Air BnB or Rental Property?

[Clive]

Charging points at holiday houses- I think it’s a difficult issue. I did some back of the envelope calcs a while ago when electric was ~15p/kWh. You rent a 3bed property and your visitors arrive with 3 cars which they cover large distances in daily, charging them on rotation. It could cost around £100/week for that (or £200 in todays money).
Now the above situation doesn’t happen often, but it’s hardly fair to be expecting the ICE drivers to be subsidising the electric car drivers.

I’m not sure what a good solution would be, and I’m interested as I’m hoping to develop a holiday house sideline. Perhaps have your charging point accessible to those that pay a flat surcharge for its use (until such a time as it’s assumed that everyone will want/need to use it)?

I would obviously bill for the electricity and I think most would expect to pay

The cost is irrelevant really for the EV owner, its more about having the ability to charge overnight connivence especially in more remote places

 

[Clive]

That will reduce the number of possible customers, depending on the area and how easy you find it is to get 100% out off season weeks sold it may not be an issue reducing customers. It also depends on how easy it is to access EV chargers in the area.

For example in Keswick just having off road parking puts you ahead and there are good reliable Rapid EV chargers in Booths carpark. But in much of Wales most EV drivers will not even consider any holiday option that does not have a dependable EV charger.

Remember when nearly overnight WiFi went from a nice to have to an absolute requirement and how having WiFi before then increased booking but without people telling providers without WiFi you why they are not booking.

Sales of new electric car are increasing by about 50% each year and they tend to be used by people with an above advantage income. EV drivers will often use access to a charger as the primary search filter in holiday accommodation websites and it common for EV drivers to recommend each other holiday accommodation based to easy access to charging.

yep - i simply couldn't even consider a Welsh, Scottish or Cornish airBnB that didn't have a charger

the cost is of no relevance, electric can be metered and billed easy enough, its the convenience that is needed, EV are charged overnight not during the day unless desperate

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I would obviously bill for the electricity and I think most would expect to pay

The cost is irrelevant really for the EV owner, its more about having the ability to charge overnight connivence especially in more remote places

I’ve heard of people staying at local places(without charging points) that have brought their own extension cable, out the window and into the 13amp socket to charge slowly, so charging points are probably a necessity for the future.

 

[7610 super q]

Seriously thinking of turning my holiday cottage back into a cowshed.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Air BnB will be the death of the countryside.

Outpricing young families even more than they are.

A lot of quite run down older farm buildings /steading on traditional small Suffolk farms have been renovated around and about our area.
These are now holiday lets.
They add diversity and much needed cash into the farm coffers. They also create employment for those who are prepared to work hard in the cleaning business, particularly good for those who didn’t do well at school
IMO they are an asset in many ways as those on ‘oliday spend their money on things like the ‘local’ pub, the ‘local’ organic shop, the ‘local’ bicycle hire co and a number of others.
I am a supporter of airbnb. There are more benefits than pitfalls and it’s great to have repeat business from visitors who’ve travelled all over the world to come and stay at our place.
Actually in total contrast to what you write these visitors are creating local work for the farming family as opposed to driving them out of the county. Not forgetting the add-on of a once viewed as useless old building
SS

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Seriously thinking of turning my holiday cottage back into a cowshed.

Why?
Seems rather radical!
I give my accountant a printout of all the airbnb earnings and pay what I’m asked.
It can’t be that hard to copy & paste & send the holiday cottage figures to whoever does your books. It is a separate business and not related in any way to your Farming enterprise.
ss

 

[Clive]

I’ve heard of people staying at local places(without charging points) that have brought their own extension cable, out the window and into the 13amp socket to charge slowly, so charging points are probably a necessity for the future.

yes better to do it properly or that's what people will do - 13amp "granny chargers" are slow but will still pull 3kwh which will cost you if not charged as an extra

with a proper charger in place no one will bother with their granny charger - the cost of electric is no big deal for ev owners, its connivence they want

you could probably make a bit doing it even, you don't have to sell the electricity at cost

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Whilst I understand that 2nd home / holiday lets block locals out of the markets it must also be considered how much such properties bring to local economies ?

