A quirky holiday home attracts attention: offering fun and excitement, it promises something different from the norm.
And its eye-catching qualities could well make it a great investment – having a photogenic property puts you a step ahead of the competition.
People are holidaying more frequently as they prioritise time and money for leisure. The staycation boom following Covid-19 led to a rediscovery of the stunning landscapes, coastal areas, and cultural attractions in the UK, and created a growing market of exciting holiday properties to choose from. UK holidays remained hugely popular even after the return of foreign travel, and demand is high for holiday let properties as people seek weekend and short week breaks, wanting a hassle-free experience with no airport stress.
If you want to get into his market, it’s vital to buy in the right place to give yourself the best chance of getting the maximum number of bookings. Decide on your target market, whether that’s tourists who want lots to see and do nearby, nature lovers, watersports enthusiasts, or families, and then focus on providing what they are looking for.
What to think about if you’re serious about buying a holiday home
- Do you want to use the property primarily as a second home for your own use, or to let out for the maximum amount of time each year?
- Accessibility: can it be easily reached by road? Most people will arrive by car so there needs to be sufficient parking.
- Mobility issues: is it wheelchair friendly, are there steps or other hazards?
- Could you give it a makeover to create an amazing contemporary home?
- Is there potential to make it look great in photographs, inside and out?
- Features that are high on holidaymakers’ wish lists include a log burner or open fire (which also extends the letting season), a secure garden for pets and children, and an Electric Vehicle Charging point.
- Could you tackle a restoration project? This might provide the opportunity to create a unique property and add value to your investment.
- Familiarise yourself with the legal changes to the operation of short term lets.
7 unusual properties for sale that could make great holiday homes to let out
Enjoying a stunning waterfront position, this house in the Norfolk Broads is currently run as a successful holiday let, providing a significant return for its owners as well as lots of personal use. Sited on a popular marina just off the River Bure, it’s an immaculate property with a private 36ft mooring, parking for two cars, and a wide range of amenities within walking distance.
The accommodation is spacious: there are two double bedrooms on the ground floor and an open-plan living area on the first floor, along with a south-facing balcony and a sun deck. The house is built from brick and block and clad in timber. A full turnkey package is available, and the contents are available by separate negotiation. This house on Ferry Road, Norwich is priced at £450,000. It’s a freehold property that can be occupied for 365 days a year, but not as a main or sole home.
Wonderful views of the coast are just one reason for making this house at Penally near Tenby, a great holiday let. It’s also got bags of character, three double bedrooms, and an outdoor barbecue area. 1 The Coach House has been an excellent holiday let with good occupancy rates, and it’s been completely refurbished by the current owner.
A semi-detached property, it has a spacious kitchen-dining room, a lounge, two bathrooms, a balcony, front and rear courtyard gardens, and a hot tub area. Penally village is within walking distance of Tenby, one of South Wales’s most beautiful seaside towns. This house is priced at offers over £460,000.
Just a stone’s throw from Port Isaac harbour in Cornwall, Morley’s Cottage is a hidden gem. It’s a charming grade ii listed property that is operating as a successful holiday let. This characterful cottage on Church Hill has two bedrooms and period features such as exposed beams, stonework, and a log-burning stove. It also has a rented parking space nearby. Morley’s Cottage is for sale with a guide price of £425,000.
The Glebe at Cubert, three miles from Newquay in Cornwall, is a unique property with a fantastic standard of living accommodation along with distant sea views. It’s an established holiday let, generating an impressive return for its owners. This stunning house has three large bedrooms, bright and spacious living space including a high-quality fitted kitchen and dining room, along with a covered balcony, luxury bathroom, cloakroom, underfloor heating, and double glazing. There’s an easy-to-maintain garden and driveway parking. The Glebe is offered for sale with no ongoing chain, for offers over £490,000.
Steeped in artistic history, Arcadia at Trencrom, Lelant, Hayle in Cornwall was home to Cornish artist Max Barrett, who was a well-known carver of wood, stone, metal, and bronze. He created the home from a disused farm building, using recycled local materials such as wooden fish boxes from Newlyn for bookcases, and floorboards from the former Stennack school in St Ives.
Panoramic views of rolling hills can be enjoyed from this unique property which is six miles from Penzance and three miles from St. Ives. It has one bedroom, one bathroom, and a stunning open-plan living area with flagstone flooring and a wood-burning stove. A ladder leads to the sleeping area, and there’s an additional room, a tractor store, a block and stone-built shed, and a wood store. Outside, there’s a seating area in the mature gardens and parking for three vehicles. The agents Stacey Mann Estates, Penzance, are asking for offers of £495,000.
If spectacular scenery in a peaceful location is at the top of your wish list, this unusual house might well appeal. With wonderful views towards Bla Bheinn on the Isle of Skye, Half of 2 Torrin is an immaculate two-bedroom house in the village of Torrin. It’s been lovingly restored to a high standard, and the bright and airy accommodation includes a lounge/dining room, a fitted kitchen, utility, a bathroom, a double bedroom on the ground floor with an ensuite shower room, and a further bedroom in the attic.
It has oil-fired central heating, partial under-floor heating, and a multi-fuel stove. Decorated in neutral tones, there are some exposed beams adding character, and a multi-setting mood lighting system. There are stunning views from the decked areas in the well-kept and fully enclosed gardens. Torrin is five miles from Broadford, the second largest settlement on the Isle of Skye which has a good range of services. Offers over £255,000 are invited by The Isle of Skye Estate Agency.
This charming, detached, one-bedroom period property is built from brick and flint. Planning permission has been approved to extend The Folly at Weybourne, Holt, Norfolk, to create a unique home with three bedrooms and more living space, including an entrance hall, living/dining kitchen, study, and utility. The present accommodation includes a lounge, kitchen, and shower room on the ground floor and a bedroom on the first floor. Standing on about 0.25 of an acre, there are mature gardens and parking for several cars.
The Folly stands in an elevated position in the village of Weybourne which has a range of amenities and is within easy reach of the coastal villages of Salthouse, Cley next the Sea, Sheringham, and Cromer. Holt is four miles away and it’s 26 miles from Norwich. It has a guide price of £495,000 with Strutt & Parker.
