Serviced accommodation represents a rapidly growing sector within the UK property market, offering guests the space and flexibility of a fully furnished apartment combined with hotel-style services and amenities. These properties provide an alternative to traditional hotels, delivering the comforts of home with the convenience of professional hospitality services, making them increasingly popular amongst travellers across the country.

Understanding Serviced Accommodation

Serviced accommodation comprises fully furnished properties available for short-term rental periods, ranging from a single night to several months. Unlike traditional buy-to-let properties with standard six or twelve-month tenancy agreements, serviced accommodation operates on a more flexible, hotel-like booking model. However, unlike hotels, these properties provide separate living spaces, fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and often multiple bedrooms, creating a true home-from-home experience that hotels simply cannot replicate.

The defining characteristic of serviced accommodation lies in its comprehensive approach to guest comfort. Properties include all essential amenities from high-quality bed linen and towels to fully stocked kitchens with crockery, cookware, and modern appliances. Professional housekeeping services maintain immaculate standards throughout each stay, whilst round-the-clock guest support ensures any concerns receive immediate attention, delivering the reassurance guests expect from premium accommodation.

Who Uses Serviced Accommodation?

The serviced accommodation sector attracts many different types of guests, each drawn by different advantages these properties offer over traditional hotel rooms or standard rental properties: 

Business travellers 

Business travellers represent a significant portion of serviced accommodation guests, particularly those undertaking extended assignments or project work requiring weeks or months in unfamiliar cities. These professionals value having dedicated workspace, kitchen facilities enabling healthy eating habits, and separate living areas that support work-life balance during extended stays away from home.

Families and leisure travellers

Families and leisure travellers increasingly choose serviced accommodation for holidays and short breaks. The additional space proves invaluable when travelling with children, whilst kitchen facilities offer both cost savings and dietary flexibility that hotels cannot match. Multiple bedrooms provide privacy for different family members, creating comfortable experiences that strengthen serviced accommodation’s appeal for longer breaks.

Relocating professionals 

Relocating professionals and their families frequently use serviced accommodation as temporary housing whilst searching for permanent homes. These guests require flexible booking durations, fully equipped properties enabling normal daily routines, and locations near schools or workplaces, making serviced accommodation the perfect interim solution during transitional periods.

International visitors and tourists

International visitors and tourists often prefer serviced accommodation over hotels, particularly when exploring UK destinations for extended periods. The ability to self-cater proves especially attractive to international guests adapting to British cuisine, whilst the extra space and local neighbourhood locations provide more authentic experiences than tourist-district hotels.

How Does Serviced Accommodation Work?

For guests, booking serviced accommodation typically mirrors hotel reservation processes. Guests search available properties on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or directly through property management companies, viewing detailed descriptions, photographs, and previous guest reviews. Once booked, guests receive check-in instructions, property access details, and local area information, with professional support available throughout their stay for any questions or concerns.

For property owners, operating serviced accommodation requires significantly more involvement than traditional buy-to-let arrangements. Successful serviced accommodation demands constant availability for guest communications, frequent property turnovers requiring professional cleaning after each departure, dynamic pricing strategies that maximise income whilst maintaining high occupancy, and rapid response to maintenance issues that could affect guest experiences or generate negative reviews.

Many property owners partner with professional management companies to handle these demanding operational requirements, transforming their investment into truly passive income whilst ensuring properties maintain the exceptional standards that command premium nightly rates and generate positive reviews driving future bookings.

What Are the Different Types of Serviced Accommodation?

The serviced accommodation sector encompasses various property formats, each appealing to different market segments and offering distinct advantages for property investors.

Studio Apartments and One-Bedroom Flats

These compact properties suit business travellers, couples, and solo visitors seeking city centre locations. Despite their smaller footprint, well-designed studios can command impressive nightly rates, particularly in prime urban locations where space comes at a premium. Their lower purchase prices and reduced cleaning costs make them attractive entry points for investors exploring the serviced accommodation market.

Multi-Bedroom Apartments and Houses

Properties with two, three, or more bedrooms target families, groups, and relocating professionals requiring more extensive living space. These properties typically achieve higher total nightly revenues compared to studios, though they demand proportionally higher cleaning costs and furniture investments. The ability to accommodate larger groups often results in superior returns, particularly in tourist destinations and university cities.

Aparthotels and Serviced Apartment Buildings

Purpose-built aparthotels combine individual apartment units with shared facilities like gyms, lounges, or business centres. These developments offer professional management infrastructure from inception, providing consistent standards that attract corporate clients and premium leisure travellers willing to pay elevated rates for additional amenities and hotel-style services.

What Does Running Serviced Accommodation Involve?

Successfully operating serviced accommodation requires managing numerous responsibilities that collectively determine your property’s profitability and reputation: 

• Guest communications demand constant attention, with enquiries arriving at all hours requiring prompt, professional responses that convert interest into confirmed bookings. 
• Property maintenance and housekeeping standards directly impact guest satisfaction and review scores. Professional cleaning after every departure must restore properties to spotless condition, whilst routine maintenance prevents small issues from escalating into emergency repairs during occupied periods. 
• Financial management encompasses diverse responsibilities beyond simply collecting payments. Dynamic pricing strategies adjust rates continuously based on local demand patterns, seasonal variations, and competitor positioning. 

Is Serviced Accommodation Profitable?

Serviced accommodation typically generates significantly higher returns than traditional buy-to-let arrangements, often achieving two to three times the monthly income of standard tenancies. This enhanced profitability stems from premium nightly rates, particularly during peak demand periods, and the flexibility to adjust pricing dynamically rather than being constrained by fixed monthly rents.

However, increased returns come alongside higher operational costs and management demands. Professional cleaning after each guest departure, utility bills that owners typically cover, platform commission fees, and ongoing furniture replacement create substantial expenses that reduce net income. Time requirements for guest communications, booking management, and property oversight can prove considerable without professional management support.

Why Choose Professional Management for Your Serviced Accommodation?

Serviced accommodation management transforms serviced accommodation from a time-intensive operation into genuinely passive income whilst maximising your property’s earning potential. EasierManagement handles every operational aspect, from 24/7 guest support and professional housekeeping coordination to sophisticated revenue management and regulatory compliance.

Our transparent approach means no hidden fees or unexpected charges, with straightforward pricing that aligns our success with yours. We remain available seven days weekly, including holidays, ensuring your property receives expert attention whilst you enjoy complete freedom from daily management demands. 

With extensive knowledge of diverse markets across the South West, we position your property for optimal returns whether targeting business travellers, families, or extended-stay guests. Contact us today to discover how our hands-off management service transforms your property into a thriving serviced accommodation investment.