Pass the Keys Short-let Property Management

10/08/2026

A decade in Saudi Arabia. A young family. A long-held dream of running his own business.

Matthew Holden has just launched Pass the Keys in Cheltenham — and his reasons for choosing franchising say a lot about what makes this model work.

✅ Wanted business ownership without the risk of building entirely from scratch

✅ Spoke to five existing franchise partners before deciding — all still glad they joined

✅ Impressed by the AI-powered client portal and technology behind daily operations

✅ Completed specialist sales, marketing and operational training with head office

"Franchising is a proven model for success," Matthew says. "It takes huge resources to set up on your own — time being one of the main ones."

👉 Read Matthew's story: https://franchise.passthekeys.com/2026/07/07/matthew-launches-cheltenham/

Matthew Holden had always dreamed of opening his own business. After completing a Master’s degree in Business Management in 2011, he fully intended to do just that. But the pull of working abroad, and later the joy and demands of family life, put those plans on hold. That same year, Matthew moved ...

07/08/2026

You don't get a second first impression on your short-term let.

Guests decide whether this stay earns a 5-star review in the first 30 seconds, before they've even put their bags down.

Here's what they actually notice when they walk through the door:

The smell. The way the space is staged. How easy it is to settle in.

Nail those three and the review writes itself.

06/08/2026

Things you'll never hear a property manager say...
"Let's leave the calendar empty."

"Guests won't notice."

"Pricing doesn't matter."

A successful holiday let doesn't happen by chance. It takes proactive management, smart pricing, fast guest communication and attention to every detail.

At Pass the Keys, we work behind the scenes to help homeowners maximise bookings, deliver great guest experiences and make hosting as hassle-free as possible.

Thinking about holiday letting your property? Get in touch with your local Pass the Keys team to find out how we can help.

05/08/2026

The wait is over... Ted Lasso is back.

To celebrate, we've paired some of our favourite Pass the Keys properties in Richmond with the characters we think would be most likely to check in.

Whether you're a Rebecca, Roy, Keeley or Ted, there's a Richmond stay to match.

Which pairing is your favourite?

04/08/2026

Many property owners think about autumn when the weather starts to change.
In reality, many of those bookings are already being made.

Now is the ideal time to review your pricing, refresh your listing and make sure your property is ready to capture demand before your competitors do.

At Pass the Keys, we use local expertise and dynamic pricing to help owners maximise occupancy and revenue throughout every season.

Get in touch with your local Pass the Keys team to see how your property could perform this autumn.

31/07/2026

Getting your property ready for August doesn't have to be complicated.

Small improvements can make a big difference to your bookings, guest reviews and overall earnings during one of the busiest months of the year.

Here's what we recommend before welcoming your next guests:
• Refresh your listing photos
• Make outdoor spaces shine
• Add thoughtful summer touches
• Keep your pricing competitive
• Ensure every guest has a five-star experience

If you'd rather leave it to the experts, Pass the Keys takes care of everything from pricing and guest communication to cleaning and 24/7 support.

Contact your local Pass the Keys team to find out how much your property could earn this summer.

31/07/2026

Will your business still be worth building in five years, whatever the economy does?

It's the question every serious franchise buyer should ask — and it's exactly what our new guide answers.

We've looked at the data behind the UK short-let sector, and what it means if you're weighing up a Pass the Keys franchise:

✅ Why demand for professional property management holds up in a downturn

✅ How our recurring revenue model builds in structural resilience

✅ What current UK market data says about demand and confidence

✅ Why being asset-light matters when the economy is uncertain

👉 Read the full guide: https://franchise.passthekeys.com/2026/07/30/is-property-management-recession-resilient-why-short-let-demand-keeps-landlords-and-franchisees-in-business/

If you’re seriously weighing up investing in a franchise, asking “Will this still be a good business in an economic downturn?” isn’t pessimism – it’s due diligence. Anyone putting their own capital and career on the line should absolutely be asking exactly this question, of any sector. I...

28/07/2026

Many holiday let owners assume that the end of the Furnished Holiday Let (FHL) tax regime means there are no further tax relief opportunities available.

According to our specialist partner, Zeal, that isn't necessarily the case.

If you purchased, built or refurbished your holiday let before April 2025, you may still be able to claim capital allowances on qualifying expenditure. However, the window to do so is closing, with eligible claims needing to be made by 31 January 2027.

Pass the Keys has partnered with Zeal to help our owners understand whether they're eligible for this specialist tax relief. If you think you could qualify, now is the time to explore your options.

Read our infographic to learn more, and get in touch if you'd like to arrange a free, no-obligation Capital Allowances Review with Zeal.

Information provided by Zeal. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and professional advice should always be sought.

27/07/2026

The best part of the job? It's not the properties... it's the people.

Every happy guest, glowing review and memorable stay reminds us why we love what we do.
That's what great hosting is all about.

23/07/2026

While the Glasgow Commonwealth Games may be keeping a lower profile than previous years, they're still delivering a welcome boost for local holiday let owners.

Our Glasgow & Renfrewshire franchise partner, Natalia Soler, recently shared her insights with The Caterer, highlighting how demand has remained strong despite the quieter build-up to the Games.
With almost all of Pass the Keys Glasgow's managed properties fully booked during the event, July is expected to generate around £200,000 in net booking value – approximately £55,000 more than the same period last year.

It's a great reminder that understanding your local market is just as important as responding to the biggest headlines.

A huge congratulations to Natalia for being featured and for continuing to showcase the value of local expertise in the short-term rental industry.

Read the full article here:
https://www.thecaterer.com/indepth/glasgow-hoteliers-go-for-gold-as-the-commonwealth-games-begin

The accommodation for athletes flying into Glasgow for the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be a home-grown affair, with the city’s hotels and apartments seeing rocketing rates