Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question regarding short letting? You can find your answers below.
or choose one of the options below
Getting Started & Onboarding
Pass the Keys typically aims to onboard properties within 2 weeks, though the exact timeline depends on your property's current status. If your property is guest-ready, onboarding can move quickly. If it needs furnishing, maintenance, or other preparation before welcoming guests, the process may take a little longer.
Our onboarding process typically includes:
Arranging professional photography to showcase your property.
Creating and optimising your listing across our booking channels.
Completing an initial clean and preparing the property to our hospitality standards.
Carrying out the required health and safety checks to ensure your property is ready for guests.
Organising key handover.
Publishing your listing and making it available to accept bookings.
Your local Pass the Keys team will guide you through each stage of the process and keep you updated on when your property will be ready to go live.
Related: What a Fully Managed Short-Let Service Actually Does for You
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
The minimum contract term depends on your local Pass the Keys territory and the agreement in place with your Property Manager.
In most cases, the minimum term is 6 to 12 months, and there's no additional lock-in beyond this — you're free to leave with the agreed notice period once the minimum term has passed, although this can often be discussed and tailored to your circumstances. We're happy to have a conversation about your plans and, where possible, agree on a contract that works for both parties.
If you're considering working with Pass the Keys, your local team can explain the contract terms that apply in your area before you sign, so you'll have complete clarity on any minimum commitment or notice period.
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
Pass the Keys follows a consistent operating model across all properties, which helps us maintain a high standard of service for every host and guest.
This means we're not able to accommodate every property-specific request, but many aspects such as blocking dates for personal use or setting specific house rules can be tailored to your property.
If you have a specific request in mind, your local Property Manager can let you know what's possible.
Pass the Keys combines the reach of a national brand with the attention of a local, hands-on team. Each property is managed by a dedicated local Property Manager who understands your area's market, seasonal demand, and guest expectations.
This local, personal approach is a key reason we consistently achieve some of the highest guest review scores in the industry, which directly supports stronger occupancy, pricing power, and overall returns for your property.
Beyond guest experience, Pass the Keys handles every aspect of short-let management on your behalf: multi-platform listing and marketing, dynamic pricing, 24/7 guest support, professional cleaning and turnover, and full financial transparency through your owner portal — so you can earn from your property without taking on the day-to-day workload yourself.
Related: Pass the Keys vs Houst vs GuestReady: What Are the Differences?
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
Every property Pass the Keys manages follows a structured cleaning process, with our teams working to a detailed checklist and checkout inspection to protect and maintain your property between guests. We understand that a poor experience elsewhere can make you cautious about trying again and we take that seriously.
We also stand behind the guest experience we deliver with our Quality Guarantee, available in selected territories: if a stay doesn't meet a 4-star standard, we waive our management fee for that booking and investigate what went wrong. It's not just a promise it's a commitment we hold ourselves accountable to. Your local Property Manager can confirm whether this applies in your area.
If there's something specific that went wrong previously, whether it was cleaning standards, communication, or something else let your local Property Manager know. We'll talk through exactly how we do things differently, and you're welcome to look through our reviews to see the standard for yourself.
Related: Moving on From a Bad Experience with an Airbnb Management Company
Read More: Pass the Keys' Quality Guarantee
No. Pass the Keys does not require hosts to have a minimum number of properties. Whether you have one holiday let or a larger portfolio, we can support your property management needs.
We also have the ability to manage properties across multiple territories through our network of local teams. Each property is supported by the relevant local team for its area.
Related: Do I Need Multiple Properties to Use a Holiday Let Management Company?
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
At Pass the Keys, we develop our own in-house software to manage your property and provide a comprehensive owner portal which you can access via web and mobile, so you always know exactly how your property is performing. It gives you real-time insights into your property's financial and performance metrics, lets you view post-cleaning photos and helps you complete your accounts.
Related: What Property Management Software and Owner Portal Does Pass the Keys Provide?
Read More: Pass the Keys Client Portal
Yes. As the first step in your onboarding journey, a local Pass the Keys Property Manager will visit your property to carry out a viewing and assessment before anything goes live.
During the visit, they'll:
Assess whether the property is suitable for short-term letting.
Offer recommendations on how to maximise bookings and guest satisfaction.
Identify any improvements or requirements needed before launch.
Answer any questions you have about the onboarding process, pricing, and property management.
This assessment is an opportunity for both you and your Property Manager to ensure your property is ready to deliver a great guest experience and achieve its earning potential.
Related: Is Your Property Suitable for Short Term Letting?
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
We understand you may be comparing several providers, and we'd encourage that. It helps you make the right decision for your property. What sets Pass the Keys apart is our local, hands-on approach: each property is looked after by a dedicated local Property Manager who takes the time to understand your goals and your property, rather than treating you as one of thousands on a national platform.
This personal, local involvement is a key reason we're one of the highest-reviewed providers for guest experience strong guest experience directly drives better bookings and earning potential for you as a host.
Related: Pass the Keys vs Houst vs GuestReady: What Are the Differences?
