In the competitive world of holiday letting, the amenities you provide make all the difference to the guest experience. Guests expect your holiday let to be a home away from home that’s well-equipped and full of extras that you simply don’t get when staying in a hotel.
Having an inventory checklist ensures you provide all the essential amenities guests need, and it helps you identify any items that might be missing or need replacing. This ensures you provide the best possible experience for your guests.
It’s important to remember that if your holiday cottage sleeps a set number of people (e.g. sleeps 6), then provide the same number of items for at least the maximum that can be accommodated. For example, as well as enough beds for 6 people, you need 6 dining chairs, 6 places to sit in the living room and don’t provide a toaster with only two slots.
It could also be a good idea to provide your inventory list to your guests before they arrive, or on your website/advertisement if relevant. They’ll appreciate not having to load their car up with items they won’t need.
Whether you’re just getting started or upgrading your amenities, this list of all the essential items to create a well-equipped, welcoming space that meets guest expectations and enhances their stay.
Holiday let kitchen inventory
The kitchen is often the hub and the busiest room in a holiday cottage. Most guests like to divide their time between eating out and staying in, so it’s essential to provide a kitchen with everything they need.
For cutlery, crockery, glasses etc, provide double the amount of the maximum occupancy and provide two of the essential items, e.g. corkscrew. Replace chipped, damaged, or mismatched items.
Here is a list of items you may want to consider including in your holiday let kitchen so that is is well stocked and equipped:
Apple corer
Apron
Assorted spices
Baking items such as cake tins, Yorkshire pudding tin, cooling racks, rolling pin, cutters
Baking sheets
Baking trays
Bins (tell guests which bin is for what, so they can recycle)
Bottle opener x2
Bottle stops
Bread bin
Breadboard
Butter dish
Cafetiere
Carving knife and fork
Can opener
Casserole dish
Champagne flutes
Colander
Cookbooks
Cooking tongs
Cooking utensils
Corkscrew
Crockery Cutlery (check the number of teaspoons regularly as they go missing)
Draining rack
Egg cups
Eggs poacher
Fish slice or similar
Fruit bowl
Garlic press
Glass bowls
Glasses – wine, beer (pint), tall, tumbler
Grater
Gravy jug
Herbs and spices
Ice bucket
Ice cube tray
Kitchen roll, foil, cling film
Kitchen scales
Knife set (good quality, sharp knives)
Knife sharpener
Ladle
Masher
Measuring jug
Milk jug
Mixing bowls
Mortar and pestle
Mugs
Napkins
Oil & vinegar dispenser set
Oil brush
Oven gloves
Oyster knife
Pans (ample small/medium/large, non-stick and stainless steel)
Pan stands
Picnic basket
Pizza tray
Placemats and coasters
Plastic chopping boards
Plastic picnic set, children’s cutlery, plastic crockery & cups
Roasting tins and trays
Salt and pepper mills
Scissors
Serving bowls
Serving plates
Serving spoons
Sieve
Sink tidy
Slotted spoon
Spatula Straws
Table runner
Tablecloth
Tea strainer
Tea towels (x4)
Tea tray
Tea, coffee & sugar pots
Teapot
Toast rack
Tupperware containers
Vegetable peeler
Water Jug
Whisk
Wine cooler
Wooden spoons
Holiday cottage bathroom essentials
Bath mat (non-slip)
Bath toys
Matching towels
Mini luxury toiletries, e.g. soaps, shower gel, hair products, bath bombs, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant
Mirror
Non-slip shower mats
Robe hook
Shaver/toothbrush charger point
Soap dispenser/dish
Toilet brush
Toilet paper
Toothbrush holder
Waste bin
Holiday home bedroom inventory
Invest in clean, crisp and high-quality linen that’s easy to clean and bleach if necessary.
