Villa Rental Business

[canaryislandsvillas]

Hi everyone,

First time poster, so please go easy

I've got a couple of questions which I'd love to hear your thoughts on.

My business partner and I have been looking into starting a small villa rentals agency focusing specifically on the canary islands and nowhere else. It seems all too often that when booking a villa holiday online, on one of the major websites you get a lot of generic information and if you're lucky enough to speak to anybody at the company, their knowledge of the islands is, at best, a bit sketchy. I can't fault them as most of them are selling holidays all round the world so there knowledge of each place is bound to be fairly limited.

I have noticed a few smaller operators who focus on lanzarote for example, but only have a handful of properties and often difficult to use/confusing websites.

Then there is the issue of websites where people place adverts for their property directly (I'm sure you know the ones I mean) . While this type of thing is obviously a competitor , it seems they just place the ads for pretty much any landlord without much in the way of background checks or ever seeing the property first in person. Meaning you're basing your decision to book on a few photos, without much comeback if the property is not as described.

Our vision is to offer a specialist regional service , with a small selection of properties, which we have inspected in person and have a website that offers much for information about the islands than you would typically find on the more generic sites.

My questions are as follows :
1 - are you aware of anybody doing something like this currently?
2 - does it sound like the sort of service you may use either as a tourist or as a landlord?
3 -  does anybody have any suggestions regarding recruiting potential properties? are the majority privately owned or are some owned by property firms?

Off the back of this we may also look at property management, but again this is something we're only dipping our toe into at the moment so would welcome any feedback. 

I'm not sure if this type of post belongs in "General Chat" so if it needs moving elsewhere then please advise.

Thanks!

James

[fifi]

Welcome to the Forum James. I would recommend that you consult a good Spanish Lawyer to see if what you are proposing can be done legally in the near future.

[canaryislandsvillas]

hi fifi, thanks for your reply.

not really sure spanish law has much to do with it ? as the head office for the business would still be within the UK and therefore under the law of england and wales and most of people booking we're assuming will be uk holidaymakers.  Obviously the property management side of it would need to be done differently if its based in fuerteventura , but that's something for the future, rather than right away.

legalities aside, do you feel its something that could work? if anyone else has any thoughts we'd be keen to hear them.

thanks again,

[fifi]

At the moment most owners are  waiting for news of the proposed ammendments to the sole agency part of the "illegal letting" law. Owners were being fined €18,000 for advertising on the likes of Owners direct etc and are now nervous of openly advertising. Because of the Moratorium on villa licenses most people have been unable to get one and this is being looked into by the European Parliament so hopefully there will be changes on the way.

  I have not had the chance to look and see if any ammendments  have been made in the last couple of weeks but your Lawyer may be able to advise you on that. I wish you every success with your venture.

[canaryislandsvillas]

I take it all back, clearly spanish law does apply then. which illegal lettings law is this? do you know anywhere where I can find out more information?

[fifi]

 Janet Anscombes website is great. Her advice is sound because she consults with a team of Lawyers and has started the Campaign in Tenerife to ease the laws. http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/important-information-for-anyone-fined-for-illegal-letting-who-found-out-too-late-to-appeal-and-update-on-appeals-themselves.html/comment-page-1#comment-20561

Janet is usually very quick to reply to any queries by email.

A campaign has been started in Lanzarote recently also. http://www.lanzaroteinformation.com/content/illegal-property-letting-canary-islands

[fifi]

Links to all of the laws can be found here and also the warning from the British Embassy about illegal letting in Spain.http://www.janetanscombe.com/links-janet-anscombe-property-sales-independent-advice-tenerife.html

[fifi]

Just checking for updates here..... An important  recent update re changes on the way.


http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/draft-new-touristic-law-out-to-consultation.html/comment-page-1#comment-20524

[Spike On Q]

Can you tell us how the solar system was formed all those years ago FiFi or is there a charge [like the shoe shine boy on Police Squad?]

[fifi]

Oops...too many posts?  I should have put them all on the one Paul.

[glenys]