Seasonal rental in UK?

[JBoylen]

We used to rent a house each winter to go skiing when we were in the states. It allowed us to get away each weekend in the winter and though we shared it, as it was large, with friends, it was lovely.

In searching for seasonal rentals here I cannot find anything for more than a few weeks at a time. Can anyone suggest a place or a website where I can find seasonal rentals, summer specifically?

Do I need to look into short term lets instead? Financially would it be better to buy a cottage? I am looking for a small cottage in the country for the summer.

thanks

[dulwichgirl2]

It's an interesting idea and one which I looked into a while back re verbier before we had children and became poor.

The Swiss market understood it but the UK one is focussed as you say on a few weeks here and there. You could of course find an nice place and then negotiate as they should value the guaranteed occupancy, lack of hassle, reduced cleaning costs etc. and you should get a much better rate than the weekly rate for sure.

I'd look in Dorset perhaps or maybe the Cotswolds. Both are very pretty.

I'd be interested to learn if there are websites for this as well nowadays actually.

[dulwichgirl2]

Whether it would be better to buy depends on your view on UK house prices. Mine is pretty negative ex london but less negative central london. Maybe country cottages move in line with prime london if extremely desirable ie not in line with their local price index. I'm not convinced. Factor in massive rises in borrowing costs and check that any fix you take out reverts to a rate above base rate as opposed to LIBOR. (sorry if this is basic stuff for you.)

[Gerryw80]

Buying property is a good way of investment but with that you must consider the maintenance costs they require aswell. can you afford it? and maintain? If you like visiting differnt places each summer/winters then you should just stick to rentals instead and invest in property in hometown instead:)

[Jackwil80]

How about guest house rentals? they are safe and reasonable:)

[Huguenot]

"The Swiss market understood it but the UK one is focussed as you say on a few weeks here and there."

I think that's a misunderstanding of the market. It is not usual for UK citizens to be sufficiently wealthy to hire additional properties for 6 months of a year.

Hence the market promotes deals for what the consumer can afford.

If you contact the property owners I have absolutely no doubt they'd consider letting to you for long periods.

As a note of caution though, winter weekends in the UK are not a snow filled wonderland. A weekend in the Cotswolds is fun to cosy up for a couple of days, but generally UK winters are dull, grey and drizzly with empty restaurants and early closing.

The thrill of a country retreat may rapidly fade.

[Jeremy]

H, the OP is asking for a summer rental.

But apart from that, I think you're right. You'd need some serious cash to rent a place in the Cotswolds or Devon for several months every year.

As for buying a second property as a holiday home... in a time when we have housing shortages, inflated house prices, and young people unable to buy their first property, it would seem that such luxuries come at a cost to society.

[womanofdulwich]

dep. what you want but maybe a student house in a seaside resort? may be empty mid june to early October? you would have to ask local letting agents to find out more. you can def do a seasonal let in a european ski resort. not sure you would be interested in a static caravan?

[Applespider]

I have a few friends in Scotland who have bought fixed caravans on small campsites next to lochs or seasides. From March through to October, they will often decamp there for the weekends etc before boarding it up for the winter and mothballing it. They occasionally rent them out to family and friends for week or so here and there. I've been and, to be honest, was pleasantly surprised by the facilities given what I imagined from childhood memories.

Even when the weather isn't particularly great (bear in mind this is Scotland), they will go up for the change of scenery and a bit of walking etc. These people are reasonably off rather than well-off so I'm assuming it's cheaper than buying an actual cottage would be.

[JBoylen]

Great Feedback! I don't ind the cost and do not want to own anything even if that would be a better decision financially. As crazy as that sounds, we may not live here forever and I do not want to handle a property from another country or deal with selling.

The caravan rental option or student housing when empty sounds like great ideas, thank you. We do not mind a whole lot of nothing to do as long as it is not our same home all dreary winter.

Thanks for the feedback.