Question 1

What does full management actually include?

Accepted Answer

Everything end to end: professional photography, multi-platform listing creation, dynamic pricing, guest screening, 24/7 communication, check-ins, cleaning, linen, restocking, maintenance coordination, monthly reporting and payouts.

Question 2

Which areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We currently cover Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, York, Preston, Bolton, Warrington, Lancaster, Salford and Cheshire, with a network growing across the North West and internationally via 53 Degrees Cape Town and Dubai.

Question 3

How is 53 Degrees different from other agencies?

Accepted Answer

We are a family-run, vertically integrated group. Our in-house accountancy firm (53 Degrees Accounts) and maintenance company (53 Degrees Maintenance) mean nothing is outsourced to a third party who does not know your property.

Question 4

Will I have a dedicated point of contact?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every landlord is assigned an account manager who knows your property, knows you, and is reachable directly by phone, email or WhatsApp.

Question 5

How often will I hear from you?

Accepted Answer

Monthly statements as standard, plus quarterly performance reviews. You can request additional updates any time and we proactively flag anything that needs your input.

Question 6

Do you manage HMOs and serviced apartments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We manage everything from one-bed city centre apartments to large HMOs and country houses, as long as the local licensing permits short letting.

Question 7

How much does management cost?

Accepted Answer

Our full management fee starts from 14% + VAT of monthly net booking revenue. No upfront setup fees. Exact pricing is confirmed on a free discovery call based on property type, location and services required.

Question 8

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Our fee is a single percentage of booking revenue. Cleaning is passed through at cost to the guest, and any maintenance or compliance work is quoted in advance for your approval.

Question 9

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

You receive a single monthly payout via direct bank transfer, typically by the 10th of the following month, with a detailed statement itemising every booking, cleaning fee and deduction.

Question 10

What happens to cleaning fees?

Accepted Answer

Cleaning fees are billed directly to the guest at booking, so they do not come out of your share. We use professional cleaners on our own roster, not a third-party marketplace.

Question 11

Who pays for utilities and consumables?

Accepted Answer

Utilities (gas, electric, water, broadband, council tax) remain the landlord's responsibility. Day-to-day consumables (toilet roll, soap, tea, coffee) are restocked by us and itemised on your monthly statement at cost.

Question 12

Do you handle VAT and tax reporting?

Accepted Answer

Yes — via our sister company 53 Degrees Accounts. We can act as your specialist accountants for your short-let income, handle VAT registration if applicable, and file your end-of-year accounts.

Question 13

What about the cost of getting started?

Accepted Answer

There are no setup fees. The only upfront costs are anything required to bring the property to short-let standard (e.g. furnishing top-ups, professional photography if not included in the package, compliance certificates if missing).

Question 14

Are there any lock-in contracts?

Accepted Answer

No. We work on a 30-day rolling notice. You can leave at any time and we will hand over a clean inventory, all guest data we are permitted to share, and unblock your calendars.

Question 15

What is the management agreement?

Accepted Answer

A simple, plain-English contract setting out our services, fees, your responsibilities and the notice period. It is not a tenancy — you remain the property owner and decision maker throughout.

Question 16

Can I switch from my current agency to 53 Degrees?

Accepted Answer

Yes, very easily. We handle the migration of your existing reviews, photos and calendars. Most switches complete within 14 days from your existing notice ending.

Question 17

What happens if I want to sell the property?

Accepted Answer

We support you. Bookings can be honoured, blocked from a chosen date, or transferred to a new owner if they wish to continue with us. We will work around your sale timeline.

Question 18

Can I switch back to long-term letting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You simply give 30 days' notice. We will help you complete the final stays, deep-clean, and hand the property back in tenancy-ready condition.

Question 19

What if my property under-performs?

Accepted Answer

We share the risk — if your property is not performing we sit down with you, adjust pricing, refresh the listing, or recommend improvements. Our fee is performance-linked, so we are motivated to fix it fast.

Question 20

How quickly can my property go live?

Accepted Answer

Most properties are listed within 7–14 days from sign-off, depending on photography scheduling, furnishing and any compliance work needed.

Question 21

Do I need to furnish the property?

Accepted Answer

Yes, short lets must be fully furnished and equipped to hotel standard. If your property is not ready, we offer a furnishing service with trusted suppliers at trade prices.

Question 22

What standard does the property need to be in?

Accepted Answer

Clean, neutrally decorated, well-lit, with quality beds, fast broadband, a smart TV, and a well-stocked kitchen. We provide a full setup checklist on onboarding.

