Frequently Asked Questions

How do I offer my holiday property into your scheme?

We’re always so delighted to hear of possible new properties! There are a few things to consider, and these are set out in the questions and answers below.

What types of properties do you need?

We welcome all types of holiday properties – cottages, bungalows, apartments, lodges, and caravans – and properties are offered to our patients on a self-catering basis. It helps if properties are commercially let as this gives a degree of quality assurance and a sense that safety standards will be in place.

Does the location of the property matter?

Coastal, lake/river or rural locations are popular, but all locations are welcome. We have properties in the Lake District, on the Northumberland and Yorkshire coasts, Bronte Country, the Yorkshire Dales, and Blackpool. We’re especially looking for seaside properties in North Wales for people referred from the Liverpool area.

What about access?

Access issues may be important to our guests so properties with easy or level access at the front door, a toilet on the ground floor and even better, a ground floor bedroom and bathroom, are always welcomed. Accessible parking for easy drop-off of passengers and luggage is also helpful.

Our holiday property is used only by family & friends. Will that work?

Please think about the logistics of the property being used by strangers. Are your personal belongings difficult to remove or hide away? Also, our guests may not be enjoying optimum health so might want to sit and relax in the property all day or stay in bed longer than usual. Is the lounge furniture and bed comfortable enough for this? Finally, some of our guests have compromised mobility. Is the property and garden safe for people who may be frail on their feet?

Who does the cleaning?

We ask that properties are fully clean, and beds all made up so that guests don’t have the worry of these jobs on arrival or before their departure. A high standard of cleanliness really matters as our guests may be immuno-compromised or more prone to infection. So, do you have a reliable cleaning service and laundry facility for change-over day?

Is my property suitable?

We hope so! Consider the list below of the simple headings from our Property Checklist. This will help you think about whether you’re likely to meet our safety requirements.

I think my property is suitable. What should I do?
Please email us on properties@abitofabreak.com and we will send you our full Property Checklist and Property Information Sheet to complete and return to us. We will also provide our direct phone number for you to contact us to talk about any areas of uncertainty if you are unsure.

How soon will ABOAB start using our property?
As soon as we’ve assured ourselves that your property is suitable, we’ll add it straight into our scheme, generate a Property Flyer and start looking for suitable matches. We ask you to let us know if you have an un-booked week ahead that we might use, and this can be at just 3- or 4-weeks’ notice or several months away. We’ll also keep checking your on-line availability ourselves and if we see an un-filled week on the horizon, we’ll contact you about it if we have someone suitable on our waiting list.

What about the formalities?
At ABOAB we see ourselves as an introducer and the agreement for the booking is between you and the guests. We ask property owners (or their agency) to provide a copy of standard booking conditions for our records which we send to guests on your behalf at the time any booking is confirmed. We will pay your agreed ‘overheads charge’ for cleaning, laundry, and utilities costs at the time of booking confirmation, and even if our guests have to cancel, you keep the payment by way of a thank you.

What are the benefits to me offering a week in my holiday property to ABOAB?

The feedback we receive from guests about the benefits of a holiday while living with a terminal illness is hugely gratifying. As a property owner, be assured that your generosity in gifting a holiday will be massively appreciated. We pay a fee to cover your cleaning, laundry and utility bills associated with the break to help ease costs. We hope you’ll put A Bit of a Break’s logo on your website and social media, to tell others what you’re doing. We’ll similarly feature you on our platforms and give you a shout-out and thank-you as often as we can.