Cottage owner?
Where Professionalism Meets Personalised Service in our Boutique Holiday Letting Agency
Embark on a journey into the zenith of management services, where our commitment to comprehensiveness, personalisation, and a tailored approach creates an experience that transcends expectations.
In the tapestry of our service, precision weaves through every visit as our dedicated staff take the time to personally inspect your holiday cottage, ensuring that each detail aligns with your vision of the perfect getaway.
Discover the delicate balance between a personal touch and exceptional booking rates as we bridge the gap between the intimate and the strategic. We are small enough to know you by name, yet large enough to command booking rates that achieve the very best revenue.
Our roots are firmly planted in Corfe Castle, where our offices have stood as beacons of excellence, open six days a week since 1999. This central hub serves as the epicenter of our operations, strategically positioned to provide maximum exposure to the thousands of tourists passing through. We’re not just a point on the map; we’re a destination for those seeking personalised service and expertise.
In the dance between tradition and modernity, we craft an experience that marries timeless personal service with the cutting-edge tools of contemporary business. As a family-led, client-centric boutique agency, we pride ourselves on knowing each home personally while employing strategic marketing to achieve superior booking rates.
Your priorities become our priority as we tailor packages to accommodate whether your holiday home is a business investment or a cherished family retreat. The difference lies in the details, with our staff visiting every home, familiarising themselves not just with the property but with you and your unique preferences.
With a team comprised of local experts boasting years of customer service experience, our commitment to global excellence is underscored by consistently being the best-rated agent, earning glowing guest reviews and maintaining a loyal clientele who return year after year.
Open six days a week, our doors are always ajar, inviting you for an informal chat.
Dominyka Stulginskyte
I joined DCH in May 2021, coming from F&B and Event industries since graduating from the Event Management course at Bournemouth University in 2019. Whether it’s an event or a holiday, I have a passion to create a memorable experience and help you achieve your property goals.
I am friendly and approachable, and I would love to guide you through every step of the holiday home letting process. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at manager@dhcottages.co.uk. I am on first name terms with all of our owners and always on hand for advice and in an emergency.
We are a little bit different from all other local agents as we are not owned by a faceless national organisation – therefore we can be more flexible and build a partnership that works. We have a great team of friendly people with a wealth of experience in all holiday let matters. I take pride in my team, and the fact that we are the best rated agency on Google, despite the fact that we offer the most comprehensive service!
We offer two levels of service – one for the property owner who is looking for a complete management service including maintenance/housekeeping management and the other to manage bookings only.
Booking & Marketing Service
Website. Our website appears in the top 5 for most search engines. A detailed text description and external/internal photographs will be shown on our website. Potential customers can access detailed information including a map and local tourist attractions. We also link to all Dorset Information sites & have partnerships with many local attractions and events.
Advertising We will arrange all advertising to generate enquiries both online and in many publications. We also advise the local TIC’s as to availability on a weekly basis. Social Media We have our own pages on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest enabling us to promote our business and your property to a vast worldwide audience. We often run special promotions and competitions via the ever expanding platform of social media.
Enquiry. We will handle all enquiries via email, telephone and mail. Brochures are sent out on the day of request, in this way we hope to beat the competition. We are open six days a week and until 7 p.m. in the evening for peak booking periods. All our staff visit every holiday home, enabling them to offer accurate advice to guests and effectively sell your property.
Security Fee. We hold a minimum £100 damages fee for every guest that stays at your property. Any damage must be reported within 15 days of the guests stay. We will administer any charges and the refund due. Charges will only be deducted as the result of damage and not routine maintenance. It will be the owners responsibility to pursue any amount above the security fee.
Accounting. We will process all customer payments on your behalf. Commission is only deducted on the balance payment and we pass all payments onto you, calculated to the first of the month payable by the 10th of the month. You will receive a detailed breakdown via email each month and payments can be made by either BACS or cheque.
Arrival Arrangements. We will email directions to your guests along with instructions for access. Alternatively owners can offer a meet and greet service to guests. Owners will provide a suitable point of contact for guests during their stay and be responsible for arranging cleaning and maintenance issues.
Property Management Service
We believe we offer one of the most comprehensive full management services available. The key differences to most other services are:
1.) We arrange cleaning for booked holidays and owners stay.
2.) We will spot check before lets and ensure all is in order.
3.) We make every effort to minimise owner costs.
4.) We are family run business with all staff actively selling to each enquiry.
5.) We do not charge for reservations.
6.) We arrange all safety checks.
All other Services plus:
Housekeeping and Laundry. We will arrange all housekeeping and laundry for your guests. (Although housekeeping/laundry costs are in addition to the commission). We spot-check all cottages on full management to ensure cleaning standards are maintained and maintenance issues are dealt with before guests arrive. Costs will vary depending on the size of your holiday home but start at around £30 for a one bedroom property. Owners can opt to use the linen hire service or purchase their own. Laundry costs are approx £12 king size, £10 double, £8 single, towel set £5 collected and delivered.
Window cleaning and Gardening. To suit your requirements.
Emergency Maintenance. We provide guests with a 24 hour emergency number We will arrange all emergency maintenance that arises during a guests stay. We will also arrange all safety checks. We are happy to be a port of call for tradesmen ref routine maintenance We will attempt to contact owners when costs are likely to exceed £50.
What is not Covered. We do not arrange for routine maintenance i.e. redecorating We do not arrange emergency maintenance during an owners stay. We are not responsible for safety checks and will only arrange on owners request. We cannot guarantee that cottages will be checked on a weekly basis. We rely on our cleaners to report any cases of damage. Cleaning charges are in addition to our management charges.
