5 Things to Know Before Listing Your Property as a Holiday Let in Salcombe & South Devon – 2026 Guide

Thinking of turning your Salcombe or South Hams second home into a profitable holiday let in 2026 and beyond? It’s one of the best decisions many owners ever make, but a little planning makes the difference between a stress-free income stream and a headache. Here are the five essential things you must get right before you welcome your first guests.

1. Know Exactly Who Your Ideal Guest Is

Salcombe attracts a very specific crowd: young families with children and dogs, sailing couples, multi-generational groups, and retirees celebrating big birthdays. Decide early who you want to welcome, then tailor everything to them.

• Families? Add travel cots, highchairs, stair gates, plastic crockery, board games and a bucket-and-spade kit.

• Dog owners? Dog towels, bowls, treats and an outside tap or hose make you stand out.

• Water-sports fans? A secure paddleboard/kayak store and outside shower.

Guests who feel you’ve thought of them leave 5-star reviews and rebook year after year.

2. Understand the Latest 2025–2026 Regulations

The rules changed in 2025

• The new national registration scheme for short-term lets rolled out in 2025 and is set to become fully mandatory in 2026—register early via the government's online database (quick process, but essential for compliance).

• Most furnished holiday lets in South Hams qualify for business rates instead of council tax – and if your rateable value is under £12,000 you get 100% small-business relief (i.e. you pay nothing).

• An EPC is required if your property is let for 4+ months in a 12-month period (no minimum rating yet, but aim for E or better—many platforms filter out lower ones, and reforms from late 2026 will tighten rules).

• Annual gas safety certificate, 5-year electrical check (EICR—recommended as part of your duty of care under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989), CO alarms in every room with a fuel-burning appliance, interlinked smoke alarms on every floor, fire blanket in kitchen.

Do these once, do them properly, and you’re set for years.

3. Make Your Property Truly Guest-Ready (This Is What Drives Bookings)

• Professional photography – still the single biggest booking influence.

• Hotel-quality bed linen (minimum 300 thread count) and fluffy white towels.

• Lightning-fast Wi-Fi (Salcombe’s signal can be patchy – upgrade to full-fibre or Starlink if needed).

• A beautifully presented welcome book with Wi-Fi password, bin days, emergency numbers, taxi list, and your favourite local walks and restaurants.

• Spotless cleaning between every stay – guests will forgive almost anything except poor cleanliness.

4. Price Smart from Day One

Look at comparable properties in Salcombe, Hope Cove, East Portlemouth and Kingsbridge on Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo right now. Tools like AirDNA, Beyond Pricing Pricelabs and Wheelhouse give you real-time data.

Typical 2026 benchmarks (as of Dec 2025):

• Peak summer weeks & Regatta Week: £2,000–£7,000+ depending on size and view

• Shoulder season (Easter, May, Sept, Oct): 40–60% of peak

• Winter lets & weekends: still £800–£2,000+ per week for a good property

Price too high and you sit empty; price too low and you lose thousands over the season. Dynamic pricing tools can adjust rates daily for you.

5. Promote Your Property Like a Professional

Listing on Airbnb and Vrbo is just the start. The most successful owners:

• List on multiple platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo)

• Have their own direct-booking website (saves 15–20% commission)

• Use 360° virtual tours and drone shots of the view

• Respond to enquiries within an hour (response time directly affects search ranking)

• Collect reviews obsessively – 50+ five-star reviews push you to page one

Ready to earn more from your Salcombe home – with lower fees and less hassle?

At Quay, we’re growing by helping owners like you switch to direct bookings and modern property-management software. That means higher profits for you, no huge platform commissions, and full control over your calendar and pricing.

Drop us a line today for a free, no-obligation chat about getting your property ready for the 2026 season and beyond.

Email: clare@quaylets.co.uk

Here’s to a fully-booked 2026! 🏡✨