Full Management
Hands-off, end-to-end: marketing, bookings, guest comms, key holding, cleaning, maintenance, statements. Typical commission 15–25%.
15–25% commissionHands-off holiday let management across Cornwall: what a full-management agency handles (marketing, bookings, cleaning, key holding, guest communications, statements), what it costs, and how to find and check one. Typical commission 15–25% of gross bookings.
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.
Full holiday let management is the hands-off option: the agency runs the property as a trading let on your behalf — they handle marketing, take and process bookings, deal with guests, coordinate cleaning and laundry, hold the keys, manage maintenance call-outs, and send you monthly statements. You retain ownership, set ground rules and target nightly rates, but the operational work is theirs.
Typical Cornwall full-management commission (2026):
What's typically included in full management:
What's typically extra:
Cornwall holiday-let agencies vary enormously — some are national operators (Sykes, Premier Cottages, Cottages.com) running standardised processes; others are boutique Cornwall-only firms with stronger local presence and concierge depth. The right choice depends on your property type, target market, and how hands-on you still want to be. Shortlist two or three candidate agencies suited to that mix and compare their written proposals.
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.
Need something other than full management? Our guides cover the full range of Cornwall holiday let management — full management, key holding, changeover cleaning, guest communications, letting-only.
Hands-off, end-to-end: marketing, bookings, guest comms, key holding, cleaning, maintenance, statements. Typical commission 15–25%.
15–25% commissionLocal key holder for changeovers, emergencies, contractor access. Retainer plus call-out pricing — ideal for self-managing owners.
From £30/moSame-day Saturday turnovers, linen change, hot-tub sanitising, deep cleans. Cornwall cleaners who know the holiday-let standard.
From £60/turnOutsource the 24/7 inbox. Booking confirmations, inquiry response, mid-stay problem triage, post-stay review chasing.
From £30/moProfessional photography, multi-channel OTA listings (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo), pricing optimisation, calendar sync. You handle the rest.
5–10% or flat feeCornwall holiday-let prices vary by property size and service level. Figures below are typical 2026 starting points; ask any agency for an itemised proposal.
Marketing-only — photography, listings, pricing, calendar sync. You handle the rest.
End-to-end. Marketing, bookings, cleaning, key holding, guest comms, statements.
Monthly retainer + £30–£60 per call-out. For self-managing owners needing local cover.
Per turnover. 2-bed cottage £60–£90; 4-bed £130–£200. Linen typically extra.
Find your nearest town guide for local market information and typical fees.
Everything you need to know about full management in Cornwall.
Standard commission runs 15–20% of gross bookings; boutique / premium service 20–25%. Multi-property portfolio rates can drop to 12–15%. Setup fees are typically £300–£900 covering photography, OTA listings and onboarding. Commission and setup are usually VAT-standard-rated. Annual gross from a 3-bed mid-Cornwall property at £25,000 means commission costs around £4,000–£6,250.
Commission-based is the Cornwall norm (15–25% of gross). Easier alignment of incentives — the agency only earns when you do. Fixed-fee management (some larger national agencies offer this — typically £200–£500/month) is rarer in Cornwall and only competitive for very high-grossing properties. For most owners, commission is the sensible choice.
No — most don't. The Furnished Holiday Lettings regime was abolished from 6 April 2025; you're now treated as standard residential rental income. Agencies generate booking statements, but the tax return is on you (or your accountant). The better agencies will signpost Cornwall holiday-let specialist accountants and flag relevant changes. See our FHL tax guide.
No. The good agencies operate in your name and on your channels — your Airbnb account, your Booking.com listing, your direct-booking site all stay yours, the agency simply has login access. Owner block-out for personal use is always honoured. Capital decisions (refurb, new furniture, pricing strategy) stay yours. Read the management contract carefully for exit terms and cancellation periods.
12 months is most common, with 3-month exit notice. Some boutique agencies offer rolling monthly terms; some larger operators tie you in for 24 months with limited break clauses. Always check the exit terms, what happens to forward bookings if you leave, and whether you keep your OTA listings or have to rebuild from scratch.
Realistically, yes — especially if you're moving from self-managed Airbnb to a professional agency. Improvements come from: professional photography (often +15–25% on inquiries), pricing strategy (dynamic seasonal adjustment beats fixed rates), multi-channel listings (most owner-managed lets only use Airbnb), and faster inquiry response. Typical realistic occupancy uplift on switching to a good agency is 8–15 percentage points.