Full Management
Hands-off, end-to-end management. Marketing, bookings, guest communications, key holding, changeover cleaning, maintenance coordination, statements. The agency runs the property; you receive the monthly remittance.
15–25% commissionFrom hands-off full management to changeover-cleaning-only: this is an independent guide to holiday let management in Cornwall, run by Tally Digital Ltd. What each service involves, what agencies typically charge, the rules you need to meet, and how to find and check a management agency. We’re not a letting or management agency, and we don’t manage any property ourselves.
We’re still launching in Cornwall and may not have a local holiday let management agency for you yet. Tell us what you need; your confirmation email says straight away what happens next.
The peaks are higher (and the Saturday changeover bottleneck more brutal). The regulation is tighter — Cornwall Council's second-home Council Tax premium and the 140-day business-rates threshold both bite. The 2025 abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime has reshaped the maths for everyone, new owners and seasoned investors alike. And the gap between a well-run let and a poorly-run let is wider here than almost anywhere else in the UK — the right agency can lift a 4-bed Padstow property's gross by 20% on the same property, same bed count, same year.
To be straight with you: we’re an independent guide, not a letting or management agency. We don’t manage properties, we don’t take bookings, and we don’t vouch for any agency. What we can tell you is what to look for: membership of Propertymark (the professional body for letting agents) or PASC UK (the trade body for self-catering holiday lets), Public Liability cover, Client Money Protection if they hold your rental income, membership of a redress scheme such as The Property Ombudsman, and a written contract that spells out commission, extras and exit terms.
One more Cornwall-specific wrinkle worth knowing: a large share of the county's holiday lets sit on septic tanks rather than mains drainage, and peak-season occupancy fills a tank two to three times faster than household use. If that's your property, our sister site covers septic tank care for Cornwall holiday lets — changeover-day emptying, capacity planning, and the compliance checks buyers and insurers ask about.
We’re an independent guide, not a letting or management agency. These are the honest options; pick whichever suits you.
Propertymark’s Find an Expert directory lists member letting agents, and PASC UK is the trade body for self-catering holiday lets, with agency members. Neighbours and local property offices are good sources too.
Ask for Public Liability cover, Client Money Protection if they hold your rental income, redress scheme membership (The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme), who owns the listings, the full fee schedule including VAT and any maintenance markup, and the exit terms.
Leave your details and tell us what you need. We’re still looking for Cornish agencies to work with, so we may not have one for you yet; your confirmation email says straight away what happens next. We’ll tell you who before sharing anything, and agencies may pay us for introductions.
From full hands-off management to letting-only listings — pick the level of involvement that matches your time, location and portfolio.
Hands-off, end-to-end management. Marketing, bookings, guest communications, key holding, changeover cleaning, maintenance coordination, statements. The agency runs the property; you receive the monthly remittance.
15–25% commissionLocal key holder for owners self-managing bookings but needing on-the-ground cover for changeovers, emergencies, contractor access and late arrivals. Retainer plus call-out pricing.
From £30/mo + call-outsSame-day Saturday turnovers, linen change, hot-tub sanitising, deep cleans between seasons. Cornwall cleaners who know the holiday-let standard — photo-evidenced handovers, restock, issue flagging.
From £60/turnOutsource the 24/7 inbox. Inquiry response within SLA, booking confirmations, pre-stay info, mid-stay problem triage, review chasing — all on your channels, in your name. The new middle-ground service.
From £30/mo per propertyDIY-friendly. Professional photography, listing copy, multi-channel OTA setup (Airbnb / Booking.com / Vrbo), dynamic pricing, calendar sync. You handle keys, cleaning and guests. Save the commission.
5–10% or flat feeMost owners aren't sure which service mix is right until they've talked to one or two agencies. Our fees guide compares every tier, or get a quote from a local holiday let management agency through our form, with your consent.
Typical 2026 starting points across Cornwall. These are guides, not quotes: an agency gives you a written proposal for your property.
Marketing-only: photography, listings, pricing, calendar sync. You handle the rest. Often a flat setup fee instead.
End-to-end. Marketing, bookings, guest comms, cleaning, key holding, maintenance, statements.
Monthly retainer + £30–£60 per call-out. For self-managing owners who need local cover.
Per turnover. 2-bed cottage £60–£90, 3-bed £80–£140, 4-bed £130–£200. Linen typically extra.
Most agencies charge VAT at standard rate on commission and fees. Setup fees (£300–£1,200) are typical for new properties.
