategy, please share your preferences!
You’ll receive payments effortlessly! Funds paid by guests go directly to your bank account. We collect guests’ fees securely via STRIPE. After deducting our commission, we promptly transfer the remaining funds to your account, making the process seamless for you.
Getting paid is important, and at Homely Rentals™ we do everything we can to make sure our owners’ vacation rental earnings are transferred in a timely and secure manner. All Homely Rentals™ bookings are processed via credit card, requiring owners to have a secure merchant account with our payment processing partner, Stripe. Here’s how we work together to collect guest payments once a booking is made, and what owners should expect throughout the payout process.
1. Connecting with Stripe
We create a Stripe account for you when you get started with Homely in order to safely process guest payments. We also oversee the account on your behalf, so there’s no need to worry about account management or communicating with Stripe directly.
2. Verification Checks
To prevent fraudulent attacks on owner payout accounts, random verification checks are conducted to confirm the identity of owners. When these happen, Homely will reach out via email to request additional documentation from you.
3. Payout Timing
For short-term stays (under 28 days): Total payouts are generally released to your bank 2-4 business days after a guest’s check-in date (with the exception of rare scenarios that might impact payment like a paused account or guest chargeback). Depending on your bank, it then takes 3-5 days for the money to appear in your account. That means owners can expect to see payouts appear as direct deposits 5-9 days after a guest checks in.
For stays 28 days or longer: Your payments will be split into monthly increments. Your first payment (for the first month) follows the same timeline as your total payout would for a short-term stay. From there, payments are processed approximately every 30 days until the reservation is paid in full.
Please note: if you have multiple guest payments processed on or around the same date, they may appear as one combined deposit in your bank account. Use the “Completed Payouts” tab on the Financial Reporting page of your Owner Account to see exactly which bookings have been paid.
Commissions to the website channels vary, however, Homely Rentals™ ensures that the appropriate channels receive their commission on your behalf. You are never charged for channel commissions or listing fees, and you only pay Homely Rentals™’s 10% on actual bookings.
In partnership with our account management team, we will work with you to set-up Homely Rentals™ Smart Pricing, our dynamic rate platform powered in partnership with Pricelabs. We’ll curate parameters specific to your home to optimize rates and occupancy based on market demand. Algorithm-driven, dynamic, real-time pricing, ensures you’re never under or over-priced. We’ll help you maximize length of stay and promotional merchandising
Based on the Smart Pricing rate parameters we configure for you, we will automatically run Last Minute Deals or Book Early and Save promotions to get boosted, better page placement on channels. At any time you can also work with your Account Manager to customize offer.
When you build your listing in the Smart Portal, there is a section where you can add additional charges or fees, such as resort fees or cleaning fees. Optional fees (Pet Fees, Pool Heating, etc) can also be added during On-Boarding, and Homely Rentals™ will ensure the guest is informed and charged accordingly.
Yes, we collaborate with you to set base and minimum rates that align with your goals. Automated adjustments for events, last-minute bookings, or long-term stays are also customised to maximise earnings.
The figures do not include commissions from third-party agencies, if applicable. Cleaning, laundry, and other costs are also not included. We can provide assistance with sourcing and setting up properties for an additional fee, if desired.
Guest Management & Support
We are committed to delivering an unforgettable experience for your guests from the moment they reach out to us. Our 24/7 guest support service ensures that assistance is always just a call away. With a streamlined check-in process and a focus on clear, efficient communication, we guarantee that your guests will feel valued and well taken care of throughout their stay
To ensure that we provide consistent information to your guests, we ask that all communication be routed through Homely Rentals™. Your listing is hosted on Homely Rentals™’s Airbnb account, and our 24/7 guest experience team is available to respond to any guest queries via message or phone call. If you need to relay a specific message to a guest, please let us know, and we will reach out to them on your behalf.
Our guest vetting process involves three key steps to ensure a safe and reliable experience.
First, we utilize official ID verification software to confirm that your guests are genuine. If the booking is made through Airbnb, we rely on Airbnb’s own verification process. For bookings made through other platforms, we employ a third-party verification service. This approach not only gives you peace of mind but also increases your chances of securing more bookings across multiple platforms.
Second, we implement an application programming interface (API) for processing guest payments. This allows us to automatically detect any fraudulent activity.
Lastly, our expert team is trained to identify potential red flags. They manually cross-reference guest details to thoroughly verify the authenticity of a potential guest before accepting a booking.