Without tourism a lot of parts of the UK wouldn’t need any local houses becuse there would be no economy whatsoever

There is a ‘local’ pressure group who want all second home owners in the holiday town of Southwold to be taxed to death.
They’ve very quickly forgotten that this town only exists because it was a seaside town that grew on the back of holiday makers.
It employs large numbers of young people in its long season but is really quite quiet in the short off season but that is how it is.
The idea of driving away the goose that lays the golden eggs seems rather narrow minded.
SS

 

[ringi]

the cost is of no relevance, electric can be metered and billed easy enough

I yet to see a practical system of metering and billing that works well for a single EV charger at a holiday let. The risk of any system stopping a person charging and resulting in them having to call out a tow truck is high enough to put me off most of them.

Any system that results in cash being on site greatly increases the risk of damage from crime.

There are systems that work well if you have many chargers and 24/7 staffing, but you can't risk the chargers depending on an internet or phone connection, so most "managed services" are a none starter.

If you have staff on site at checkout time then it is clearly possible to read a meter and take payment.

 

[Still Farming]

One bad review on a holiday rental site will lose you more out of main season income then you will gain by having pay card meters in a holiday home. If you hate your customers don't remain in the business.....

Your obviously new to the job ???

 

[Still Farming]

Nice idea, but I can see it rapidly becoming something that virtually everyone will expect a holiday home to have, like internet access or water…

And "slime pool" hot tubs too is it?

 

[slackjawedyokel]

And "slime pool" hot tubs too is it?

‘Happy tubs’, you mean?

 

[Still Farming]

yep - i simply couldn't even consider a Welsh, Scottish or Cornish airBnB that didn't have a charger

the cost is of no relevance, electric can be metered and billed easy enough, its the convenience that is needed, EV are charged overnight not during the day unless desperate

Obviously if your vehicle is?
Otherwise who worries.

 

[Clive]

Obviously if your vehicle is?
Otherwise who worries.

when running a business why ignore part of the market , a rapidly growing part as well ? a part that tends to be prepared to pay more for such facility ?

 

[honeyend]

Cleaning! Air BNB, you may get more money per night, but the costs and time cleaning is greater, also greater turn over of plonkers.
I have a friend who has three self contained units and goes for short to medium term rents, because of the cleaning and being available to people for keys etc. They are in a very rural village not far from the Cotswolds, and have no trouble renting them out.
I did Air BNB, and had the couple from hell, so now I have a Monday to Friday lodger, less money but less hassle, no tax to pay, hardly see him, and he has been here four years. The first was with us two years.

 

[Nearly]

Our cottages are all next door to Mum. People come and go weekly.
Rarely get a bad one.
Bank needs the holiday cottage type income for now.
When Mum is gone we'll look again and might have 4 long term lets but our experience says one is likely to be a pain.

 

[Still Farming]

when running a business why ignore part of the market , a rapidly growing part as well ? a part that tends to be prepared to pay more for such facility ?

But why also on the flip side ignore businesses that not supplying it all yet?

 

[Clive]

But why also on the flip side ignore businesses that not supplying it all yet?

because customers have a choice - if I have a EV and you airbnb doesn't have a charger I am unlikely to book yours vs one that does have. In fact I wont even see yours as I will filter my search to property with chargers

I bet a few years ago some wouldn't see why the needed wifi ! yet today a airbnb without it would really struggle I think

 

[Still Farming]

because customers have a choice - if I have a EV and you airbnb doesn't have a charger I am unlikely to book yours vs one that does have. In fact I wont even see yours as I will filter my search to property with chargers

I bet a few years ago some wouldn't see why the needed wifi ! yet today a airbnb without it would really struggle I think

Correct, more and more required all the time to stand still .
Ever decreasing circles really.
Higher and higher standards for little increase, to often justify, along with other businesses competition , and the rent a room, granny annex, domestic " cash" letting crowd pushing on.

 

[Timbo]

No car chargers for guests here until electric is free.

Our usual guests are early 20-somethings with disposable cash.

They certainly dont drive battery or even hybrid cars. Audi's, Golf GTI, Bmw 1ers / 3ers, the usual carpark fodder.

They expect goodnwifi, the prosecco, hot tub, nice chocs that they can pout all over the face ache, the insty etc