To let: your home for the holidays

Renting out your home can help fund your travel plans, pay bills and mean your property isn't left empty. But is it worth the extra packing?

- ANDRÉA CHILDS

More of us than ever are watching what we spend and trying to reduce our bills. But what if you could make money from your property, instead of simply cutting back? Covering the costs of a holiday by hiring out your home via a rental agency isn't new, but an increasing number of people are now choosing this option to help earn a little on the side, either by renting out a spare room or an annexe while they are at home, or letting the entire property while they are away travelling or visiting family and friends.

This change isn't about people renting out second homes; it's about earning income from a primary residence-a trend that has risen post-pandemic and gained traction as mortgage rates and energy bills rise.

The pandemic and the adoption of remote work has untethered many people from the need to be in an office every day, and offered them a newfound flexibility to continue their work from home,' explains Amanda Cupples, general manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb. 'As a result, people are spreading out to thousands of towns and cities, staying for weeks, months, or even entire seasons at a time."

REASONS TO RENT

Renting out your home may enable you to experience living and working elsewhere, with the security of knowing your property isn't left empty and can earn its keep while you are away. The property owners we work with may be retirees who like to travel, others who have a second home overseas that they tend to escape to during the winter months, or people who want to spend time with extended family. We have properties that we market for as little as six weeks a year,' says Jess Clark, creative director at Unique Homestays, which offers luxury holiday homes in stunning locations, many of them in the countryside.