Read More: Pass the Keys Services
We ask for a minimum initial term of 6 months. This gives a new listing time to build traction and reach a steady level of bookings, and lets us gather a clear picture of demand and pricing in your local market to help ensure your property's success.
After the initial 6 months, your contract moves to a rolling monthly basis, and we only require one month's notice if you decide to offboard.
Exact terms can vary slightly by local territory, so your local Property Manager will always talk you through the specifics for your property before you sign. We aim to keep things as flexible as possible — we'd rather earn your trust through the results we deliver than lock you into a long commitment.
Related: Can I Try Holiday Let Management Without Being Locked into a Long Contract?
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
Pass the Keys operates across a growing network of locations throughout the UK and Spain. Whether we can manage your property depends on its location and whether it's within one of our service areas.
If your property is in an area we currently cover, you'll be supported by a dedicated local Property Manager who understands the local market and oversees the day-to-day management of your property.
If you're unsure whether your property falls within one of our locations, simply get in touch with our team. We'll confirm whether we cover your area and if we don't yet, we're usually looking to expand into new territories, so we'd be happy to keep you updated as we grow into your area. We're also always on the lookout for local franchise partners, so if that's of interest to you or someone you know, we'd love to talk.
Related: What a Fully Managed Short-Let Service Actually Does for You
Read More: Pass the Keys' Services
We take lease and building restrictions seriously, and we'd always recommend reviewing your lease carefully and speaking to your freeholder, management company, or a solicitor if you're unsure before proceeding with short-letting.
If your lease clearly prohibits short-term letting, we're not able to support letting the property against those terms. Every situation is different, so we recommend discussing your specific lease with your local Property Manager, who can advise on what may or may not be possible for your building.
Pass the Keys has been helping homeowners maximise their holiday let income since 2015. With over 10 years of experience, we've built a trusted network of local Property Managers, managed thousands of guest stays, and developed a fully managed service designed to help hosts earn more while enjoying a hands-off experience.
Related: Is Pass the Keys a Local or a National Company?
Read More: Who are Pass the Keys?
While national legislation provides a consistent framework, local authorities may introduce different planning, licensing and short-let rules, making compliance more complex, especially if you own properties in multiple locations.
A professional holiday let management company can help identify and monitor the planning, licensing, registration and safety requirements that apply to your property. Joining industry bodies such as STAA or PASC UK(or FEVITUR in Spain) can also help you stay informed about regulatory changes and industry developments. Where formal planning confirmation is needed, you should contact your local authority for guidance.
Yes, this doesn't need to be a blocker. We work with hosts in a range of situations, including properties that are currently tenanted, undergoing maintenance, or still need furnishing. We work with a variety of circumstances with properties, whether this be currently occupied, under extensive maintenance works or requires furnishing.
Our team can still carry out an initial assessment while your property is tenanted, so we can identify what will need to happen to make it guest-ready once your tenant vacates. This groundwork helps ensure a smooth, quick transition from sign-up to going live, rather than starting from scratch once the property becomes available.
If any remedial work is identified during this process, your rights to access the property and carry out works will depend on your specific tenancy agreement and applicable notice requirements, we'd recommend checking this with your letting agent or seeking legal advice if you're unsure.
Your property is advertised across leading holiday let booking platforms, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Google, HomeToGo, Holidu, Homelike, Plum Guide, Blueground, Rentals United, Situ, and the Pass the Keys direct booking website. This multi-platform approach helps maximise your property's visibility and booking potential.
Pass the Keys is ideal for homeowners, landlords and property investors who want to maximise their rental income without managing the day-to-day running of a holiday let.
Whether you're short on time, live abroad, have multiple properties, looking to switch from long-term letting to optimise their returns or simply want a fully managed service, we make hosting hassle-free.
A standard holiday let host contract typically outlines the services provided, management fees, payment terms and the responsibilities of both the host and property manager.
It should also cover the contract length, cancellation terms, liability, damage handling, data protection and dispute resolution. Always read the agreement carefully and seek independent legal advice if you're unsure about any terms.
Related: What Should a Holiday Let Management Agreement Include
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
Listing Optimisation
Yes. If you prefer, your property can be made available for corporate guests or longer stays rather than focusing solely on short nightly bookings.
At Pass the Keys, we list properties across multiple booking platforms to achieve the best balance of occupancy, nightly rates, and overall revenue. This diversified approach helps reduce vacant periods while maximising your earning potential.
If you have a preference for longer stays, corporate bookings, or a minimum booking length, let your local Property Manager know they can adjust your property's settings and marketing to reflect this.
Related: Short-Term vs Mid-Term Rentals
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Estimate occupancy by comparing similar holiday lets in your area and considering factors such as seasonality, local events, pricing and minimum stay requirements.
It's best to create conservative, expected and high-performance forecasts rather than relying on a single annual average. A professional holiday let management company can provide a more accurate forecast using local market data and adjust pricing as demand changes throughout the year.
Related: How Occupancy Rates Work for Short-Term Lets
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Income, Pricing & Revenue Strategy
Yes. Pass the Keys charges a one-off onboarding fee, typically £149 when you join (this can vary depending on location).