To ensure consistency in communication, we recommend that all guest interactions take place through Homely Host™. Your listing is managed through Homely Rentals™’s Airbnb account, and our 24/7 guest experience team is always at the ready to respond to any and all guest inquiries promptly. Should you wish to convey a specific message to any guest, just let us know, and we’ll relay it seamlessly on your behalf.
When guests reach out, we introduce ourselves as representatives supporting you, the host, with urgent requests. While we don’t explicitly state that we’re a management company, we maintain transparency—we never impersonate you. All communications are signed off with ‘Support Team,’ clearly indicating they’re engaging with our management service from the outset of their booking inquiry
If you choose the marketing and bookings only plan, you are responsible for arranging guest check in & can arrange to meet the guests in person. We can also help you to install a lockbox or smartlock for guest self-check (an installation fee & monthly subscription fee is applicable for this service).
With our fully managed service, we handle guest check-in/checkout at no additional cost. A portable or wall-mounted lockbox will be installed to allow guests to check in at any time, day or night. Our lockboxes are police-approved for your peace of mind. The flexibility of lockbox streamlines the check-in process, and they are a solution that Airbnb strongly advocates. In fact, without a lockbox, your property cannot be classified as “business ready” on Airbnb.
Our guest vetting process involves three key steps to ensure a safe and reliable experience.
First, we utilize official ID verification software to confirm that your guests are genuine. If the booking is made through Airbnb, we rely on Airbnb’s own verification process. For bookings made through other platforms, we employ a third-party verification service. This approach not only gives you peace of mind but also increases your chances of securing more bookings across multiple platforms.
Second, we implement an application programming interface (API) for processing guest payments. This allows us to automatically detect any fraudulent activity.
Lastly, our expert team is trained to identify potential red flags. They manually cross-reference guest details to thoroughly verify the authenticity of a potential guest before accepting a booking.
As a dedicated Homely Rentals™, you have the unique opportunity to elevate your guests’ experience while our expert hospitality team meticulously manages all communications. Our comprehensive service is designed to enhance both guest satisfaction and your reputation as a host:
– Booking and Payment Confirmations: Your guests will enjoy immediate confirmation upon booking, providing them with confidence and assurance that their stay is securely reserved.
– Pre-Stay Access and Check-In Information: We equip your guests with all the essential details for a smooth arrival, ensuring they feel informed and welcomed from the moment they step through your door.
– Efficient Payment Reminders and Refund Handling: Our team takes the hassle out of billing by managing payment reminders and any necessary refund communications, allowing you to focus on your guests.– Dedicated 24/7 support during guest’s stay: We will act as the primary resource during their stay, with dedicated remote support, accessible 24/7.– Encouragement for Reviews Post Check-Out: We actively prompt guests to share their experiences, helping to significantly enhance your listing’s visibility and credibility in the competitive marketplace.– Thoughtful Responses to Guest Reviews: We acknowledge and respond to guest feedback on your behalf, showcasing your unwavering commitment to exceptional service and continuous improvement.
Some booking channels do not allow this, so your listing will be branded as Homely Rentals™.
On platforms Airbnb, VRBO or Booking.com, guests can specify individually defined periods in which they want to use your furnished city home. These vary from a few days to several weeks. Homely Rentals™ ensures that you always get the best rental income for your home. We set the prices hourly with our special price algorithm, whereby landlords and owners can achieve significantly higher rental income.
Guests benefit from the Homely Rentals™ service in many ways. In emergencies and dangerous situations, guests can reach us via our 24-hour chat or phone at any time for guests. If, for example, a guest gets inadvertently locked out, we coordinate assistance. We also provide guests important information, such as a map, public transport plan, or our special insider tips to optimise their trip.
Most of the questions guests ask can be answered using the information on your property listing. Anything else, we answer using the information provided by you during onboarding.
Lockbox & Keys
If you’ve opted for our fully managed service, we will manage your keys. As part of your onboarding process, we will ask you to provide a minimum of four sets of keys. We will store these keys, with one set designated for guest use. However, some guests, particularly at larger properties, may request additional sets of keys.
- Guests’ keys:
For check-outs, you can instruct us to leave the guests keys inside the lockbox outside your property
- Office keys:
Our set of keys is securely kept in our office safe.
You can come and pick them up (at no charge) or delivery can be organised to you (either trackable mail or courier).
