Holiday lets are seeing plenty of action these days and remaining strong through the summer. The rest of the housing market is still just limping along. Despite the recession, the number of second homes in Britain keeps rising. A 2.6 per cent surge in 2009 to a record level of 245,384 were purchased. This year at least of 1/4 of a million expect to be bought according to Liam Bailey, Knight Frank’s head of residential research.

Bailey remarked about the recession, saying: "The recovery from the recession has coincided with a trend for taking holidays in the UK despite a succession of three days summers between 2007 and 2009. The fashion for ‘staycations’ has been inspired partly by a weak pound partly out of travel concerns."

Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies of HolidayLettings.co.uk sees obvious trends in Knight Frank’s report. She remarked on the growth, saying: "Last year we say a phenomenal rise of about 80 to 90 per cent in inquiries, and took on 800 more properties. And although this year hasn’t been quite so strong, we are still seeing growth. The growth in the number of holiday homes is more than matched by the number of people wanting to let them."

Breaking into the holiday let industry requires overcoming some hurdles. Finding a lender which allows you to let your property will be the first obstacle to overcome. Those lenders offering a second or holiday home mortgage are doing so under the stipulation that the home can be let for only 4 months per year.

Mortgages are still in short supply, because banks are still focused mainly on residential loans and the ongoing tighter lending criteria.

Stinchcombe-Gillies summed up the buy to let industry, saying: "The key to being successful seems to be having a cool head for business, but a warm heart for making holiday-makers feel relaxed and comfortable while they are in your home."