What a Holiday-Let Agreement Should Cover, Top to Bottom

Why a Booking Confirmation Isn't Enough

Most holiday-let platforms send guests a booking confirmation. It tells them the dates, the price, and the address. What it doesn't do is establish your specific house rules, your damage policy, your check-in terms, or what happens if something goes wrong.

That's the gap a holiday-let agreement fills. It's not about being adversarial with guests — most guests are perfectly reasonable. It's about having something in writing when the occasional guest isn't.

The Core Clauses Every Agreement Needs

Parties and property details — who is renting, who owns the property, the address, and the booking dates. Simple, but it anchors everything else.

Rental fee and payment terms — the total amount, what's included, when the balance is due, and your accepted payment methods. If you charge separately for extras (cots, pets, late check-out), list them here.

Security deposit — the amount, what it covers, how and when it's returned, and your process for making deductions. This is one of the sections guests read most carefully — be specific and fair.

Occupancy limit — the maximum number of guests permitted. Exceeding this is a common source of disputes and damage; your agreement should treat it as a breach of terms.

Check-in and check-out times — the exact times, not approximate. Include what happens if guests arrive early or leave late without prior agreement.

House rules — smoking, pets, parties, noise after a certain hour. Whatever you care about, state it explicitly. "Standard holiday let rules" is not a clause.

What Happens If Something Goes Wrong

Your agreement should cover the scenarios you hope never arise:

• Damage and liability — guests are responsible for damage beyond fair wear and tear. Make clear that your security deposit is applied to this but doesn't cap their liability for significant damage
• Cancellation by the guest — your cancellation policy in plain terms (more on this in a separate post)
• Cancellation by you — what you will do if you need to cancel, including how the guest will be compensated
• Early termination — if a guest must leave early for any reason, your refund position

Dealing with these in advance is uncomfortable but far less difficult than dealing with them after the fact.

Regulations and Local Rules

Short-term let regulations vary by local council and have been changing in many parts of the UK. Your agreement should note that the property is let in accordance with applicable local regulations, and that guests must not use the property in any way that would breach those rules.

This isn't a substitute for knowing what applies to your property — these are templates, not legal advice — but it ensures your agreement reflects the existence of the regulatory framework.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

A brief clause confirming that English (or Scottish, Welsh) law governs the agreement gives clarity if a dispute ever escalates. For most holiday lets, disputes are resolved directly between host and guest; very few reach formal channels. But having this in place costs nothing and matters if it's ever needed.

Keeping It Readable

The most useful holiday-let agreement is one your guests will actually read. Keep the language plain. Use short paragraphs and clear headings. A guest who has read and understood your terms before they arrive is far less likely to be surprised by anything — and far more likely to follow the rules they agreed to.

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Holiday-let agreements and guest paperwork — from £29/yr.