Terms of Business
Last updated: July 2026
These terms describe how Gales Property Management Ltd (“we”, “us”, “Gales”) works with property owners (“you”). The detailed, signed management agreement you'll receive if you engage us is the binding document — this page is a plain-English overview so you know what you're getting into.
What we do
We take over the operation of your residential property as short-term / serviced accommodation, end-to-end. That includes: furnishing and dressing (if needed), professional photography, listing setup on Airbnb / Booking.com / Vrbo / direct-booking channels, dynamic pricing, guest vetting, check-ins, guest support 24/7, housekeeping and linen between stays, routine maintenance coordination, and monthly reporting.
What stays with you
- Legal ownership of the property.
- All utility bills, council tax and any leasehold or mortgage costs — everything stays in your name, exactly as it is today.
- Buildings insurance (we arrange or advise on specialist SA contents / public liability cover on top).
- Consent from your mortgage lender for short-term letting — we help you get this before we begin.
Free income projection
Before any commitment on either side, we build you a free income projection based on your property and postcode. There's no cost, no obligation, and no pressure — if we don't think SA will beat your current rent, we'll tell you.
Fees
Our management fee is a percentage of gross booking revenue after operating costs. The exact figure depends on the property and is quoted transparently in your projection and in the management agreement. There are no hidden costs; every figure appears on your monthly statement.
Setup costs — furnishing, dressing, photography and compliance — are quoted up front on a fixed-price basis. Many owners choose to offset setup against their first months' income rather than pay anything up front.
How we pay you
By bank transfer, on the same date each month, with a statement itemising: gross booking revenue, operating costs, our management fee and your net payout. You'll also have live access to an owner dashboard showing bookings and earnings in real time.
Term and getting your property back
- The standard management agreement runs for 12 months from your first live booking, with a break clause allowing either party to end it early on written notice.
- Because there are no tenants, there's nothing to unwind. On notice we stop taking new bookings past your chosen date, honour any bookings already confirmed, and return the property in the condition it was in.
- You can block out dates for personal use — for family, refurbishment or a sale viewing — with reasonable notice.
Guest damage and insurance
Every guest is identity-verified and vetted before booking is confirmed. Stays are covered by security deposits or damage waivers, backed by specialist serviced-accommodation insurance. The property is inspected by our housekeeping team after every departure, so anything that needs attention is found and resolved within hours.
Our liability
We take our responsibilities seriously and carry appropriate insurance. Our liability to you is limited to matters we can reasonably influence and, in any event, to the fees paid to us in the 12 months preceding a claim. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under English law (including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or fraud).
Complaints
See our complaints procedure. In short: talk to us first, we'll take it seriously, we'll respond in writing, and if we can't resolve it we'll tell you your options.
Governing law
These terms and any signed management agreement are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and disputes fall to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
About us
Gales Property Management Ltd, company number 17361795, registered office 11 The Yews, Saltney Ferry, Chester, CH4 0BX. info@galesproperties.com · 0330 127 5196.