Resources and Information For Holiday Makers and Property Owners

A selection of our latest articles...

These are the most popular movie and TV homes, according to Google

At Independent Cottages we list an extremely diverse array of holiday homes – from grand manors, to quaint cottages, tree houses, houseboats, converted buses and everything in between. We know how much a special house can stick with you, and that’s true not only of your own home or places you’ve stayed on holiday but […]

>> Read full article

Coronavirus: Considerations for reopening your holiday home to guests

Picture of keyboard with person pressing the reopening button

Are you ready to reopen? This article is aimed at holiday cottage owners who are looking to safely reopen for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic; those who have been closed for a while and are reviewing their protocols and possibly holiday home owners who are new to holiday letting. Since […]

>> Read full article

Coronavirus: UK holidaymakers’ questions answered

Updated 7th March 2022 With the uncertainties surrounding overseas travel, many of us are currently looking to holiday in the UK. Whilst you may be keen to book a holiday, it is likely that you will have questions and concerns surrounding future covid-related restrictions and cancellation policies. Whilst individual holiday home owners will have their […]

>> Read full article

Coronavirus: Considerations for UK holiday home owners

Last update 13th April 2022 The last couple of years have been a roller coaster ride for holiday home owners. The hardships and uncertainties of the first half of 2020 gave rise to an unprecedented summer where we saw record levels of Brits searching for UK holidays. This was swiftly followed by further restrictions and […]

>> Read full article

Setting up a holiday home: All your questions answered

Like starting any new business venture, setting up a holiday let for the first time is an exciting, but also slightly daunting, prospect. You might be chomping at the bit to get started on a renovation project. Or perhaps your property is pretty much ready to go and you are busy browsing the shops for […]

>> Read full article

It’s The Law: Legislation for Holiday Home Owners

Womens head with question marks coming off it and a bubble saying 'what legislation applies to me as a cottage owner?'

When you are setting up a holiday home it is likely that you will be thinking paint colours, welcome hampers, booking systems and setting your rates. You might be wondering whether to add a log burner for those winter bookings or a trampoline in the garden for the kids. Or maybe you are weighing up […]

>> Read full article

Top Travel Hashtags and National Days to Get Your Holiday Home Noticed on Social Media

If you use social media you will have come across #hashtags (if you don’t and are considering it, read our article to find out if it can help promote your holiday home). Hashtags were first used on Twitter in 2007. Since then they have grown to become a standard tool to make social media feeds […]

>> Read full article

Recent research shows average savings of £211 on a UK holiday when you book direct.

We all look for ways to save money and booking a holiday is no exception. However, deciding what to compromise on is often tricky. The good news is that recent research conducted by Independent Cottages in August 2019 has shown that it is easy to save hundreds of pounds without any trade-offs. Simply by booking […]

>> Read full article

Tips to help holiday home owners spot scams

White notepad with 'Beware of Scams written on it

Over the years we have seen numerous scams but the one that appears to be the most common, and keeps rearing its ugly head, is the ‘holiday maker’ (aka scammer) who wants to pay too much money. It’s an old scam that has been around for years, but it’s still catching owners out! If anyone […]

>> Read full article

The importance of taking credit card payments for holiday rentals

Women wearing glasses holding credit card, laying on floor in front of computer

It is becoming increasingly necessary for holiday home owners to accept credit and debit card payments. Cheques are dated and are used less and less. They are inconvenient to post and pay in, and it takes time to wait for them to clear. Guests are becoming more wary of bank transfers as stories of fraudulent […]

>> Read full article