Bedspreads
Bins
Blackout blinds
Blankets
Coat hangers
Detachable bedrail
Duvets
Earplugs
Full-length mirror (near socket)
Hot water bottles
Laundry basket
Matching bed linen
Pillow protectors
Pillows (plus extra “just in case”)
Sleeping masks
Sockets beside the bed (plug and USB)
Suitcase stand
Travel cot
Waterproof mattress protectors
Electrical equipment
Whilst not all are essential, it may be worth considering you have thought of everything your property might need during different seasons.
Air conditioning or electric fan
Air fryer
Amazon Alexa Bluetooth speaker
Dehumidifiers
Dishwasher
DVD player
EV charger
Filter coffee machine
Food processor/blender
Fridge/freezer
Hairdryers Hob and oven
Hoover
Iron
Juicer or smoothie maker
Kettle
Microwave
Milk frother
Nespresso
Portable ac unit
Small alarm clock
Steamer
Straighteners
Telephone (block, international, premium calls – allow local only)
Toasted sandwich maker
Toaster Travel adapter (for foreign visitors)
TV’s plus streaming services (Sky/Netflix, etc)
USB charger
Washing machine/dryer
Wireless router
First aid & safety equipment
Carbon monoxide alarm Fire blanket Fire extinguisher First aid kit Plasters Safety latches on cupboards Smoke alarm Stair gates Thermometer Wind-up torch and or motion-sensing night lights in case of a power failure
Cleaning equipment
To help guests keep your property in good condition, it might help to include some basic cleaning utensils.
Air fresheners
Basic supply of cleaning materials for the bathroom and kitchen
Bin liners
Bleach
Broom
Cleaning gloves
Dishwasher tablets/rinse aid
Disinfectant wipes and spray
Dusters Dustpan and brush
Hand sanitiser
Face masks
Mop & bucket
Plunger Starter supply of dishwasher and washing machine powder/tablets Wash basket Washing up bowl with a new sponge/disposable cloths/clean brush/washing up liquid
Entertainment
Art supplies for painting
Books Colouring book and crayons or a re-usable, wipe clean colouring sheet
Decks of cards
DVDs
Family board games/puzzles
Guide/walking books Lego
Outside
BBQ & starter bundle, tools
Beach bag/rucksack
Beach towels
Bodyboards & inflatables
Children’s toys, bucket and spade
Cool box
Fold-up chairs
Outside table and chairs
Pegs
Picnic rug
Poncho’s Umbrella
Accessibility essentials
Make your rental more inclusive by accommodating travellers with mobility challenges.
Accessible-height bed and toilet
Accessible parking
Flat, well-lit paths to the entrance
Grab rails in the bathroom
Roll-in shower with seat
Step-free entrance
Wide doorways and hallways
Other
Baby bath
Batteries
Binoculars, if you have a good view
Blank notepad and pen
Changing mat
Clothes drying rack
Coat hooks
Doormat
Extension lead
Flower vases
For open fires or wood-burners – ash container, coal scuttle/log basket, fireguard & fire irons, wood/charcoal
High chair
Ironing board
Led candles
Maps Matches/lighter
Mini sewing kit
Safe
Spare light bulbs
Tissues
Toolbox
Travel adapters
Tweezers
Universal phone charger
Doggy treats
Providing pet-friendly amenities will help you attract guests who love to take their companions on holiday.
Dog bed/blanket
Dog bowls
Guide/map of local walks
Pet-friendly pubs guide
Poo bags
Toys Treats
A food hamper
Chocolates Fresh bread & butter Fresh-cut flowers Local produce, e.g. a cake, biscuits, cheese or jam Mini cereal variety box Tea/coffee/milk, juices and bottled water
Note: remove any opened or leftover items from previous guests.
And the most important – welcome pack with information and details of how to use all of the appliances.
Specialist Holiday Home Insurance
If you need peace of mind for your holiday home, you may want to consider specialist holiday home insurance through Schofields. With flexible, tailored cover designed for holiday home owners, we can help make sure you're properly protected. Get a quote online today.
Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.