Watching the media over the past week it’s clear that tourist numbers in Edinburgh this summer are going to take a huge hit in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Now’s the time for landlords to move from Airbnb to long-term letting and we’ve made it very easy to do so (and without the need for a handshake!).
Why is the summer crucial for short-term letting success – While bookings for short term lettings rumble along during the year, with the odd 6 Nations rugby match and Hogmanay to give a wee injection of demand into an otherwise mediocre Autumn/winter, it’s the summer months when short-term letting really pays off as demand for accommodation in Edinburgh soars and rents spike. In June and July tourist numbers accelerate and close to 250,000 people visited Edinburgh last August during the Edinburgh festival; a massive surge of people in the city, all looking for somewhere to lay their head after an all-day-fringe-binge or a 5am finish.
What’s going to happen this year? – Reports are circulating, highlighting concerns that the Edinburgh Festival is under threat due to a restriction of larger gatherings and a reluctance of tourists to travel in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. This has led to panicked discussions on short-term letting forums relating to guest cancellations, refund requests and big drop off in bookings. Airbnb hosts are going to feel the effects of tourists not visiting Edinburgh and this wildly unexpected change may well have called time on Airbnb lettings for many landlords in Edinburgh.
Fear not, long-term lettings is a very good option – Inevitably some tenants will sit tight where they are until the outbreak passes, however there’s still a demand from long-tenants on the search for a home. People’s circumstances continue to change and people continue to need to move home. At Umega we recognise that the Coronavirus outbreak has made dealing with tenants that little bit trickier so we’re offering video-viewings of properties to prospective tenants so they can get good look at properties without having to physically visit. This means tenants can apply to rent from us; thereby minimising the chances of our properties sitting empty and providing a welcome service to tenants desperately looking for their next home and unable to wait until the storm blows over.
Are you short term letting landlord and looking to move to long-term letting? – Long term letting is arguably a better option for landlords than short term letting – it’s reliable, consistent and hassle-free. Conscious of Airbnb bookings drying up or being cancelled, we’ve made it very easy for landlords to get on board for long term letting with Umega;
- Want to talk to us? Ok…… just get in contact and one of our business development team will get back to you right away to discuss your property
- Want to give us the tour? No problem…..click here to tell us a time that suits for you to give us a video call-tour of your property so we can provide a rental valuation and talk you through the letting process
- Based elsewhere but want us to take a look? Easy….if you have a key safe outside your property just send us the code and we’ll pop round then give you a video call so you can guide us to anything you’d like to point out
Once you’re happy to move forward with us, our straightforward onboarding process is completed online so you can join up with us in a matter of minutes, completely remotely and we can get going to find you a suitable tenant right away!