Huku Kwetu Corporate Rental Homeowner FAQ

Huku Kwetu makes renting out your short term rental easy – but we understand that homeowners and rentals managers have a lot of questions. We’re here to help!  We have compiled answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive from homeowners or the managers.

Why should I use a management Company?

A short let management company like Huku Kwetu can take the hassle out of renting your property and provide the expertise to get the best returns.

There is a lot of work and knowledge required both in setting up a property for rental and managing it on an ongoing basis. Most hosts don’t have the time or interest to do this.

Huku Kwetu is an established short let operating with many years of experience to help you manage your property on a short let basis.

 

What about Insurance? 

Yes depending on the site you advertise on, some of the major ones offer insurance cover in the case of damage (eg Airbnb host guarantee: www.airbnb.co.uk/guarantee), its advisable you read the terms to understand what is and is not covered. We also advise you to take out home protection insurance and inform them that you are renting out the space.

What happens when Guests damage something?

We check the property after each guest visit and will notify you if there was any damage, in general we would advise taking a Damage Deposit to help with compensation having a suitable insurance policy to provide an additional level of cover. We also can provide a tradesman to fix and maintain your property.

Do you ask Guests for a deposit?

Yes for all our listings we require a deposit from the guests. Depending on the booking platform the deposit is either charged as a pre-authorization against their card in case a claim and charge is made or by direct payment which we hold until after the guests have checked out and the property has been checked.

Where do you Operate?

We provide Short / Long let in London, across all the UK. Please contact us to find out if we can cover your property at admin@hukukwetu.com

Can I block days out in my calendar?

Yes, you can block out any periods you want or when the property is not available for rent, just contact us and we can block it out for you.

Do you work with other sites other than Airbnb?

Yes we cover all the main short term rental advertising sites such as Airbnb, Booking.com. HomeAway, Expedia.com, HolidayLettings, and many others, just let us know what sites you are using to advertise your property. We have a dedicated team and software that will keep track of all your property bookings, which ensures there are no crossovers between stays booked on different platforms.

 

How do guests check in?

At Huku Kwetu we offer a personal or self check-in. Depending on your location we offer personal meet and greet for guests where we hand over the keys. Alternatively guests can self-check in using a variety of options to enable self-check in such as key locks, key storage points or smart locks. Self-check in gives more flexibility for guests, especially if they are travelling as it means they do not have to worry if they are delayed or when they arrive.

Do you do property maintenance ?

We can help manage any property maintenance and repairs arising during guests’ stay. Included in the service is coordinating with suitable Fundi to fix any issues most commonly arising such as boiler/heating, electrical, locks, plumbing and handyman general repairs.

Are there any restrictions to the period I can short let my property? 

This can vary by area and you may need to check if any legislation exists or requirements for the amount of days you can short let your property.

Properties in Greater London are restricted from letting their property for no more than 90 days per year. The 90-day limit applies to both 90 consecutive days or 90 days spread throughout the year. Many hosts combine mid or longer-term tenancies (e.g. more than 3 months) with multiple short-term tenancies per year.

Is there a minimum period that I can rent my property for?

There is not really a minimum limit but in general the more availability and the longer the property is available for the better chance to get bookings. Also the further in advance the property is available to rent is better rather than providing last minute availability as you will be limited to last minute bookers at lower rates.

Our minimum booking period is 5 days. 

What is the minimum period my property needs to be available for to meet the criteria for your services?

We require a minimum availability of ideally at least one month throughout the year, with a preference for as many consecutive weeks as possible as this will maximize your revenue and positive reviews.

What if I don’t have my property listed on Airbnb and other sites?

No problem, we can help create your listing and then get it listed on all the main bookings channels . We use software to ensure that the property details and pricing are consistent across all booking channels and calendars are synced to avoid double bookings.

What booking platforms do you advertise on?

We advertise on all the main short let booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, HomeAway group, Expedia, TripAdvisor and many others.

We will also advertise on a mix of booking channels most appropriate for your property depending on the rental availability, the property location and the length of the booking period (short – mid – long lets).

Do you manage Pricing?

Yes, yield and pricing management are integral to our service as our commission is based on maximizing your bookings.

We can advise how best to increase your bookings and revenues

 

How much do your services cost?

Generally we operate a commission based model with the advantage that if we don’t get bookings then we don’t get paid so we are incentivized to get you bookings.

If you don’t find an answer to your question give us a call at, +44 7877714348 or submit an inquiry via our form and a member of our team will reach out right away.