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Luxury Holiday Home Letting Agency in Devon

Why Us?

What could you earn?

What makes a Finest Stay?

Our Owners

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Why Us?

We’re real people, a dedicated team with invaluable local knowledge and a profound affection for The South Hams. No call centres here; instead, we offer a completely tailored and hands-on-service, ensuring the finest care for your property. While other rental agencies rely heavily on popular platforms like Airbnb and booking.com, over 90% of our bookings are taken directly on our website. Being a part of the Finest Stays portfolio means you gain exclusive access to a discerning group of travellers seeking luxury Devon holiday homes in The South Hams, and only by being in the Finest Stays community, can you tap into this invaluable resource and maximise your income.

We know the significance of maintaining strong relationships with our owners. We prioritise open and transparent communication, providing regular updates on the market and booking levels. We believe in fostering a partnership with our property owners, ensuring your continued support and informed involvement throughout the entire process. We know that every owner has their own objectives when opening up their holiday homes to guests, so we offer a flexible and tailor-made package to suit you. As a private, local, independent business, we are the keepers of all the best knowledge about where to go, what to see and most importantly where to stay in South Devon.

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Competitive commission

Straightforward commission and smart pricing techniques. Operating in the luxury market we achieve high rental rates

Expert Marketing Comprehensive and holistic approach to marketing, with dedicated marketing support and a high-converting website

Powerful PR Coverage

Desirable and influential brand with powerful online presence & editorial coverage in the best publications

Experienced Local Team

Private, independent & truly local business that delivers heartfelt, intuitive hospitality

Bespoke Service

Bespoke programme tailored to each individual owner’s unique needs, with unrestricted owner bookings

What could you earn?

Find out what you could earn, using our holiday let income calculator. Using advanced revenue management techniques, we optimise pricing based on market demand, seasonality and competitor analysis. By constantly monitoring and adjusting pricing strategies, we ensure competitive rates leading to higher occupancy and increased revenue. Our data driven approach guarantees the best return for your investment.

Want to know more?

We can offer realistic advice about prices and potential annual income from your holiday let in Devon.

Tell us more about your home

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What Makes a Finest Stay?

We represent a handpicked portfolio of luxury properties across The South Hams, opening the doors to some of the most beautiful homes in the UK. From quintessential cosy coastal cottages to secluded beach huts and boathouses, grand country manor houses with swathing gardens and large banqueting halls to slick glass-fronted waterfront apartments, we represent a variety of home styles. Staying true to our name and entirely focused on providing truly luxurious self-catering experiences, we only represent exceptional private homes that tick the Finest Stays boxes; outstanding locations, architectural pedigree and beautiful interiors.

From the very start, Finest Stays has only accepted the ‘best in class’ holiday homes onto our books and the portfolio now consists of about 100 hand-selected properties in spectacular locations, from Salcombe to Thurlestone, Hope Cove to Dartmouth. Our expert team pride itself on exemplary service, making sure we phone each guest to discuss their needs and requirements ahead of their stay. Clients say this personal service brings them back year after year; some to the same much-loved holiday home, others to enjoy a new experience every time. Either way, it’s Finest Stays they call when they start planning their next luxury staycation.

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Meet Our Owners

Friendly, professional and with oodles of local knowledge, it is a delight dealing with the Finest Stays team. This combined with their marketing expertise, they generate a plethora of bookings and associated income. This is the company you want to deal with as an owner.

Miss C - The Old Lobster Pot Owner

It's important to work with people who're local and with whom we had a personal relationship. With our previous agency we'd call the office, didn’t know the person we were talking to and they didn’t know the property. With Finest Stays, we have had such good service and support.

Mr & Mrs B - Watch Hill Owners

We could not be happier. Using Kate and the Finest Stays team gives our guests a real VIP bespoke experience that only a company with such an in depth knowledge of our area and all it can offer can give.

Mr & Mrs H - Woodspring Owners

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Get in touch and we will arrange a no-obligation call or meeting at your convenience.

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As Seen In

Date: 19th February 2025

Double Council Tax on Holiday Lets - Everything You Need to Know

From April 2025, councils will be able to charge double council tax on second homes. Learn how to manage your holiday let without paying extra council tax.

Date: 25th July 2024

Holiday let Regulations

As a holiday home owner, it’s crucial that you’re well informed about the government's regulations for short term lets. These new regulations can have a significant impact on how you manage your holiday let. So in this blog we’re going to summarise the proposed changes to ensure that you, as an owner, can stay compliant and ultimately maximise the rental potential of your holiday home.

Date: 12th July 2024

Understanding VAT for furnished holiday lets

VAT is a tax which is applied to certain goods and services within the UK. The standard rate applicable is currently 20%. Value Added Tax is deemed payable on a holiday let because it's considered by HMRC to be an investment. Basically when you let out your holiday cottage, you’re adding value and earning an income from your property.

