Property 101: Shared holiday homes and family harmony
Angus Raine, the chairman at Raine & Horne says it’s important to establish the rules of engagement from the beginning when it comes to a family-owned holiday home.
He says family members would do well to agree to an accommodation schedule for the holiday home from the outset, which diarises when the property is occupied and by whom.
"Some weeks are more valuable than others, such as Christmas and Easter, but by taking a common sense approach, it’s feasible to develop an accommodation schedule which is suitable to all parties."
He says cleaning is another issue that can cause disputes in a shared holiday home.
"From the outset, all parties should agree about how the property should be left after a vacation stint.
"Typically, to circumvent any concerns, all parties could agree to pay for a professional cleaner every time they exit the property.
"Dirty linen is a common bugbear of shared accommodation.
"I advise that occupants could take their own linen to the holiday home and remove it with them when they leave."
He recommends a pact about how repairs and maintenance with one method is contributing to a sinking fund not unlike those used in strata arrangements.
"Breakages have the potential to cause familial schisms," he warns.
