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Cutting Holiday Home Energy Costs

With the cost of living crisis not going away anytime soon, staying on top of your bills can become a daunting task. This is especially true for people who own holiday homes. While managing your main home, your holiday home could easily go under the radar and end up costing you more than it should. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a look at how you can reduce energy bills for your holiday home.

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Becoming Energy Efficient

Becoming more energy efficient is not just some sort of trend. It’s a serious initiative that’s a must for businesses and holiday homeowners. This is why there have been soo many government programmes geared towards the same.

It’s a win-win that offers environmental and financial benefits. So you can save energy, save money, and contribute to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions.

But actually becoming energy efficient and achieving significant savings can be a bit challenging. It involves understanding complex topics, making investments, and implementing changes. After you overcome these hurdles, the long-term benefits of energy efficiency will outweigh the initial challenges. So, here are some money-saving tips that can help your holiday home consume less energy.

Survey your property

This is where you should always start, as understanding your property’s energy use is the first step towards reducing your energy bill. Do a thorough survey of your holiday property to identify areas where energy is being wasted. This could be outdated appliances, poor insulation, or inefficient heating systems. A good example would be a pool pump that’s on throughout the year.

Look for energy-efficient appliances that have the Energy Saving Trust mark. These appliances are designed to use less energy. This can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bill.

Remember, the aim is not just to find out how much energy you’re using. It’s also to identify opportunities to replace, upgrade, or modify energy-sapping parts of your property to reduce energy use.

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Upgrade heating

When the UK starts to experience cold weather, heating often becomes a top contributor to energy bills. So, upgrading your heating system can better the chances of substantial energy savings. Consider installing solar panels on your holiday cottage. You’ll likely wince at the upfront cost, but, trust us, it’ll likely be more cost-effective in the long run.

Alternatively or additionally, upgrade to a more efficient central heating system or install cavity wall insulation in your holiday cottage. This means a warm and cosy property and hot water without excessive energy usage.

Another thing you can do is install smart thermostats. With smart home technology like this, you can control your heating remotely so that you can save money. They can also adjust the temperature based on your habits and preferences, further reducing energy consumption. This could be as simple as adjusting the hot water temperature.

Keep in mind that upgrades like this not only reduce your energy costs, but can help to offset the multiple costs expected in maintaining a business or holiday property, including utility bills.

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Review energy deals

Lastly, you have to shop around for energy deals. Energy suppliers often offer different tariffs. You may be able to save money by switching to a variable or fixed energy tariff that better suits your usage patterns. Some energy providers also offer discounts to direct debit customers, which can lead to further savings.

Another thing to bear in mind is that, as a holiday homeowner, you can offset your allowable expenses against your rental income, which includes utility bills. This means that you can reduce your power bill with the money that you invest in energy efficiency.

With the high energy prices, it’s important to ensure that your energy payments aren’t greater than they really need to be. So make regular comparisons to ensure you’re getting the best deal from an energy supplier for your holiday let.

Compare Holiday Home Energy Prices With Business Energy Comparison

Understanding everything to do with energy prices and the energy market can be challenging, there’s no shame in this. But, with Business Energy Comparison, it doesn’t have to be. We take complex energy topics and translate them into resources that you can easily understand and refer to. Regardless of your industry, utilities, and whether you’re an SME or a large business, we’ve got something for you.

We demystify topics like third-party costs, energy efficiency, and the energy price guarantee. So, you’ll be able to make informed decisions. But that’s not all, we also have an easy-to-use comparison tool that lets you compare business gas and business electricity prices from leading UK suppliers.

Start exploring Business Energy Comparison today and take control of your energy expenses!

Start your journey and compare business gas and electricity rates with Business Energy Comparison today. Use our price comparison tool and in less time than it takes to make a brew, we’ll compile your best prices from the UK’ s best suppliers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are holiday lets tax efficient?

Compared to standard landlords, having a holiday let comes with unique tax considerations. You have the advantage of deducting your holiday let mortgage interest from your yearly profits. With this, you could get a substantial reduction in your tax bill.

How often should I maintain my holiday home?

How often you maintain your holiday home will depend on factors like where it’s located, the weather in that region, and the amenities in the home. For example, it’s recommended to conduct regular meter readings and to perform an annual service of a boiler. Create a regular schedule with periods that don’t exceed a year.

Does the energy price cap apply to holiday homes?

Yes. Second-home owners and holiday let investors are covered by the government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG). Check out official government publications to find out more about the EPG and adjoined rates or speak to an energy consultant.

Should I hire someone to manage my holiday home?

If you can’t do it yourself, hiring a holiday let management company can be beneficial, especially if you want to reduce your energy bills. They can handle tasks like cleaning and general maintenance. This can allow you to focus on other aspects like making your home more energy efficient. But, this could be a bit pricey. So, crunch the numbers and find a business with favourable rates.

How does a home qualify as a furnished holiday let?

To qualify as a furnished holiday let, your home has to align with the following requirements:

  • The property should be commercially available for rent for at least 210 days a year.
  • It should function as a self-catering rental for a minimum of 105 days per year.
  • It can’t be occupied by the same tenant for more than 31 days in a 155-day period.

The government also provides specific guidance for furnished holiday lets. So check them out for a more comprehensive overview. It’s also worth seeing whether your holiday let qualifies for business rates rather than council tax.