Behind every holiday home is a deeply personal story. For many owners, letting their property is not just a commercial decision, but a way to preserve something meaningful. Some open their doors to ensure treasured family homes can be maintained for generations to come. Others take a more sustainable approach – welcoming guests into their spaces while they travel, instead of leaving them sat empty.
Some see it as an opportunity to reimagine a space entirely, transforming disused buildings into something new. For others, holiday letting offers the flexible balance of sharing their space while retaining the freedom to return for special moments – a week in summer, perhaps, a milestone birthday, or a last-minute need to flee city life.
Whatever the motivation behind becoming a Unique Homestays property owner, each space reflects the values, lifestyle and story of the people that call it home.
The owners of Celestia in Wales and Lost Cottage in Ireland
As an architect, Adam Richards has spent his career designing hundreds of homes for clients. But Cadence, his four-bedroom modernist home on the Sussex Downs, was conceived just for him and his family. “The house was completed in 2019, replacing a dilapidated cottage built in the 1830s,” says Adam. “It’s unique, as though a Roman ruin has been wrapped around a modern concrete house. The interior is characterised by the exposed concrete of the walls and ceilings – inspired by Stalker, the Tarkovsky film that the house is partly based on.” It is, in short, his masterpiece.
Adam lives in Cadence with his wife, Jessica, and their three children. At certain times of the year, he opens their one-of-a-kind home up to guests to help with the mortgage and the day-to-day costs of family life. It also means he can share his labour of love with other people: “I really thought about the way it interacts with the landscape and changing light levels during the day,” he says. “It’s nice when guests appreciate that."
With over 180 homes in our collection, Adam isn’t the only one giving their home a second life. “Unique Homestays homes tend to be ones with character, luxury features like swimming pools, and extensive grounds,” says Sarah Hemsley, Head of Property at Unique Homestays. “And with the increase in running costs, our owners are choosing to make their homes available to guests to contribute towards those. It allows them to continue to spend time in their homes, but also ensures their home is well maintained from the income generated.”
Cadence in West Sussex
Gulliver’s Hall, a working cattle farm in Gloucestershire, has been in Martin Bankes’ family for generations. Renting his and his wife Kate’s home to guests – and diversifying further by turning it into an exclusive destination wedding venue – creates some welcome income, yes. It also allows the land and the property to remain not only productive, but an integral part of the conservation and sustainability of the area’s biodiverse habitat.
Since joining Unique Homestays, Kate has also started an outdoor education enterprise on the farm and its 320 acres. Schools visit Gulliver’s Hall on day trips and overnight camps for outdoor experiences tied to the national curriculum – a forest school, of sorts. “It all takes place in woodland at the end of the valley from the house, so any noise from boisterous children around the camp fire won’t be heard!” says Kate.
Crucially, what these homes have in common is that they are deeply personal spaces, not bland rentals designed for mass appeal. These are homes where materials, light and proportion have been carefully considered, and where the narrative of the building is intrinsically tied to its owner – whether they’re an architect, farmer, artist, academic or DJ. Guests, in turn, experience a house as it was intended to be – alive with its owner’s sensibilities, passions and way of life. This way of travelling allows you to experience a new area with its own unique DNA, living as a local would, in a local’s house.
Gulliver's Hall in The Cotswolds
Flexibility is the key word here. Renting allows owners to step away for travel or work without leaving their homes empty, or to retain access for special moments – a summer week with friends or a family celebration. Renting with Unique Homestays gives homeowners an opportunity for peace of mind, a guarantee of quality. “Our owners are looking to align themselves with a brand that shares their values, offering a higher level of owner experience,” says Sarah.
Often time-poor, homeowners who choose Unique Homestays benefit from elevated support that ensures the right guests are matched to their homes. Our guests form an engaged community that understands and lives Unique Homestays’ values, looking after and treating the homes they stay in as if they were their own.
“Sourcing guests for our one-of-a-kind portfolio requires bespoke marketing – significant investment in photography, film and PR,” says Sarah. “We are a team of experienced industry professionals who are here to offer advice to owners – whether that’s how to maximise revenue, review booking trends with them, or source specialists for them, whatever the field.”
Kate and Martin Bankes of Gulliver's Hall
Perhaps most importantly is the lasting partnership that Unique Homestays forms with homeowners. Often, owners start their journey as part of that guest community, which means they inherently understand the importance of the guest experience. “We often work with owners from the design and build stage, advising on layout and design, as well as connecting them with craftspeople,” says Sarah. “Throughout their journey to launch, our property and marketing team will support them to ensure their property is ready to receive guests, and that their launch is as impactful as possible."
“After launch, we regularly review the home’s performance and proactively look for PR opportunities. We like to meet with owners face-to-face regularly. That way we can ensure we’re delivering a level of service and experience that has, over our 25 years, become a Unique Homestays signature.”
Feeling inspired? Find out how to become a Unique Homestays homeowner, or peruse our full collection of unique private rental homes.
