Five Key Factors To Consider When Converting A Home To A B&B

If you are thinking of running a bed and breakfast business from your UK home, this will almost certainly involve significant finance considerations.  Our specialist team of b&b finance advisors, here at Stewart Hindley, have identified 5 key factors which will come into play:

  1. Planning Permissions

Whether or not you will need building planning permissions will depend on the amount of building work required and will be subject to the local authority’s usual residential planning guidelines.

If you are converting more than one or two bedrooms, you may also be required to apply for ‘change of use’ and your local council should be able to provide advice.

  1. Building Regulations

The building regulations which apply to bed and breakfast establishments change quite regularly, particularly with regard to health and safety regulations, so it’s vital to refer to an up-to-date source of information.

Different regulations will apply depending on the size of your house and the number of guests you want to accommodate.  At minimum, you are likely to have to install things like fire doors, emergency lighting and fire safety signage, and the kitchen will probably need some work too.

Bed and breakfast businesses are also required to offer separate washing and toilet facilities for your family which won’t be used by guests and you may find that this involves quite a lot of unexpected work.

  1. Fitting Out Costs

Furniture and fittings will need to be of good quality to withstand constant use, and soft furnishings and beds etc will need to comply with current fire regulations.

To attract guests in a very competitive UK b&b market, allow enough in your budget to make communal areas like dining rooms and lounges, clean, bright and fresh.

  1. Advertising and Marketing costs

The hardest part of advertising and marketing is to come up with your image and style.  We would advice setting some money aside to commission a graphic designer to come up with a logo and brochure material to give a professional look to your website and promotional materials.

Spend time researching the local market and the search engines, like Trip Advisor, which are likely to be most effective at attracting the clientele you are seeking to attract.

  1. Do you have a b&b mortgage?

If you are thinking of running a b&b from home, you are legally required to advise your current mortgage provider of your intentions.  Most residential mortgages do not allow you trade rooms, so you would need to re-mortgage onto a commercial mortgage –  but don’t worry because our team at Stewart Hindley & Partners can advise you.

There are a limited number of lenders who will allow 1 or 2 rooms to be let on a residential mortgage, but it has to be done in agreement with the lender.  If a lender realises that you are trading on a residential mortgage they can call in the loan due to breach of covenant.

Trading on a residential mortgage can have serious consequences.  You could be forced to re-mortgage and in some cases, if your trade income is not enough to cover the amount of debt involved, this may not be possible. The worst case scenario may be that you lose your home as well as your business.

We strongly recommend that you don’t wait until it’s too late and look to take out a commercial b&b mortgage from the start.

Contact us now for friendly and professional advice based on many years of experience in the bed and breakfast and hospitality finance sector.

Sources:

http://www.startabedandbreakfast.co.uk/b-and-b-how-do-i-convert-house.html

What’s the secret of the great British B&B?

British Bed and Breakfasts have never been more popular and in a competitive market, the most popular are the ones with attention to detail, personal service and really make the most of their locations and history to develop their own style.

Look at the Daily Telegraph’s recent Top 10 and the combined selling points that make them stand-out B&Bs:

  1. Cuil an Duin, near Pitlochry, Perth & Kinross

This B&B is praised for its:

  • Beautiful setting – great mountain views, is surrounded by woodland, and set in 20 acres of its own stunning gardens.
  • Attractive elegant rooms furnished with Persian rugs, modern art, flowers and a gleaming Bechstein piano and the bedrooms are luxurious and comfortable
  • Breakfast eggs from the owners’ hens with artisan shops supplying the trimmings
  • Its charming hosts – Sally and David and not forgetting their Jack Russell Teddy and Chloe the cat who stay behind the kitchen door until given the all clear.
  1. The Control Tower, near Walsingham, Norfolk

This accommodation offers:

  • a unique slice of history – a beautifully restored RAF squadron control tower with remarkable modernist and Art Deco detail.
  • House tours include the open roof deck
  • Guests outdoor lunch al fresco in the two-acre wild flower garden
  • Nearby wide beaches of Wells-next-the-Sea and seal spotting trips to Blakeney Point.
  1. Botelet near Liskeard, Cornwall

This offers:

  • The chicest of shabby chic style farmhouse accommodation
  • In a quiet location the end of a wild-flower strewn lane
  • Opportunities to explore the farm and walk the wooded valley
  • A treatment room therapeutic massage in the treatment room
  • A quirky, friendly, artistic and fun vibe
  • Cottages, amazing yurts and a campsite are also available
  1. The Linhay, near Crediton, Devon

