Methodology
How Holiday Let Investor screens UK holiday-let deals.
The tools use transparent buyer-entered assumptions to estimate revenue, running costs, finance impact, break-even occupancy, cash-on-cash return and evidence gaps before a purchase decision.
The score is a screening aid. It is not a valuation, income forecast, recommendation, mortgage assessment, tax opinion or legal review.
Holiday Let Investor provides educational and illustrative tools only. Outputs are based on user-entered data and assumptions and do not constitute financial, mortgage, tax, legal or regulated investment advice. Always verify data and speak to qualified professionals before relying on it.
1. Revenue assumptions
High, mid and low-season weekly rates are multiplied by booked weeks, then adjusted with any short-break or extra income entered by the buyer.
2. Operating costs
Platform fees, management fees, cleaning, utilities, insurance, maintenance reserve, council tax or business rates, service charges and other annual costs are deducted before finance.
3. Finance impact
Deposit, mortgage amount, interest rate, term and interest-only or repayment type are used to estimate annual debt cost.
4. Resilience checks
The model calculates net cashflow, yields, cash-on-cash return, break-even revenue and break-even occupancy so weak assumptions are easier to spot.
5. Deal score
The deal checker combines location signal, property fit, financial resilience and confidence in the evidence into an illustrative first-pass score.
6. Next checks
The output highlights planning, lease, mortgage, insurance, business-rates, service-charge, cleaning and comparable-evidence gaps to verify.
What can improve confidence?
Specific location and area demand evidence.
Comparable holiday-let rates from nearby similar properties.
Known management, cleaning and laundry costs.
Confirmed mortgage terms and repayment type.
Known lease, planning, site or local restriction position.
Realistic setup budget and replacement reserve.
What the model deliberately avoids.
It does not promise income, scrape restricted portals, claim live booking data, replace professional advice, or decide whether to buy a property. The aim is to make assumptions visible early enough for a buyer to challenge them.
FAQs
Common questions
Does Holiday Let Investor use live market data?
The calculator and Deal Checker mainly use assumptions entered by the user. Some workflows can use connected listing-data sources when configured. Any output still needs checking against local comparable evidence before being relied on.
What does the deal score measure?
The score combines location signal, property fit, financial resilience and confidence in the evidence. It is designed as a first-pass filter, not a recommendation to buy.
Why can the same property score change?
Changing deposit, interest rate, mortgage type, seasonality, costs, rates, booked weeks or restriction risk changes the model because the assumptions directly affect cashflow and confidence.
What needs verifying before making an offer?
Check planning and lease restrictions, mortgage suitability, insurance, local cleaning costs, service charges, council tax or business rates, comparable booking evidence and realistic setup costs.