Pass the Keys

Pass the Keys: short-term rental management in the UK and Spain

Pass the Keys presents itself as a company specialising in full-service short-term rental management, operating in the UK and Spain. Its model combines local teams with national systems and operating standards, and each location is run by a local business owner who manages properties on the ground. The company states that it operates in line with local short-let regulations and safety requirements, and offers owners guidance on compliance in their area.

Services for property owners

The company structures its offering into three areas. In listing management, it includes creating the listing, professional photography, optimising pricing and occupancy, and exposure on more than twenty booking platforms, including Airbnb and Booking.com. In property management, it offers professional cleaning and laundry, hotel-quality toiletries, key management, a host portal and maintenance coordination. In guest management, it covers guest verification, a digital welcome guide, review management and 24-hour guest support and check-in.

Services are agreed between the host and the local property specialist, and may vary by region and property type.

Dynamic pricing and technology

Pass the Keys uses proprietary technology to automatically adjust rates according to demand, with the aim of capturing peak occupancy and maintaining bookings in quieter months. The client portal allows users to view upcoming bookings, monthly income reports, average daily rate, reviews and maintenance updates in real time, and is available on all platforms. Hosts can block dates on the calendar for personal stays.

Quality guarantee

The company applies a guarantee whereby it waives its management fee on any bookings that receive a review below 4 stars on Airbnb or below 7 on Booking.com. Each low review triggers a full quality audit and corrective actions. The guarantee applies only in certain locations.

Onboarding process

The process begins with a conversation with a local specialist to learn about the property's characteristics, location, size and availability. This is followed by a free visit and a personalised income assessment based on local demand and comparable listings. Setup includes preparing the property for short-term rental, creating the listing, photo shoots, pricing, regulatory guidance and guest preparation. Once up and running, the company manages daily operations and continuously optimises performance.

Geographic coverage

The company operates in Scotland (Dumfries & Galloway, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Renfrewshire), Wales (Anglesey, Cardiff and Newport, Conwy and Eryri), Northern Ireland (Belfast), Spain (Marbella, Mijas, Benalmádena & Fuengirola, Costa del Sol), North West England (Cumberland & South Lakeland, Manchester, Chester and Wirral Peninsula), East of England (Cambridge, Southend & Chelmsford), Yorkshire and the Humber (York, Leeds), Greater London (Kingston & Richmond, London, Watford & St Albans), South West England (Bath, Cotswolds, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean), West Midlands (Shropshire, Warwickshire, East Shropshire & Stafford), East Midlands (Lincoln, Nottingham), North East England (Newcastle and North Tyneside) and South East England (Brighton, East Kent, Chichester, East Berkshire, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading, Rye & Camber, North Surrey, South Oxfordshire Chilterns, West Oxfordshire).

Local team

The company has locally dedicated managers and territory leads. Jim is the City Manager for London South; Sophie is Territory Manager for London North; Remi is the owner of the North Kensington franchise; Younes is the partner for Pass the Keys East London; and Shahzoda is the owner of Greenwich & Bexley. The company also offers franchise opportunities.