‍How much does it cost to have your holiday let professionally managed in Oxfordshire?

Most owners quickly discover that management fees vary widely, the services included are not always clear, and many agencies are not transparent about what you actually get for your money.

This guide sets out the real costs, how they work, why the fee range exists, and what you can expect to pay as an owner. It also explains how we approach fees at Red Kite Hosts, why we keep everything transparent, and why the right management partner usually pays for itself in higher occupancy and better guest reviews.

This guide is written for owners across Oxfordshire, as well as nearby areas where guest expectations follow the same patterns.

How much do holiday let management fees cost in Oxfordshire?

Holiday let management fees in Oxfordshire typically range from 12 to 20 percent of booking revenue.

Lower fees usually cover light touch services such as listing and pricing only. Full service agencies that handle guest communication, cleaning, maintenance and on the ground operations usually charge between 15 and 20 percent. At Red Kite Hosts, our full service fee is 15 to 18 percent plus VAT, with a separate 12 percent option for owners who prefer a more hands on approach.

Why the fee range exists

1. The 12 to 15 percent range

This bracket usually includes agencies that handle:

• Listing creation
• Pricing and revenue management
• Some guest messaging

But they typically do not handle:

• Cleaning
• Laundry
• Maintenance
• Inspections
• Local support
• On the ground operations

This is an option for owners who want support but plan to self manage a large part of the workload.

Red Kite also offers a 12 percent option, but the vast majority of owners choose full service for two reasons:

1. It removes most of the stress and time commitment.
2. Full service usually results in higher income because guest experience standards are consistently met, raising reviews and future bookings.

2. The 15 to 20 percent range

This is where full service agencies sit.

These businesses handle:

• Listing creation and optimisation
• Dynamic pricing
• Guest communication
• Cleaning and laundry coordination
• On site issue resolution
• Key access systems
• Inspections
• Local contractor management
• Digital guidebooks
• Guest support

The fee reflects the amount of work required to run a short term let to a high standard. This is the bracket Red Kite Hosts sits in, at 15 to 18 percent plus VAT.

3. Over 20 percent

Generally unnecessary for most owners.

This tier is usually only justified if an agency offers ultra premium services such as:

• Full interior design and renovation
• Luxury concierge
• Driver or staffed services

Most Oxfordshire owners do not need this level of offering.

Cleaning fees: what owners really pay

Cleaning is at the centre of guest experience. If it is poor, everything else falls apart. That is why we keep cleaning fees completely transparent and do not add any markup at all.

Here is how we structure cleaning:

• Housekeepers are paid £20 per hour
• We estimate the realistic hours needed per changeover based on the home
• The guest pays the exact amount the cleaner earns
• We take no percentage for:
  • Recruiting and onboarding cleaners
  • Training and inspections
  • Managing scheduling
  • Handling invoicing
  • Quality assurance
• Owners do not pay or handle housekeeping fees
• Guests see a clear cleaning fee that reflects the true work involved

This is unusual in the industry, and one of the reasons our cleanliness ratings are consistently excellent.

What these fees look like in practice

Here are real examples from properties we manage:

• Small one bedroom unit
• £70 per changeover
• Two bedroom, one bathroom
• £100 per changeover
• Three bedroom with hot tub
• £150 per changeover
• Four bedroom, three bathroom, large footprint
• £180 to £220 per changeover
• Large five bedroom property with extensive living space
• £260 per changeover

A typical two or three bedroom Oxfordshire cottage will usually sit between £120 and £160 per changeover, depending on:

• Size
• Age
• Furniture layout
• Time needed to move or reset items
• Additional amenities such as hot tubs, saunas or barbecues

Because guests staying in Oxfordshire often spend more time in the home itself than guests in city centre short stays, cleaning expectations are particularly high. Homes in this region must look and feel immaculate.

Linen: what you need and what it costs

Good linen lasts longer, washes better and impresses guests. Poor linen leads to poor reviews.

We use a supplier who balances high quality with fair pricing due to our volume across all homes.

Most homes need:

• Three full sets of bedding per bed - one on, one being cleaned, one spare
• Pillow protectors
• Mattress protectors
• Bath and hand towels
• Bath mats
• Tea towels

Here are example prices from our supplier:

• Bounce back pillows: £5.40 each
• King size duvet: £21.60
• King duvet cover: £16.80
• Bath towel: £6.96
• Hand towel: £3.02

A full linen setup will typically cost a few hundred pounds, depending on the number of rooms and beds.

High quality linen is especially important in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds because guests stay to enjoy the property, not just sleep in it. Homes need to feel comfortable, warm, calm and well prepared.

Onboarding costs

Onboarding varies depending on how ready the home is for guests. It may include:

• New kitchen equipment
• Missing utensils or cookware
• New bedding sets
• Bathroom essentials
• Updated furniture
• Replacement of worn items
• Safety equipment
• Photography preparation
• Initial deep clean

Some owners already have everything in place. Others need more support.

We can handle sourcing, buying and installing items on your behalf. The goal is to make the home feel complete and guest ready from day one.

Maintenance: what to expect

Maintenance costs vary significantly based on:

• Age of the property
• Size
• Usage
• Wear and tear
• Amenities such as hot tubs or large gardens

More guests mean more income, but naturally more maintenance too.

We usually advise owners to set aside around 10 percent of income for maintenance over the course of a year. Some years will be above this, some years below.

We handle contractor coordination, troubleshooting, appliance diagnostics and all guest communications. But owners remain in control of larger decisions.

Why Red Kite’s fee often pays for itself

• Better reviews drive better performance
• We consistently deliver higher reviews than owners achieve on their own. Better reviews mean higher visibility on booking platforms, more bookings at stronger nightly rates, longer stays and more repeat guests.
• Exceptional guest communication
• We handle all messaging 24 hours a day with the right level of detail at the right time, supported by clear digital guidebooks. This prevents confusion, reduces friction and removes the biggest causes of guest dissatisfaction.
• High quality housekeeping and reliable maintenance
• Clean homes and fast issue resolution protect your reputation. Our housekeepers work to very high standards, and our maintenance systems allow us to diagnose problems remotely or send local contractors quickly, often solving issues before guests even notice them.
• Listings and pricing that outperform the market
• We optimise every listing for each platform, using industry insight and best practices we get directly from Airbnb’s Superhost events. Combined with dynamic pricing software, this ensures your home earns more through stronger occupancy and higher nightly rates.

Most owners do not want to deal with the daily operational work of a short term rental. And poor management in any area can easily cost more than the management fee itself.

Our approach is simple, transparent and designed to maximise owner income while keeping things easy and stress free.

Final thoughts

Holiday let management fees in Oxfordshire vary, but the most important factor is what you get for the price. Full service management is typically 15 to 20 percent because running a high quality holiday let requires consistent attention and strong operational systems.

At Red Kite Hosts, we charge 15 to 18 percent plus VAT, with a 12 percent HostLite option for owners who prefer to handle operations themselves. Our approach is transparent, straightforward and focused entirely on driving better income and better guest experiences.

If you want to understand what your home could earn, or what full service management would look like for you, we would be happy to help.

Want to talk about managing your Oxfordshire holiday let? Get in touch.

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