This fee covers everything needed to prepare your property for successful short-term letting, including:
Professional photographer
Onboarding and account setup
Creating and optimising your property listing
Connecting your property to major booking platforms
Initial pricing and revenue setup
Preparing your property for guest bookings
Guidance on getting your home guest-ready
The onboarding fee is a one-time cost. There is also an initial clean, which is deducted from your first invoice.
Related: Short Let Management Explained: Is It Worth The Cost?
Read More: How Much Do Holiday Let Management Companies Charge?
At Pass the Keys, our management fee is calculated as a percentage of the net booking payout rather than the gross amount paid by the guest.
When comparing holiday let management companies, it's important to understand the difference between gross and net booking revenue. Some providers advertise a lower commission percentage by calculating their fee on the gross booking value (the total amount the guest pays), while others, like Pass the Keys, calculate it on the net payout after the booking platform's service fees have been deducted.
This means a competitor advertising a lower percentage, such as 17%, may not necessarily be cheaper than a company charging 20% on the net booking payout. The different calculation methods can make direct comparisons misleading.
We're always transparent about how our management fee is calculated, so you can compare providers on a like-for-like basis and understand exactly what you're paying for. Our team will be happy to explain our pricing in more detail and answer any questions before you decide to join Pass the Keys.
Related: How Much Do Holiday Let Management Companies Charge?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
How and when you receive your rental income depends on where the booking was made.
For Airbnb bookings:
Airbnb pays the booking income directly into your bank account, usually within 24 hours of the guest checking in.
Pass the Keys then issues a fortnightly invoice for the management fees relating to those bookings.
You receive payment for each Airbnb booking as it happens, rather than waiting for a monthly payout.
For bookings made through other platforms or direct bookings:
Pass the Keys receives the payment from the booking platform after the guest has checked out.
We deduct the agreed management fee and any applicable service charges.
The remaining rental income is paid to you in the next invoicing cycle.
Your payout is made 15 days after you receive the Pass the Keys invoice that includes the booking.
In all cases, you'll receive clear, itemised invoices showing your booking income, management fees, cleaning fees, and any other applicable charges, so you have full visibility of your property's financial performance.
Related: How Do Airbnb Hosts Get Paid?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Client Portal
No — cleaning, linen, and consumables are not included in the management fee. These are separate costs paid by you as the property owner, and are invoiced to you for what we pay our third-party cleaning and linen providers.
To help offset this, we charge guests a cleaning fee as part of their booking, which covers some or all of the cleaning and linen cost. Consumables are charged on a per-booking basis based on the number of beds in the property, and can also be rolled into the guest cleaning fee to help cover this cost for you.
The exact cleaning fee varies depending on the size of the property and number of bedrooms. You'll receive a clear breakdown of all cleaning, linen, and consumables costs on your Pass the Keys invoice, so you always have full visibility over your property's income and operating costs.
Related: How Much Do Holiday Let Management Companies Charge?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Pass the Keys can't share the financial performance or booking data of other properties, as this information is confidential and protected by data privacy laws.
However, we can provide a personalised rental income estimate based on comparable properties in your area, along with current market data and local demand. Our estimates take into account factors such as:
Property type and size
Location
Seasonal demand
Local booking trends
Average nightly rates and occupancy levels
This gives you a realistic indication of your property's earning potential without compromising the privacy of other property owners. If you'd like an estimate, our team can prepare one based on your property's details and local market conditions.
Related: Airbnb Pricing Strategy
Read More: Pass the Keys' Income Calculator
No. Pass the Keys does not offer a guaranteed rent or fixed rent model. Instead, we use a performance-based management approach, where our focus is on maximising your property's income through dynamic pricing, marketing, guest management and local expertise.
From our experience, guaranteed rent models can sometimes limit a property's long-term potential, as the company managing the property may not have the same level of investment as the homeowner. Our approach keeps the focus on maintaining your property, improving guest experience and maximising returns over time.
Related: Holiday Let Income: How Much Can You Earn in 2026?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Our management fee for short-let services starts from 18% + VAT of Net Booking Value. Net Booking Value is the guest payment amount less online travel platforms' (Airbnb, Booking.com, etc) commission.
Some companies charge on Gross Booking Value, which includes the platform commission. 18% of Net Booking Value is roughly equivalent to 14.5% of Gross Booking Value.
Fees vary by location, property type and service model.
Related: How Much Do Holiday Let Management Companies Charge?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
The earning potential of your property depends on several factors, including its location, size, number of bedrooms, amenities, local demand, reviews and seasonal trends.
Pass the Keys can provide a personalised income estimate based on comparable properties in your area, current market data, and expected occupancy levels. This will give you an indication of potential nightly rates, monthly revenue, and overall earning potential.
Our estimates take into account factors such as:
Local booking demand and seasonality
Comparable properties in your area
Expected occupancy levels
Average nightly rates
Property features and guest appeal
While income can vary throughout the year, our revenue management team uses dynamic pricing strategies to help maximise your returns by adjusting rates in line with changing market conditions.
For a quick indicative estimate, you can use our free income calculator — or speak to our team for a more accurate, personalised assessment based on your property's specific details.
