Bespoke vs Off-the-Shelf Holiday Homes: Which Design Strategy Delivers Better Rental Income?

We help Maximize Your Rental Income with Eco-homes and Luxury Holiday Homes, provided by RIBA Chartered Architects.

Woodland Cabin Lake

If you’re considering building a holiday let, you’ve probably seen a flood of off-the-shelf options—shepherd’s huts, garden rooms, pods. They’re fast, familiar, and fairly affordable.

And in some cases, they’re exactly the right thing.

But in other cases—where the land is unusual, the experience matters, or the long-term value is key—a standard box won’t do the job.

Here’s when it pays to go bespoke.

Let the Site Shape the Building

Some plots need more than a generic approach.

Maybe it’s a half-owned woodland with a sloping floor and a clear view to open countryside. Or a lochside corner with potential to sit just above the waterline. These moments are design opportunities.

Off-the-shelf cabins often ignore the nuances of their surroundings. But with a bespoke design, the building responds to what’s already there—the orientation, the trees, the slope, the view.

This makes for a better stay. And better stays get better bookings.

The Rental Return Is Real

We often get asked: Is it worth the cost?

Here’s the short answer: yes, if you want to earn more over time.

A bespoke, architect-designed unit may cost more to build, but it typically earns significantly more per night and gets booked more often. Why?

Because it’s unique. Because it offers an experience people want to share. Because it looks great in photos.

Here’s a snapshot:

Thinking Long-Term? Do It Properly

One of the biggest misconceptions is that rental income is where all the value lies.

But what happens when you want to sell?

We’ve seen many small let businesses struggle to sell because they didn’t follow basic planning, building control or compliance processes. What may have worked as a passion project suddenly becomes unsellable.

When you do things properly—design, permissions, compliance—you’re not just creating a building. You’re building a business.

And one that someone else can confidently take over when you’re ready to move on.

A Quick Recap

So—should you buy off-the-shelf or design bespoke?

It depends on your site, your ambition, and your priorities. But if you have a site with character—and want to make the most of it, financially and experientially—a bespoke design could be the difference between decent and brilliant.

If you’re at the early stages of planning or want a second opinion on a site you already own, we’d be happy to help.