Local holiday let manager

Second-home owners, people letting a spare property, and landlords moving from long lets to holiday lets.

A percentage commission on each booking, often with extra charges for set-up, photos or one-off tasks. Cleaning and laundry are usually passed on to the owner at cost or with a small margin.

• Quick, friendly communication
• Good organisation and reliability
• Handling problems calmly at short notice
• Basic online listing and pricing know-how

• Check whether you need client money protection or a redress scheme for handling owners' money (rules for letting agents differ for short lets, so check current requirements)
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and check that each owner's own insurance covers holiday letting
• Owners need to check fire, gas, electrical and safety rules for holiday lets, and you should agree who is responsible for what in writing
• Check planning, mortgage, lease and local council rules for short-term letting in each area, as these vary across the UK
• Out-of-hours calls and last-minute problems, so decide your availability up front

Startup costs are estimates, typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on your insurance, listing and software set-up, and any equipment. You run it from home with a phone and laptop, so you do not need premises.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on how many properties you manage and the commission you agree with owners. Plan for out-of-hours calls and last-minute problems when deciding your availability.

Check whether you need client money protection or a redress scheme if you handle owners' money, as rules for short lets differ. Also check planning, mortgage, lease and council rules in each area, and that owners' insurance covers holiday letting.