Related: Airbnb Pricing Strategy
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
We work on a percentage-based management model rather than a guaranteed fixed rent. A guaranteed rent model can offer predictable monthly income, but the fixed payment is typically set below a property's full earning potential, to account for the operator's risk.
With our percentage-based model, you benefit directly from strong performance — higher nightly rates, peak seasons, and increased demand all translate into more income for you. This also keeps our goals aligned with yours: we both benefit from maximising occupancy, pricing, and overall revenue, rather than us capping your upside to protect a fixed payment.
While income can vary throughout the year, professional revenue management and multi-platform marketing help maximise your holiday let's earning potential over the full year, not just the peak months.
Related: Guaranteed Rent vs Holiday Let Management
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Occupancy rates vary throughout the year depending on your property’s location, local demand and seasonality. Rather than targeting a fixed percentage, the aim is to balance high occupancy with maximising revenue.
In popular city locations, demand is often more consistent year-round. In traditional holiday destinations, occupancy typically peaks during June–September, when demand and nightly rates are highest, while October–April can be quieter.
To maintain income during lower-demand periods, we may use a mid-let strategy offering the property for longer stays (typically a few weeks to a few months) to secure bookings when short-stay demand is lower.Dynamic pricing also helps adjust rates based on market demand, local events and booking trends.
Hosts can track performance through the Client Portal, including a rolling 12-month occupancy overview based on booked nights compared with available nights. Keeping your calendar open and limiting blocked dates can help maximise earning potential.
Related: How Occupancy Rates Work for Short Term Lets
Read More: Pass the Keys: Pricing
Pass the Keys uses a combination of multi-platform distribution, professional listing optimisation, dynamic pricing, and reputation management to maximise your property's visibility and bookings.
Your property is listed across 20+ platforms including Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo with professional photography and SEO-optimised copywriting to help it rank well in search results. Our dynamic pricing tools continuously adjust nightly rates based on demand, events, and competitor pricing, while our focus on guest responsiveness and review generation helps boost your visibility on platform algorithms.
Because we operate through local franchise partners, your property also benefits from hyper-local expertise your local team understands area-specific demand drivers, like festivals or major local events, and fine-tunes marketing and pricing accordingly.
Our management fee is charged as a percentage of the Net Booking Value (NBV). This is the booking value after platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com have deducted their fees, so you only pay our management fee on the revenue you receive.
To help protect your earnings, we also use a pricing inflator across booking channels. This adjusts the guest-facing price to help account for platform fees, so the impact on your net revenue is minimised.
Related: How Much Do Holiday Let Management Companies Charge?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
In some areas, long-term letting can still be the better option but for popular UK destinations like London, Edinburgh, and Bath, short-let typically results in higher income potential than a traditional long-term tenancy.
We use dynamic pricing tools to capture live market data, helping us provide accurate, realistic income predictions for your specific property and location. Combined with our team's local market experience, this allows us to give you an honest view of what's achievable including in cases where the difference is smaller than expected. For example, some quieter, less well-connected residential areas of London see short-let income that isn't significantly higher than long-let.
We're committed to being transparent with every host, even if that means advising that long-term letting may be the more suitable option for your property.
Beyond projections, our incentives are aligned with yours: our ongoing management fee is a percentage of your actual booking revenue, so we only earn more when you do — we have a direct interest in maximising your property's performance, not just estimating it optimistically to win your business.
Related: What's the Difference Between Long-Term and Short-Term Letting?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
Yes. Minimum stay requirements vary by property, location, and owner preference. We don't apply one fixed minimum across all listings, but as standard, we don't accept 1-night bookings, which also helps reduce the risk of short, disruptive stays.
A typical holiday let may have a minimum stay of 2–3 nights, adjusted based on local demand, seasonality, and property strategy. During quieter periods we may reduce the minimum stay to help maximise occupancy, and during peak periods we may increase it — but our standard policy is to keep this at 2 nights or above.
Pass the Keys uses dynamic pricing and revenue management strategies to help optimise minimum stays, nightly rates, and availability, to make the most of your property's earning potential.
Related: What Is the Minimum Contract Term for an Airbnb Management Company?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Pricing
News, Insights & Trends
Regulations & Legal
Meeting the business rates qualification criteria is the best way to mitigate council tax. Most holiday lets will qualify for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), which means you wont pay any council tax or business rates. This is general guidance only for advice specific to your property and circumstances, our partner ZEAL specialises in holiday let tax and can help confirm your eligibility.For more information on paying tax on holiday homes, visit Zeal.
Related: How to Avoid the 100% Council Tax Premium on Second Homes
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
The requirements for short-term letting vary depending on your property's location, so we always recommend checking any local regulations that apply to your area.
In many areas of England, there is currently no specific short-let licence required, and planning permission is not usually needed for standard short-term letting. However, certain locations may have additional rules, restrictions, or licensing requirements.
Regardless of location, every property must meet essential health and safety requirements before welcoming guests.
