If you are considering moving from Airbnb to long-term letting in Edinburgh, then you’ve arrived in the right place! We recently shared a blog outlining why winter is coming for Holiday lets in Edinburgh containing some interesting facts about the short-term and long-term letting market in Edinburgh. With the lucrative month of August out the way, many owners of Airbnb properties are now assessing their options; continue with Airbnb letting or transfer over to long-term letting. Here’s some advice for landlords when moving from Airbnb to long-term letting in Edinburgh.
Timing – The first step is to stop advertising the property for Airbnb letting. Choose a final date for holiday date guests to leave, then block out all dates following this date as unavailable. Work back from this date to make sure everything is scheduled in to ensure a smooth transition across to long-term letting.
Marketing materials – Airbnb photos can be used for advertising for long-term tenants. If the property photos are not great it’s worth taking fresh wide-angled photos and also taking a floorplan which is a big help when advertising for long-term tenants. Any gaps between Airbnb guests can be used to schedule in any photography visits.
Getting a property up to long-term letting spec – Any gaps between Airbnb guests can also be used to take care of any safety certificates and installations required for long-term letting. By carrying out things like the EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) nice and early, it means if any issues are flagged up there’s plenty time to carry out any remedial works to avoid delay before long-term tenants can move in. Properties on the market also need a valid EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) so if there isn’t one (check here), this can be organised at the same time. Landlords must also register with the local authority before long-term letting so it’s worth doing this at this time too.
Advertising – It can be tricky to carry out viewings when Airbnb guests are staying in a property but to minimise the property sitting empty following the final guests, advertising can start, say 1 week before the final holiday let guests leave. This will generate early interest in the property from long-term tenants and the first viewing can be set up for 1-2 days after the final guests leave.
Setting the bar nice and high – it’s worth getting a professional clean once the final Airbnb guests vacate. This means the property is sparkling before the first long-term tenancy and means there is a receipt to be used as proof of clean in case money needs to be deducted from the deposit a year or 2 down the line.
Removal of personal items / dressing – Airbnb properties will normally come with a lot more of the homely touches than long-term tenants expect. While bedding and artwork are great for marketing photos they are not recommended for long-term tenancies, so these should be removed once the last holiday let guests have left. Most long-term tenants will have some of their own homely touches they’ll want to add so it’s best to only leave the main items of furniture.
TV, telephone, broadband and utilities – Long-term tenants expect to set up their own TV/telephone/broadband accounts, so landlords should arrange for their own accounts to shut once the final Airbnb guests leave. Landlords will be liable for council tax and gas/electric until long-term tenants move in and the landlord’s accounts with these will be closed by the tenant/letting agent when the long-term tenancy starts.
If you’re a landlord looking to smoothly move your property from Airbnb to long-term letting in Edinburgh please contact us to find out more about how we can help.