Turning your holiday home into an investment

Joe and Jane Kelly, from East Preston in West Sussex, rented a holiday home at Haulfryn’s Finlake, after endless weekends spent staying in less than adequate accommodation, around Newton Abbott while visiting Jane’s sick father.

It has such an upmarket, quality feel – it is like home from home.

The Kellys and their three children Thomas 14, Alexandra, 13 and George 9 immediately fell in love with Finlake, its 130 acres of parkland and the surrounding coastal and countryside attractions.

First they bought a caravan beside the lake and then when the children grew bigger they spent a couple of nights in a lodge on the park

“It has such an upmarket, quality feel – it is like home from home,” said Joe.
“We live in a £600,000 home and when we go on holiday we want nice comfort, good atmosphere and luxury around us – there’s certainly no hint of a holiday camp here.”

So in 2005, the Kelly family bought a three-bedroom lodge which sleeps 8 people, for £90,000, which they stay in around 3-4 weeks a year, for half-term holidays, at Easter and the summer.

For the rest of the year, they rent out their lodge through the Haulfryn Group. This brings in almost £1,000 a week during high season and Finlake charge 20% for organising the rental and a small charge for laundry.

“It’s a bit of an investment really,” said Joe. “We have a lovely lodge in a beautiful park, great facilities, and very accommodating people and there’s a lovely clubhouse which does a great carvery for Sunday lunch.

If we want to go for extra weeks, we just ring up and book ourselves in,” he added.

“The children love the space and freedom, for us it’s a great place to relax with the quality you expect from your home. I definitely recommend it.” Jane said.

“You could spend 20 years discovering all that the area has to offer, from the train ride into Dartmouth, boating on the sea or visiting local castles.  The children love seeing their grandparents.  We are all avid football fans and love seeing Torquay United play, although they do tend to lose a lot”, said Joe.

It’s a second home for us and we love coming here.