This includes ensuring relevant certificates and checks are in place, such as:
Gas safety certification (where applicable)
Electrical safety requirements
Fire safety measures, including appropriate alarms and equipment
Any other legal or property-specific compliance requirements
Pass the Keys will help guide you through the requirements for your property and ensure it is prepared to provide a safe and compliant guest experience.I
It's also worth noting that the UK government is introducing a mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets in England, expected to roll out from 2026, we'll keep you updated on how this affects your property as it comes into effect.
Related: Do You Need a Short Let License or Planning Permission in the UK?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
It depends on the type of mortgage you have.
If you have a holiday let mortgage, the product is specifically designed for short-term holiday rentals, so letting the property to guests is usually permitted.
However, if you have a residential mortgage or a buy-to-let mortgage, you will typically need to check with your lender before offering the property as a short-term or holiday let. Many mortgage products either restrict or prohibit short-term letting, although some may allow it under certain conditions.
Always review your mortgage terms and conditions and, if you're unsure, contact your lender for confirmation before accepting bookings.
If you're looking to arrange a mortgage suitable for holiday letting, our partner HHH Mortgages specialises in this area and can help ensure you have the right product in place. For more information, visit HHH Mortgages.
This information is general guidance only — for advice specific to your mortgage and circumstances, please speak to your lender or a qualified mortgage broker.
This depends on how much your property is actually let out during the year.
In England and Scotland, if your property is available for short-term letting for at least 140 days and is actually let for at least 70 days within any 12-month period, it will typically be assessed for business rates rather than council tax. In Wales, the thresholds are higher 252 available days and 182 actually-let days.
If your property doesn't meet these thresholds, it will usually remain liable for council tax instead.
This is general guidance only for advice specific to your property and circumstances, our partner ZEAL specialises in holiday let tax and can help confirm what applies to you.
For more information on paying tax on holiday homes, visit Zeal.
Related: How to Avoid the 100% Council Tax Premium on Second Homes
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
Building regulations for a holiday let conversion depend on your property's location, current use and the work being carried out.
You may need building regulations approval for structural changes, fire safety, insulation, ventilation, drainage or electrical work. This is separate from planning permission, so you should check whether you need both before starting your project.
Since requirements vary significantly by property and project, we recommend checking with your local council's building control team or a qualified professional before starting any conversion work.
Once your holiday let is operating, it must also comply with the relevant fire safety requirements, including a suitable fire risk assessment.
Related: Building Regulations for Holiday Lets: The Complete Guide
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
The legal requirements depend on where your property is located, but you may need to:
Contact your local authority about planning permission, licensing, registration or council tax requirements.
Register with any national holiday let scheme that applies in your area, such as Scotland's licensing scheme or Wales' visitor accommodation registration.
Declare your holiday let income to HMRC and register for Self Assessment if required.
Notify your mortgage lender, insurer and freeholder (if leasehold), as these are usually contractual requirements rather than legal ones.
Related: The Complete Guide to Short Term Rental Regulations in the UK
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
Usually, no. Most standard residential mortgages do not allow holiday letting or short-term rentals without your lender's permission.
Before listing your property on Airbnb or any other short-term letting platform, you should check your mortgage terms, contact your lender, and obtain written permission if required.
If your lender doesn't allow holiday letting, you may need to switch to a mortgage designed for holiday lets or short-term rental properties. If your current mortgage deal is ending soon, this is often the easiest time to review your options.
If you're still within a fixed-rate or discounted mortgage term, switching early could result in early repayment charges or other fees, so it's important to weigh up the costs before making any changes.
You should never let your property without your lender's permission if it's required. Doing so could breach your mortgage conditions and, in some cases, lead to serious financial or legal consequences.
If you're unsure what your mortgage allows, speaking to a specialist mortgage adviser is the safest next step. Our partner, HHH Mortgages, can review your current mortgage, explain your options and help you find a suitable solution if you need to switch before starting your holiday let journey.
Short-let regulations vary depending on where your property is located, but generally cover a few key areas: planning permission (including rules like London's 90-day limit on whole-property lets without permission), local licensing requirements in some cities and councils, health and safety standards (fire safety, gas safety, electrical checks), andtax obligations on your rental income.
Requirements differ significantly by city and council, so it's important to understand what applies specifically to your property's location. Pass the Keys helps guide hosts through the relevant compliance requirements for their area as part of onboarding, so you're not left to navigate this alone.
Related: The Complete Guide To Short Let Regulations in the UK
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
If a property is owned by personally, income tax is payable at 20%/40%/45% on the profits of the holiday letting. From April 2027, there will be an additional 2% tax charge on property income, increasing the rates to 22%/42%/47%.
If a property is owned by a limited company, corporation tax is paid on the profits of the holiday letting. Corporation tax rates are currently 19% to 25% depending on the level of profits and number of companies that are linked to the company.
Holiday lets can deduct the costs of running the business from their income when calculating taxable profits.
Examples include cleaning, utilities, welcome packs, travel costs, broadband etc.
Tax rules depend on your individual circumstances, so this is general guidance only, not personal tax advice. Our partner ZEAL specialises in holiday let tax and can advise on your specific situation, or see our full UK Holiday Tax Guide below Zeal or take a look at Pass the Keys' UK Holiday Tax Guide.