Question 23

Can I still use the property myself?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Just block the dates in your owner calendar — the property is yours whenever you want it. Many of our landlords use their properties for family holidays at no charge.

Question 24

How do you protect my property from wear and tear?

Accepted Answer

Strict guest screening, security deposits where appropriate, regular inspections after every stay, and our in-house maintenance team to fix small issues before they become big ones.

Question 25

Do you handle compliance and certificates?

Accepted Answer

Yes — fire safety, gas safety, PAT testing, EICR and insurance are all part of our onboarding and ongoing service. We diary every renewal so nothing ever lapses.

Question 26

What insurance do I need?

Accepted Answer

Specialist short-let insurance, which we can arrange via our broker partners. Standard buy-to-let or holiday-home insurance is not usually sufficient.

Question 27

Who handles guest issues at 2am?

Accepted Answer

We do. Our team provides 24/7 guest communication and an emergency line, so you never get a midnight phone call.

Question 28

How do you screen guests?

Accepted Answer

Verified ID, payment screening, previous-stay reviews on platform, deposit holds where appropriate, and a house-rules acceptance step. We refuse bookings that look risky, even at the cost of revenue.

Question 29

Do you allow stag and hen parties?

Accepted Answer

No — they are blocked at the booking stage. Our properties are aimed at professionals, couples, families and contractors, which keeps neighbours happy and damage low.

Question 30

What happens if there is damage to my property?

Accepted Answer

We document the property before and after every stay. Damages are claimed from the guest deposit and / or the platform's host protection (e.g. Airbnb AirCover). Repairs are coordinated by our maintenance team.

Question 31

Do you do check-ins in person?

Accepted Answer

Most stays use a secure smart lock or key-safe with full digital instructions — guests prefer the flexibility. In-person check-in is available where the property requires it.

Question 32

What if a guest cancels?

Accepted Answer

Our cancellation policies are set to protect your revenue. Last-minute cancellations are usually re-filled from our existing inquiry list, and platform protections cover non-payment.

Question 33

Which platforms will my property be listed on?

Accepted Answer

Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, TripAdvisor Rentals, Plum Guide, HomeAway and our own direct booking website at 53degreesproperty.guestybookings.com.

Question 34

How do you set the price?

Accepted Answer

We use dynamic pricing software combined with market knowledge. Prices adjust daily based on demand, events, competitor occupancy and seasonality — typically delivering 15-30% more revenue than fixed pricing.

Question 35

How do you handle photography and listings?

Accepted Answer

Professional photography is included for every property, along with copywriting optimised for each platform's algorithm. We refresh listings every 6–12 months to keep them at the top of search.

Question 36

What occupancy can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Across our managed portfolio we target 75-85% occupancy depending on location and seasonality. We benchmark your property monthly against comparable local listings.

Question 37

Do you do direct bookings to avoid platform fees?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our direct booking website captures repeat guests, lowers fees, and builds your property's own audience. We actively market to past guests to encourage rebooking.

Question 38

What reporting do I get?

Accepted Answer

Monthly statement, occupancy and ADR vs market benchmark, guest feedback summary, maintenance log, and a quarterly strategy review. All in plain English, no jargon.

Question 39

What is the first step?

Accepted Answer

A free discovery call and rental estimate. We will look at your property, location and goals, and give you an honest projected income — even if short-let is not the right fit.

Question 40

Do you visit the property before listing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We do an in-person walk-through to take notes on furnishing, compliance and any improvements that will boost revenue. No charge, no obligation.

Question 41

What information do you need from me?

Accepted Answer

Proof of ownership or permission to let, mortgage and freeholder confirmation, gas / electrical certificates, building insurance details and your bank details for payouts.

Question 42

Do I need to be local?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Around 30% of our landlords live abroad. We handle everything on the ground and keep you updated remotely.

Question 43

Can I see your existing properties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. View any of our live listings on 53degreesproperty.guestybookings.com or on the host profile across the major platforms — what you see is the standard your property will be brought up to.

Question 44

What if my building or freeholder does not allow short lets?

Accepted Answer

We always check this before onboarding. If short lets are not permitted we will tell you upfront and, where helpful, suggest medium-term or corporate let alternatives.

Frequently asked questions.

Our Service

Payments & Pricing

Contracts & Notice

Your Property

Guests & Bookings

Marketing & Performance

Onboarding

Find Out What Your UK Property Could Earn