  • A peaceful hideaway close to Dartmoor and Exmoor
  • Beautiful setting in an open valley with a running stream with orchard views.
  • Accommodation with a quirky, natural feel to the B&B accommodation in a lovely old barn with its own little kitchen area
  • The owners also run Start a Smallholding courses.
  1. Wickton Court near Leominster, Herefordshire

  • A rambling old place steeped in history – a former courthouse that dates from the 15th century (complete with a wig room)
  • Many local sights close by
  • Cosseting bedrooms with generous curtains and big bathrooms
  • Characterful – with wonky floors and ancient beams; one room even has a wood-burner.
  1. Westbourne House, Cowes, Isle of Wight

  • An elegant Georgian townhouse on the waterfront with stunning sea views
  • Cosy well-dressed beds.
  • Close to Cowes’ attractive High Street full of desirable shops, bars and restaurants
  • Lovely walks along the sweeping promenade.
  1. Waterlock House, near Canterbury, Kent

  • Another stylish Georgian town house
  • Guests get an airy loft apartment on two floors with its own entrance with a vast bedroom/sitting room
  • Furnished with quirky French antique pieces, a painted black and white diamond floor, a sink-into sofa and a very comfortable big bed.
  1. Primrose Hill Farm, near Banbury, Oxon

  • A peaceful spot on the edge of the Cotswolds
  • Farm setting in 80 acres dotted with sheep and horses
  • Immaculate interiors with calm and inviting bedroom, deep beds, fat feather pillows, pretty lamps and vases of flowers
  • Elegant sitting and dining rooms look uphill to the woods
  • A warm welcome from all including Trouble the terrier also helps guests to feel at home.
  1. Ponden Hall, near Haworth, West Yorkshire

  • Huge history – Said to be the inspiration for Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights
  • Period style including mullion windows, huge flagstones, period pieces and original paintings.
  • Bedrooms balance luxury and individuality – two rooms have log-burning stoves
  • Lots to see and do – Nearby is the Pennine Way, the steam train at Keighley and the Brontes’ home at nearby Haworth.
  1. Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden, Flintshire

  • Steeped in history – Founded by the politician William Gladstone
  • Not just a B&B, but also a peaceful, restorative retreat: Guests have a choice of 250,000 books in the reading room, silence, space, convivial company if they need it
  • Also offers a programme of optional talks and courses
  • Theatre Clwyd and the city of Chester only 15 minutes away
  • Cosy not Techy – A ‘Roberts Radio’, rather than HD TV, sort of place.

Looking to finance your own B&B?

Do you have what it takes to run a great B&B?

If you are considering starting a B&B or are looking to invest in improving or expanding your existing B&B business, then chances are you will need B&B finance and it makes so much sense to go to people, like Stewart Hindley and Partners, who understand the business through and through.

We are long-established specialists in securing B&B mortgages.  Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you succeed in your business.  Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved in securing B&B finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

How to find the best Bed & Breakfast finance advice

Ask The Experts At The B&B Show
22-23 February 2017 Bristol

Stewart Hindley & Partners, leading specialists for Bed & Breakfast finance, will be exhibiting at The B&B Show in Bristol later this month.

The Show provides a unique one-stop opportunity for Bed and Breakfast, Guest House, and small Independent Hotel owners to build up their knowledge of the latest techniques, innovations, issues surrounding this industry and to network and meet other people operating in the same sector.
Continue reading “How to find the best Bed & Breakfast finance advice”

The best B&B courses available for prospective owners

If you’ve dreamed of owning your own bed and breakfast or guest house for a while, you’ve no doubt read many wonderful books, blogs and guides on how to make it happen. However, you still haven’t taken that first step yet – perhaps your confidence is holding you back, or maybe you have questions you need answering.
Continue reading “The best B&B courses available for prospective owners”

How to turn your home into a successful bed and breakfast

You’ve got a large property, the children have flown the nest and now you’re just rattling around in it. Or perhaps you and your partner have inherited a house but it’s costing the earth to maintain. Wouldn’t it be great if your home could actually make money for you? Converting it into a bed and breakfast could not only enhance its value, but provide an income, offering you a completely new way of life and the means/motivation to keep the property in good condition.

It sounds like such a simple idea, maybe too good to be true, but it’s one which many people have opted for and they’ve never looked back. Here are some points to consider if you’re thinking about turning your home into a B&B.

1. Could you attract business?

The trend for ‘staycation’ holidays is not diminishing. With affordability still the biggest issue for British holidaymakers, not to mention security fears, research reveals that some 77 per cent of UK adults either went on or planned to go on a staycation in 2015. It’s looking good for 2016, too – which is good news for those that run B&Bs and guesthouses.