Related: UK Holiday Let Tax Guide
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
As a holiday let is classed as commercial accommodation, you must comply with the relevant fire safety laws for your property's location.
This usually includes:
Completing and regularly reviewing a written fire risk assessment
Installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Providing safe escape routes and any required fire safety equipment
Displaying a fire escape plan and emergency instructions for guests
Testing and maintaining all fire safety systems and equipment
The rules vary across the UK and Spain, so it is important to check the legislation that applies to your property. Pass the Keys helps hosts understand their responsibilities and stay compliant with holiday let fire regulations.
Relevant legislation: England and Wales—Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005¹; Scotland—Fire (Scotland) Act 2005²; Northern Ireland—Fire and Rescue Services Order 2006³; Spain—Código Técnico de la Edificación and applicable regional rules.⁴
Related: The Complete Guide to Short Term Rental Regulations in the UK
Read More: Pass the Keys' Regulations & Legal
Client Portal
Property Preparations & Operations
Yes, you are welcome to provide additional rules that you would like guests to follow while staying in your property. These will be added both to the Airbnb listing and the digital Guest Manual we send to guests ahead of each stay.
No, you won't be able to use your Airbnb account for personal travel bookings for as long as Pass the Keys manages it. This is because we will require sole access to the account to ensure it's security is maintained.
As part of the onboarding process we have to replace the email address in the account in order to link it up with our system. As a result, any emails relating to personal bookings you may have will come directly to us instead of you. It is therefore not possible you to use your account for travelling.
A cleaning cost is charged to you as the property owner after each guest stay. We also charge guests a cleaning fee with each booking to help cover this cost.
Cleaning rates vary by location and are charged on an hourly basis. The cost of each clean depends on your property, including its size, the number of bedrooms, and the number of beds and linen sets that need to be prepared. We set the expected cleaning time for each property to ensure it is cleaned and prepared to our standards for every guest arrival.
Your local Pass the Keys team will discuss the cleaning rates and expected cleaning time for your property with you as part of the onboarding process.
Related: Cleaning Fees for Airbnb: How to Set the Right Fee in Your Property
Read More: Getting Started & Onboarding
No, Pass the Keys only takes on entire properties.
This is because whole property lets typically offer a better guest experience, stronger reviews, and higher earning potential than room by room letting, and it allows us to maintain consistent quality and service standards across every property we manage.
If you're specifically looking to let out a spare room rather than your whole property, this isn't something we're able to support but we're happy to advise on your options if you're unsure which route makes sense for your situation.
Pass the Keys uses a combination of booking platform verification and additional guest screening measures to help protect your property.
For Airbnb bookings, we use Airbnb’s built-in guest verification system, which allows us to review guest profiles, previous reviews and verification status. Instant Book is only available for guests who meet Airbnb’s requirements.
For bookings through other platforms, we use Truvi, our guest verification and damage protection provider. Guests must complete the verification process before check-in, adding an extra layer of security for both hosts and properties.
This combination helps reduce risk and ensures every booking is managed with guest safety and property protection in mind.
Related: How Does the Guest Vetting and Screening Process Work?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Guest Verification
Yes. You're free to use your property for personal stays whenever you like — for yourself, or for family and friends.
You can easily block out dates through the Pass the Keys Client Portal, giving you full control over your property's availability. Simply select the dates you'd like to reserve, and they'll be removed from the booking calendar so guests can't book them.
You can even arrange a cleaning service for the end of your stay. Unlike some management companies, we don't limit how often you can use your own property. If you need any assistance managing your calendar, your local Property Manager is also on hand to help.
If a review is inaccurate, unfair, or breaches the booking platform's review guidelines, we can report it to the relevant platform and provide supporting evidence where appropriate.
If a review cannot be removed, our team ensures every guest review receives a professional and timely response on your behalf so you never have to deal with a difficult review alone. This allows us to address any concerns, demonstrate excellent customer service, and reassure future guests that feedback is handled properly.
Our focus is on maintaining a strong reputation for your property by resolving issues quickly, learning from feedback, and continually improving the guest experience.
Related: How to Manage Your Online Reputation
Read More: Pass the Keys' Reviews
Yes. Your existing Airbnb reviews can be retained, but Pass the Keys will need to take over and manage your existing Airbnb listing.
By transferring management of the listing rather than creating a brand-new one, your previous guest reviews and rating history can remain in place, helping maintain your property's reputation and providing future guests with confidence when booking.
Our team will guide you through the transition process to ensure the changeover is as smooth as possible. Note that this does mean Pass the Keys takes over management of that existing Airbnb account if you use the same account for personal travel bookings, you may want to set up a separate personal Airbnb account first.
Related: Can You Keep Your Airbnb Reviews When Switching to Pass the Keys?
Read More: Pass the Keys Reviews
Yes, this doesn't need to be a blocker. We regularly work with hosts who plan to sell in the future, and can tailor our approach depending on where you are in your selling journey.
We typically ask for a minimum initial term of 6 months, though this can sometimes be flexible if we feel it's still worthwhile for both sides in a shorter window. If you're actively selling, we can also offer a shorter notice period (typically 30–45 days) so you have more flexibility to hand the property back once a sale is ready to proceed.