All Dorset Cottage Holidays properties must comply with the laws as set out below.
We will check that these laws are complied with on a regular basis.
These notes are for guidance only and should not be taken as an authoritative statement of the law. The basic requirements (with approximate costs) for a self-catering property are set out below.
1.) The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 Annual check and service of your boiler by a GasSafe registered engineer, approx cost £100.
2.) The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. Approx cost £2 per appliance. All electrical appliances should be checked by a qualified electrician on an annual basis. Please note that appliances that are under a year old do not require a test.
3.) Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). As of 1st June 2020, a new regulation came in place stating that all landlords need to provide a copy of valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). This must be completed at least every 5 years by a qualified electrician.
4.) The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 Affecting Second Hand Furniture. This law applies to the following that contain upholstery, all furniture, beds, headboards, mattresses, futons, cushions, garden furniture suitable for indoor use, pillows, loose covers for furniture and similar items. These regulations do not cover sleeping bags, duvets, pillowcases, curtains, carpets etc, anything made before 1950 is not covered by these rules. If an item complies with this law it should have a label attached. If in doubt do not supply this item.
5.) Fire Assessment Each. A professional Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out initially and then is reviewed each year by the owner.
6.) Access Statement Each owner must produce an Access Statement. Properties, which are not wheel chair accessible, may still pose difficulties to guests with different levels of disability. We can provide a sample Access Statement that you can tailor to your property.
7.) The Consumer Protection Act 1987. Requires that all goods and appliances are safe. Almost all goods are included but the act does not cover fixtures and fittings. The General Product (Safety) Regulations 1994 says that all goods have to satisfy general safety provisions. Trading Standards strongly advise that Owners do not place the following items in their holiday home: Paraffin heaters, portable LPG gas heaters, oil lamps, ornamental lamps containing chemicals, furniture containing glass and any goods you have purchased second-hand.
8.) The Building Regulations 1991 – Smoke Alarms These regulations require that all properties built after June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated smoke alarms on each floor. These regulations do not apply to older properties. However Dorset Cottage Holidays require that all of its cottages be fitted with a smoke alarm on each floor, preferably situated in the hallway
9.) Carbon Monoxide Filter Sealed unit required with lithium battery. These units generally last for about 7 years before being disposed of and replaced. These units cost around £20 How many units to fit? – One unit is required in the room/area where any carbon fuel is being burned. This can be a boiler, cooker, wood or coal burning fire. Indeed, anything other than electricity.
10.) Other Legislation Bunk Beds (Entrapment Hazards) (Safety) Regulations 1987.
These regulations have been made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. They are designed to prevent the possibility of a child under six becoming trapped in any part of the bed, causing risk of injury or death.
The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995. A toy is defined as any product or material that has been designed or clearly intended for use in play by children under 14. All toys must comply with BS EN 71 and the Essential Safety Requirements as set out. Trading Standards can give more in-depth information.
Fires and Chimneys Oil heaters and fires, which use gas, electricity etc must be guarded. However, appliances where the flame is enclosed, non residential heating appliances, electric fires for use on a ceiling and gas fires designed for installation in a fireplace or recess do not require a guard. Guards must comply with BS 1945. Please check with Trading Standards providing the dimensions of your fire to ensure that the guard is appropriately sized.
Chimneys must be swept on an annual basis.
Garden Where no age restrictions apply a garden should be fully secure. The latch on the gate should be out of reach of very young children. All ponds should be covered. All garden sheds should be locked and secure. Any poisonous plants should be removed. Fire Extinguisher/Blanket A fire extinguisher/fire blanket must be provided and wall mounted in the kitchen.
Hot Tubs. Where provided owners must conduct a risk assessment to prevent Legionnaires Disease. Must be fully maintained.
“I cannot think of how Dorset Cottage Holidays could have been more helpful or professional than they have. Us owners can be a bit fussy and unclear but they have met our (sometimes changeable) requirements promptly and without complaining. This coupled with a very professional approach to holidaymakers has meant that our cottage has always been left in an immaculate condition.
Although we had not intended to holiday let when we bought the cottage – the income that we have gained since we have used Dorset Cottage Holidays would be hard to give up!
We thoroughly recommend them!”
Mrs KP – owner of Pembroke Cottage
“As an owner letting a holiday cottage for the first time I have found the support and advice of Dorset Cottage Holidays to be invaluable. There’s a surprising amount to consider and many decisions to be made, and I have felt expertly guided along the way by their friendly and personal service. On the eve of my first let, I can genuinely say – I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Mrs M
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude for your very efficient service.We have been with you for 5 years and are very happy with your booking expertise. You deal with customers with courtesy and professionalism. Thank you,”
Dawn Bellin
Homeground
“DCH have been very professional in the way they have marketed my property since 2014 . I have found all the staff very helpful and have responded to any situation quickly and efficiently. Looking forward to another good season ahead.”
Mr S
“We have been with Dorset Cottage Holidays since 2007. We have found everyone there to be so friendly and helpful and they deal with everything in such a professional way. We get a large number of bookings each year and would definitely recommend renting your holiday home through them.”
Mrs D
“It was a big step for us renting out our holiday home. We chose DCH because we had first hand experience renting a cottage with them and found them to be extremely friendly and professional. Based in the centre of the Purbecks, the team at DCH were on hand and we felt they knew each property extremely well.”
Mrs SJH
Owner of West Lodge