Here is what people usually do (this is a guideline only and we can always find other options)
- Your Keys: these are the ones you keep with you when you go away
- Guests’ keys: People usually give 2 sets of keys to their guests
- Office keys: This is the set of keys we collect during our initial visit. This is to guarantee we can access your property to provide our services and in case of emergency or if your guests locked themselves out.
So, you will typically need at least 4 set of keys.
An added benefit of our fully managed service is having us holding a set of your keys. If your guests lock themselves out of your home, they can give us a call and we can let them back in. No locksmith needed!
Additional charges will apply
Laundry & Cleaning
If you have opted for the full managed service, our dedicated housekeeping team manages all cleaning tasks on the day guests check out, ensuring a spotless environment for new arrivals. We also coordinate with our linen rental partner to supply fresh linens and towels. The guests cover all cleaning and linen fees, which are conveniently added to their accommodation costs, meaning zero expenses for you. Enjoy hassle-free hosting while we handle the details!
Our service includes:
- Cleaning bathrooms and toilets
- Cleaning horizontal surfaces in the kitchen (kitchen bench, sink…)
- Taking the trash out
- Vacuuming
- Putting the furniture back in place
- Placing fresh linen for your next guests.
Our Homely Rentals™ professionals specialising in short-term rentals provide the cleaning for the properties we manage. We synchronise and assign the cleaning jobs in advance so our professionals know where and what to clean. As a result, they’re equipped with the correct information and tools for thorough, individualised cleaning of every property. Our team will also inspect for damages, missing items, and report on home rule violations.
Our team is provided with a detailed checklist of required cleaning tasks. Throughout the year we will also conduct deep cleans.
We charge a cleaning fee for your Airbnb listing, which is paid by your guests. This fee is commonly seen in Airbnb listings, so guests are accustomed to it.
The only exception is the very first cleaning of your property, which you will be responsible for paying. However, if you are using the property yourself, you can also book additional one-off cleans whenever needed. The cost of each clean is tailored to your property, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained.
Please note that we take a commission from the cleaning fee paid by your guests, similar to how Airbnb operates. This commission helps cover the costs associated with coordinating cleaning services for your property.
Absolutely! Our user-friendly dashboard is accessible via our website. You can easily block nights for your own use and stay updated on all your upcoming reservations, housekeeping tasks, and payouts, putting you in complete control of your hosting experience
Property Maintenance
Some hosts may require services that extend beyond standard Airbnb management, and we are happy to assist with those tasks as well.
**Sort It Out Jobs**
£25 per job for up to 2 hours, and £25 per hour thereafter. This service includes:
– Purchasing and delivering essential guest supplies to set up the home
– Key cutting (if sets aren’t provided before the service starts)
– Collecting mail and sending it on to the host
– Dry-cleaning furniture (sofa, armchair covers, etc.)
– Changing lockbox codes
– Any similar ad-hoc requests
**Mid-Range Maintenance Call-Out**
£80 per hour (+ VAT) for:
– Basic plumbing (e.g., tightening taps, fixing faulty toilet flushes)
– Basic carpentry
– Re-pressurizing the boiler
– Painting
– Electrical work
– Any similar ad-hoc requests
**Specialist Call-Outs**
Charged at cost for:
– Pest control
– Carpet cleaning
– Severe plumbing issues
– Repairing or changing locks
– Any similar ad-hoc requests
Please note that all charges for these maintenance services go directly to the individual or company completing the task. Organising any of these services for you is included in our management fee.
Rest assured, we have a skilled in-house handyman ready to handle any general maintenance tasks that arise. For more intricate issues, we will consult with you first and can also arrange for specialized tradespeople, such as boiler technicians or certified plumbers, to ensure everything is taken care of professionally.
Most hosting channels such as Airbnb offer an insurance on your home during a guest stay. However, if the platform does not offer insurance, we collect a deposit from each guest. We focus on the price of accommodation for your specific home to ensure the proper deposit is collected. Between different guests, we check the house for any damage. Should there be damage, we take care to ensure a quick settlement. If the damage is caused during the home cleaning, the cleaners are fully insured for your protection.
Ultimately the responsibility to provide a well-maintained property and grounds falls on you the homeowner. However, Homely Rentals will work with you to coordinate maintenance needs such as plumbing, heating, electrical and landscaping, etc.
When necessary we can recommend local handyman and tradesmen. These 3rd party maintenance teams will be hired by you and they will bill you directly.
Homely Rentals does not charge any markup or additional fees for this coordination.
*Homely Rentals is not liable for any of the contracted work or maintenance.*