Our service can also work alongside your sale simply share our contact details with your estate agent, and we can help coordinate viewings around existing guest bookings, so short-letting and selling don't have to be mutually exclusive.
Related: Short-Let Your Property While Selling
Read More: Property Preparation & Operations
Yes. You're free to use your property for personal stays whenever you like.
You can easily block out dates through the Pass the Keys Client Portal, giving you full control over your property's availability. Simply select the dates you'd like to reserve for yourself, and they'll be removed from the booking calendar so guests can't book them.
If you need any assistance managing your calendar, your local Property Manager is also on hand to help. This gives you the flexibility to enjoy your property while still maximising its earning potential during the rest of the year.
Related: Can I Still Use My Holiday Home If I Rent It Out on Airbnb?
Read More: Pass the Keys' Client Portal
Yes. You can keep personal belongings at the property by locking them away in a dedicated cupboard or by locking off a specific room that won't be accessible to guests.
This is a common option for owners who use their property themselves or want to store personal items securely between stays. The only consideration is that any locked room or storage area shouldn't negatively affect the guest experience or change the property's advertised layout or amenities.
Your local Property Manager can advise on the best way to store personal belongings while ensuring your listing accurately reflects what guests can expect.
Related: Can I Still Use My Holiday Home If I Rent It Out on Airbnb?
Read More: Property Preparation & Operations
Yes. If you already have trusted tradespeople or a cleaning company you would like to use, you can continue working with them.
We’ll simply need their contact details so our team can liaise with them directly when required, helping ensure any cleaning, maintenance, or property issues are handled efficiently.
We work with your existing suppliers where possible, while ensuring the property continues to meet Pass the Keys’ quality and guest experience standards.
If your preferred provider isn't able to consistently meet the standard required, we'll discuss this with you and, where needed, may recommend switching to one of our trusted local partners.
Related: Can Airbnb Hosts Use Their Own Cleaners?
Read More: Property Preparations & Operations
Not at all, we have many hosts in our portfolio who live overseas, and we're well set up to support international hosts with clear, responsive communication.
Many overseas hosts choose our Hassle-Free service, since time differences can make it difficult to quickly approve things like urgent maintenance or furnishing decisions. If you'd prefer to stay closely involved in these decisions, our Involved service is also available our support team is available 24 hours a day, though under this option, if we haven't heard back from you within 3 hours on an urgent matter, we may need to act on your behalf to avoid delays, in line with our terms and conditions.
We find WhatsApp works particularly well for overseas hosts, since it allows for quicker, more flexible communication than email.
You'll also have full visibility of your property at any time through the Client Portal including bookings, reviews, and cleaning and maintenance activity so you can check in on how your property is being looked after whenever suits you.
Related: How to Manage an Airbnb Remotely
Read More: Pass the Keys' Client Portal
Guest Experience & Communication
Pass the Keys takes several steps to minimise the risk of parties and unsuitable bookings.
All guests are required to comply with our House Rules, which clearly prohibit parties, excessive noise, and unauthorised visitors.
For Airbnb bookings, we also benefit from Airbnb's verification process and previous host reviews, allowing us to identify higher-risk guests before accepting a booking.
For other booking platforms, bookings are generally confirmed instantly, so pre-approval isn't possible. Instead, every guest is required to complete verification through Truvi, our guest ID verification partner, before check-in adding an extra layer of protection and accountability.
We also apply a minimum night booking policy, which helps deter short, one-night "party bookings" that are a higher risk for this kind of disruptive behaviour.
While no screening process can completely eliminate risk, these measures significantly reduce the likelihood of disruptive stays and help protect both hosts and their properties.
Related: How to Prevent Party Bookings in Your Holiday Let
Read More: Guest Verification
Pass the Keys provides 24/7 guest support, so guests always have access to assistance if they experience any issues during their stay, including late-night arrival problems.
If a guest is unable to access the property, our support team will work quickly to resolve the issue. Depending on the property's access setup, this may include backup solutions such as a spare key held securely through a service like Keynest, or coordinating alternative key access with your local Property Manager.
This means guests can get the help they need at any time, while ensuring your property remains secure and well managed.
Related: How to Manage and Airbnb Remotely
Read More: Guest Experience & Communication
If a guest damages your property, Pass the Keys manages the entire claims process on your behalf. Eligible Airbnb bookings are covered through AirCover for Hosts, while bookings from other platforms are protected through Truvi for verified guests.
Property damage, parties, and disruptive guests are rare. We help reduce risk through guest verification, clear House Rules, and professional guest support throughout every stay.
If an incident does occur, our team investigates, gathers evidence, submits the claim, and coordinates any necessary repairs to get your property back to guest-ready condition as quickly as possible, minimising disruption and protecting your investment.
Related: Guest Verification
Read More: How to Prevent Party Bookings in Your Holiday Let
Yes, your property will need to be fully furnished and equipped before it can be listed for short-term stays. You have two options:
Furnish the property yourself, ensuring it meets our hospitality standards for guest comfort, safety and quality.