Before getting on to the subject of B&B finance, one big consideration and contributing factor towards your success is location. It’s vital that you are situated somewhere that would attract guests. HuffPost Travel named among its top staycation destinations the Lake District, the Norfolk Broads, Edinburgh, Cornwall and North Wales. Big towns and cities are similarly a good option. Just consider your situation – is there enough in the vicinity to attract guests?

2. Decide if running a bed and breakfast is for you

In our blog: Why owning a B&B can be a dream come true, we explore the best bits about leaving the nine-to-five and changing your life. You get to be your own boss and meet endless numbers of interesting people.

If you’re seriously considering converting your home into a B&B, ask yourself whether you’d feel happy about having other people coming and going through your home. Also, think about the lifestyle. While many B&B owners say they love their new business, it does require hard work and commitment. However, if you’re fine with all of that, let’s talk money.

3. Know what you’ll need finances for

When arranging B&B finance, in addition to paying the mortgage, remember to allocate sufficient funds for renovating the house into guest accommodation. This covers furnishings, decorations, refurbishments and countless other tasks that will need to be completed before you can open. Then there’s advertising, creating a website and potentially paying staff wages, too.

It’s pertinent you keep funds in reserve to cover all eventualities, as there will be changes in demand and economic circumstances. However, if you get the right advice and choose the best mortgage deal, you should be able to keep a tight control over your cash flow.

Buying a B&B
4. Choose the right bed and breakfast mortgage

One of the questions we’re most often asked by people who are ‘new to trade’ is: ‘Can I get a residential mortgage on a to trade as a B&B?’ The answer is no. Running a B&B requires a commercial mortgage. In fact, using your existing residential mortgage can actually get you into trouble with your lender owing to the differences in rates between residential and commercial mortgages.

You’ll therefore need to replace your existing residential mortgage to a commercial one. As this is a business, there are many more, and different, conditions that need to be taken into account by both lenders and you. However, an advantage of commercial mortgages is that the repayments can track the season, meaning you can pay more during peak times and less when it’s quiet.

5. Get good advice

Running a bed and breakfast is a huge undertaking, so it’s important to do your research and speak to the experts. With regard to finance, contact a broker that specialises in the industry – like us at Stewart Hindley and Partners, who can identify the most appropriate solution to suit your individual situation. We can advise on other aspects of the business, too, helping you to create a business plan and secure a mortgage which allow you to realise your dream.

Another good idea is to contact other B&B owners, or read case studies, so that you can gain first hand insight into the everyday operation of such a business. Learn from their experience, take advantage of their knowledge and see your own business thrives.

Providing you satisfy all of the personal and financial criteria and are sure that this is the move for you, then there’s no reason why you can’t turn your home into a bed and breakfast, enjoying a way of life that so many others can only envy. Why not give it some thought?

If you’d like to discover more about B&B finance, we’d love to help.

Advice for buying a B&B or Guest House that isn’t making money

There comes a time when owners of a B&B or Guest House decide they want to retire or just change direction. This is often a decision that is taken over a couple of years, during which time they trade their business on a limited basis and to suit their lifestyle requirements. Consequently, it may not make as much money as it used to. Whilst this might suit the owners, it makes getting a commercial mortgage more challenging for potential buyers. Challenging, but not impossible.

 

How do B&B lenders decide how much to lend?

Lenders require the last three years of a commercial hospitality business’s trading accounts, so they can see how it has been operated and how profitable it is. If the business has not been traded to its full potential, the lender will view it as being a marginal or non-profitable concern.

Whilst the lender may understand the reasons for the B&B or Guest House’s decline in trade, there is no guarantee for them that you, as a new operator, can improve it – regardless of your business plan.  As a result, lenders examine the last three years’ trading accounts for a steer on trading profit when assessing the mortgage they can offer, in order to minimise their risk and exposure. What they lend will be a reflection of this.

B&B

 

What can you do?

Some lenders, although not all, will take into account a second income from one of the applicants.  This means that if one of them has a job which can practically be continued whilst the trade is built up, that income can be taken into consideration. This, in turn, helps with the debt service cover.

Obviously, once the business has improved and can sustain the loan repayments on its own, a second income will not be necessary and both parties can work in the B&B or Guest House.  Positioning of the loan application becomes even more important and at Stewart Hindley & Partners we have the experience and ability to work with you to get the deal across the line and you into your exciting new lifestyle.

 

Talk to Stewart Hindley & Partners about B&B or Guest House mortgages

If you find a business you want to buy and the turnover or profitability doesn’t look great, even if it’s making a loss, don’t immediately discount it.  We are more than happy to look at the accounts for you and to see if we can raise a mortgage to help with your purchase.  Get in touch and we can discuss your options.