Pick your nearest town for local market information, typical yields and what to ask an agency.
Full-management commission, part-management, changeover-only rates, key-holding retainers, setup fees and the VAT wrinkle — our fees guide sets out what Cornwall agencies actually charge in 2026, tier by tier.
Read the full fees guide →Fire risk assessment, gas safety, EICR, the 140-day business-rates rule, the second-home council tax premium — run the free 10-point checklist every Cornwall holiday-let owner should tick off before peak season.
Run the compliance checklist →Common questions from Cornwall holiday-let owners before appointing an agency.
Search the Propertymark Find an Expert directory, and ask agencies whether they belong to PASC UK, the trade body for self-catering holiday lets. Recommendations from neighbouring owners are worth a lot too. Before you sign, ask for Public Liability cover, Client Money Protection if they hold your rental income, redress scheme membership, who owns the listings, and the full fee schedule including VAT. You can also ask for a quote through the form above (we’re still looking for Cornish agencies to work with, so we may not have one for your area yet).
Full management commission in Cornwall typically runs 15–25% of gross bookings. Letting-only (marketing + OTA listings, you handle everything else) is usually 5–10% commission or a flat setup fee of £400–£1,200. Key holding is £30–£80/month per property plus £30–£60 per call-out. Changeover cleaning is priced per turn — 2-bed cottage £60–£90, 4-bed £130–£200. Guest communications outsourcing runs £30–£120/month per property. Setup fees for new properties under full management £300–£1,200 covering photography and OTA setup. Most agency commission is VAT-standard-rated.
Yes — the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) tax regime was abolished from 6 April 2025. Holiday let income is now treated as standard residential rental income for tax purposes: no more Business Asset Disposal Relief on sale (now a flat 24% Capital Gains Tax for most owners), no more Capital Allowances on fittings, no pension contributions counted from FHL profits, and joint owners can no longer split profits flexibly between spouses. The change affects new and existing FHL owners alike. See our FHL changes guide for what (if anything) you can still do.
From April 2023, English holiday lets must be available for 140+ days AND actually let for 70+ days per year to qualify for business rates. Below that threshold, you pay Council Tax — and Cornwall Council applies a 100% second-home premium in many parishes (doubling the bill). Above the threshold, you're typically eligible for Small Business Rate Relief, which can wipe the bill entirely for small properties. The maths often strongly favours business rates if you can hit the let-day threshold. See our business rates vs council tax guide.
Yes. From 1 October 2023, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 explicitly applies to all short-term holiday accommodation in England, including small properties sleeping fewer than 8 (the previous exemption was removed). A documented Fire Risk Assessment is mandatory, plus interlinked smoke alarms in escape routes, CO alarms where there's a fuel-burning appliance, and clear escape routes with fire-safe furnishings. A competent owner can do their own FRA; pros typically charge £150–£500. Penalties for non-compliance can be unlimited. See our fire safety guide.
Specialist holiday let insurance — not a standard landlord or homeowner policy, both of which usually exclude short-term holiday lets. Public Liability cover of £2–£5m is standard (most management agencies require evidence at this level). Add buildings, contents (replacement-cost basis), and ideally loss of income for chain breaks or insurable damage. UK specialist holiday-let insurers include Schofields, Boundless, Towergate and Pikl. Annual premium for a 3-bed Cornwall cottage typically £350–£800. See our insurance guide.
Depends on income, location and time. Rough rule: if your property grosses £25,000+ per year AND you live more than 30 minutes from it, full management almost always wins on a quality-adjusted basis (better photography, dynamic pricing, multi-channel listings, and the time savings tend to outweigh the 15–25% commission). Under £15,000 gross AND within 30 minutes, DIY usually wins. Between those, the right answer depends on whether you'd hire the staff anyway (cleaners, key holder), how much your time is worth, and how much you enjoy the marketing side. See our DIY vs management company guide.
Gross yields vary enormously by location. Padstow / Rock / Daymer Bay 4-bed cottages routinely gross £40,000–£60,000+. St Ives 3-bed £30,000–£50,000. Newquay family-let 3-bed £25,000–£40,000. Mid-Cornwall (Truro, Falmouth, Helston) 2–3 bed £15,000–£28,000. Rural Cornwall (Bodmin Moor, Launceston, deep Liskeard) £12,000–£24,000. Occupancy typically 50–70% of available nights. Net is roughly 50–65% of gross after cleaning, insurance, OTA fees, business rates, maintenance and agency commission. See our yields guide for the detailed 2026 breakdown.