Get support from your local Pass the Keys team — most territories can help source furnishing or furnish the property on your behalf, so you don't have to manage it yourself. Availability and exact support varies by location, so your local Property Manager can confirm what's offered in your area.
All properties must meet the Pass the Keys Hospitality Standards before going live. These standards cover furniture, kitchen equipment, bedrooms, bathrooms, safety requirements, Wi-Fi, and the amenities guests expect from a professionally managed short-term rental. This helps ensure a consistent guest experience and supports stronger reviews and booking performance.
See our Hospitality Standards document for the full list of furnishing and equipment requirements.
Related: Pass the Keys' Hospitality Standards
Read More: Does Your Property Need to Be Furnished Before You Can List It as a Holiday Let?
This is a completely valid concern, and one we take seriously. Every booking request is reviewed by our guest support team, and we can decline any guest with a history of low ratings or negative feedback from previous hosts helping avoid the kind of guests most likely to cause noise or disruption in the first place.
We also understand that every building is different. If you have a good relationship with a neighbour or building management, you're welcome to share our contact details with them directly, so they can reach us immediately if any concern comes up giving everyone a quick, direct line rather than having to go through you.
Your local Property Manager can talk through your specific building and any concerns you have as part of your onboarding, so we can tailor our approach where needed.
One thing Pass the Keys likes to offer is contacts for any hosts who have friends or good relationships with their neighbours that can contact us should they have any concerns. Primarily this is down to noise levels. Pass the Keys also takes special care to reassure hosts with our commitment to quality guests and how our team reviews booking requests. If any guests make requests where their personal ratings are low or feedback has been provided by previous host experiences, we can decline the booking.
Related: How to Prevent Party Bookings
Read More: How Pass the Keys Promotes Responsible Holiday Let Management
You can contact Pass the Keys by visiting our Contact page, where you'll find the details for your local team.
Alternatively, you can email us at info@passthekeys.com or call our head office on 0208 050 2818.
Our local Property Managers are happy to answer any questions about our fully managed holiday let service.
For any guest or host complaints please email:
Guests: guest-concerns@passthekeys.com
Hosts: host-concerns@passthekeys.com
Yes. If a key safe or lockbox isn't permitted or isn't suitable for your property, Pass the Keys can use Keynest as a secure alternative.
Keynest is a trusted key management service that stores your keys in approved local shops or secure lockers. Guests receive a unique access code to collect and return the keys at the start and end of their stay.
This provides a secure, convenient check-in solution for properties where installing a lockbox isn't possible, while maintaining a smooth experience for both owners and guests.
Related: How to Manage an Airbnb Remotely: A Guide to Keys, Check-Ins and Guest Access
Read More: Guest Experience & Communication
Your dedicated point of contact is your local franchisee or their operations manager, the person who knows your property and your local market best. They handle your onboarding, answer questions about performance and pricing, and are your main point of contact for anything specific to your property.
For guest-facing issues that need an immediate response such as access problems or urgent queries during a stay our 24/7 guest support team is also available, so you're never left without support outside your account manager's working hours.
How you reach your local team can vary by territory this might be by phone, email, or WhatsApp and they'll confirm the best way to get in touch during your onboarding.
Related: Who Looks After My Property?
Yes. Pass the Keys' Quality Guarantee is a commitment to the standard of guest experience we deliver: if a guest stay doesn't meet a 4-star rating on Airbnb (or the equivalent 7+ score on Booking.com), we waive our management commission for that booking.
It's not just a refund — every stay that falls below this threshold triggers an internal quality review to identify what went wrong and put corrective action in place, so the same issue doesn't happen again.
A few important details on scope: the guarantee is available to hosts joining Pass the Keys for the first time (not existing hosts), applies where the management fee is 20% + VAT, covers short stays under 7 nights only (not mid-term or extended stays), and is available in selected territories. Your local Property Manager can confirm your eligibility.
The process depends on the booking platform.
For Airbnb bookings, there is no traditional security deposit. Instead, eligible damage claims are handled through AirCover for Hosts. Pass the Keys manages the claims process on your behalf, including submitting evidence to Airbnb.
For bookings through other platforms, we use Truvi for guest verification and damage protection. Guests can either pay a non-refundable Damage Waiver or provide a refundable security deposit before check-in.
If damage occurs, our team manages the claims process, helping gather evidence and liaising with the relevant provider to support a resolution.
Related: Guest Damage Protection: What Hosts Need to Know
Read More: Pass the Keys' Guest Verification
We can utilise rail mounted key safes in nearby communal areas, the key safe itself has no indicator on in to the property nor the keys showcase the property should it be tampered with - but our experience of this is very minimal.
We also have KeySafe points where keys can be picked up by guests at a secure location, usually opened 24 hours or until 11pm. Guests on the day of check in receive a bespoke code which they give to these locations (usually conveinience stores) where they can access the keys, they then return the keys to this location at the end of their stay.
As soon as keys are picked up, we receive a notification on our system so we know exactly whether the keys are physically with a guest or secured at the KeyNest location. This is a subscription service that costs £30 per month and is charged to the Host.
Related: Pass the Keys' Services
Read More: What If I Can't Install a Key Safe at My Property?
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