Date: 20th April 2023

Maximise Your Passive Income: Investing In A Holiday Let

Maximise Your Passive Income: Investing In A Holiday Let Owning a holiday home can be both profitable and hugely rewarding, but the process is ongoing and needs to be treated as a business. Do it successfully and it’s a great way to invest in your future and your family’s future, whilst giving you a holiday bolthole of your very own whenever you choose. The team here at Finest Stays are on hand to discuss any concerns, advise and help you with all aspects of holiday home ownership offering you support on your journey and helping you get the optimum bookings to maximise your income. Here are some important points to consider when investing in a holiday let: High Returns Understand the market for the highest returns. Choose a popular tourist area/town where you can see yourself living and get to know the property market. We can advise on the type of home which will reach the optimum number of quality bookings and provide you with a good return on your investment. Research is key; we highly recommend that you get to know the area. Is it family friendly or a couples’ destination? If you’re looking in South Devon it’s likely to have broad appeal which is great - it means you can select whatever property you fall in love with, whether you choose from a romantic bolthole for two to a family home with plenty of space for children and dogs, property prices in the South Hams tend to be a good investment and hold their value so it all comes down to your personal budget. Tax advantages You can reduce the costs of owning a second home by taking advantage of the tax breaks available; deductions in tax on your mortgage interest and rental expenses for example. Kit your property out as a furnished holiday home and you can claim Capital Gains Tax relief and capital allowances for furniture, fixtures and any equipment. Please speak to your accountant for details pertaining to your personal circumstances. An appreciating asset Investing in property has always been a good option. Okay, so the property market has its peaks and troughs and we’ve just gone through an amazing peak which saw demand (especially in the South Hams) outstripping supply which inevitably pushed up asking prices more rapidly than any of us could have imagined. But it’s all relative when you’re selling one house to buy another - not quite so if you’re just looking to invest your hard earned cash. Having gone through the peak in property prices during the last couple of years, things are steadying a little now. Gone are the dizzy days when houses were under offer before you could even get a viewing and estate agents were asking for closed bids on ‘offer over’ valuations. House prices are steadying, and indeed, a little lower than they were even a year ago at the time of writing (April 2023). Prices are now becoming a little more realistic. So it’s a good time to put out some feelers, get the ball rolling and find yourself a bolthole in South Devon. Hassle-free investment Owning a second home always comes with its demands, expenses and trials, especially if you’re not living close enough to keep an eye on things. Letting your holiday home comes with another set of potential problems for both you and your guests if things go wrong. Consider the scenarios: the dishwasher has sprung a leak and there’s water all over the kitchen floor or your guests arrive at your property to find the key safe is jammed and they can’t get in! Problems you would rather not hear about let alone have to sort. You may be living a couple of hundred miles away but we don’t! Let your holiday home through Finest Stays and we don’t just deal with the marketing and bookings. Our local team works closely with carefully selected property management companies who will come to the rescue at the drop of a hat, ensuring your letting experience is simple and stress-free. We understand how much your holiday home means to you and we are very conscious of the different requirements when it comes to someone else helping to manage it. With that in mind we can assure you that we can be as hands-on as you need. Spend your holidays in your holiday home Flexibility is key when it comes to letting your holiday home. We totally get it, it’s your home and you would like to spend quality time enjoying the beaches, beautiful walks and stunning scenery on your doorstep. This is why we don’t ask for a minimum number of letting weeks from you. Simply let us know the number of weeks you wish to let out your holiday home with us and we will help you reach your goal. What ROI you can expect? Your ROI will depend on many factors such as location, views, facilities and level of interior design. If you are looking to buy we are happy to put together a rental overview to see if the property will be a sound investment, or if you already own a home do get in touch to see what you could earn. Below is an income calculator based on our current property portfolio which will give you an indication of what you can expect to achieve. Seek advice from the experts Do as much research as you possibly can, and leave no stone unturned. You’re investing your hard-earned cash, possibly taking out a mortgage to fund your holiday home. We are here to answer any queries. For example… Did you know to qualify as a furnished holiday let, you must intend to rent out your property for profit and it must be available to rent for a minimum of 105 days per year to the public. You can’t include any let to friends or family in the 105 days if they have reduced rates for their stay. This will not be deemed as a commercial let during that time. But it will only be profitable if you treat it like you would any other successful business. Making the decision on whether to invest in a holiday cottage requires careful consideration, an understanding of the market, interest rates and all the other influencing factors. Whether it's to generate income, supplement savings in retirement or simply cover the costs of owning a second property it will only be profitable if you treat it like you would any other successful business. Get in touch with our friendly team for more details about how it all works. Find out more

Beat the tide for 2026

Luxury Holiday Home Letting Agency in Devon

Why Us?

Competitive commission

Straightforward commission and smart pricing techniques. Operating in the luxury market we achieve high rental rates

Expert Marketing Comprehensive and holistic approach to marketing, with dedicated marketing support and a high-converting website

Powerful PR Coverage

Desirable and influential brand with powerful online presence & editorial coverage in the best publications

Experienced Local Team

Private, independent & truly local business that delivers heartfelt, intuitive hospitality

Bespoke Service

Bespoke programme tailored to each individual owner’s unique needs, with unrestricted owner bookings

What could you earn?

Want to know more?

What Makes a Finest Stay?

Meet Our Owners

Join Us

As Seen In

Blogs for our property owners

Double Council Tax on Holiday Lets - Everything You Need to Know

Holiday let Regulations

Understanding VAT for furnished holiday lets

Maximise Your Passive Income: Investing In A Holiday Let

Beat the tide for 2026