Small portfolio of serviced apartments
Run several furnished flats for corporate and longer short stays, with housekeeping and guest support included.
- £30k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
13,221 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 55900 “Other accommodation”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You operate a handful of apartments, usually in one building or area, aimed at stays of a week or more. You provide furnishing, housekeeping, linen, check-in and guest support. The flats may be rented from owners on a management or lease agreement, or owned by you.
Your first three steps
- Draw up a simple business plan with expected occupancy, rent and running costs for three to five flats
- Approach owners or landlords with a management or lease proposal, getting permission in writing
- Contact local employers, relocation agents and letting agents to offer your apartments for their staff and clients
Who pays
Companies booking staff, relocation agents, insurance-funded stays, project workers and longer-stay leisure guests.
How it makes money
Nightly or weekly rates, often discounted for longer stays or agreed with companies. Profit is what remains after rent, cleaning, utilities, staff, software and platform fees.
Skills that help
- Managing cleaners and suppliers
- Negotiating with owners and corporate clients
- Keeping to a consistent service standard
Watch out for
- Short-let planning and licensing rules vary by area and could limit your use of a flat, so check with each council
- Fixed rent with variable bookings is risky, so stress-test quiet months before signing
- Fire safety, gas and electrical checks and any extra rules for managed buildings, so check with your council or fire authority
- Public liability, contents and short-let building cover, plus employer's liability once you hire
- Company clients often pay on 30-day terms, which affects cash flow
- You may need to consider VAT registration as turnover grows, so check with HMRC or an accountant
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small portfolio of serviced apartments
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a serviced apartment portfolio?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £30,000 to £100,000, depending on the number of apartments, furnishing and the agreements you make with owners. Stress-test quiet months before signing any fixed rent.
How much can a small serviced apartment business earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £5,000 to £20,000, depending on how many flats you run and how often they are booked. Company clients often pay on 30-day terms, which affects cash flow.
What rules should I check before running serviced apartments?
Things to check: short-let planning and licensing rules vary by area, so ask each council. Also check fire safety, gas and electrical checks, insurance cover, and whether VAT registration may apply as turnover grows.
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