DiscoverHost Planet: Expert Insights for Short-Term RentalsFarm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work
Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work

Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work

Update: 2025-11-03
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Thinking about diversifying your farm income? In this episode of Holiday Let Insider, Katie Williams from Sykes Holiday Cottages explains why holiday letting can outperform other property investments – and how to get started the right way.


What we cover:


- Why diversification into holiday lets makes sense for farms.

- Best conversions (barns, annexes, shepherd’s huts) and must-have amenities.

- A real case study and what to focus on first.

- Planning permission and regulation essentials.

- How Sykes can help you launch and scale.


1:49 Why diversification is a good idea for farmers 

3:09 The advantages of holiday letting compared to other forms of property investment

4:55 Join us for Holiday Let Success at Sykes HQ in Chester on Tuesday 11 November

5:47 The type of conversions which work best

7:05 The amenities guests are looking for

12:06 Diversification case study

17:26 What to concentrate on at the start of your diversification journey

22:00 Planning permission and regulation

23:22 Speak to Sykes if you’d like to get started: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/


Farm Business Innovation Show: 5-6 November: https://www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk/


Holiday Let Success: Tuesday 11 November, Sykes HQ, Chester: https://www.hostplanet.club/events (this event is now fully booked!)


Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/


James Varley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/


Katie Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-williams-5949a0a2/


Sykes Holiday Cottages: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/


Episode to check next: Responsible Holiday Letting: Boost Accessibility & Enhance the Guest Experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWPro9KuSFA&t=5s


Holiday Let Insider is presented by James Varley, a holiday let investor and property manager who is also the Founder of Host Planet. Before founding Host Planet, James spent 20 years in the media, including a decade leading corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.


Contact the show: info@hostplanet.club


#HostPlanet #HostPlanetPodcast #HostPlanetBitesize #ShortTermRentals #VacationRentals #HolidayLets #Airbnb #BookDirect #PropertyManagement #PropertyInvestment #BookingCom #Vrbo #SykesCottages #JamesVarley #KatieWilliams #Farming #Diversification

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Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work

Farm Diversification: Make Holiday Lets Work

James Varley | Host Planet