“Built For Landlords Who Have Enough To Deal With And Deserve A Property That Pulls Its Weight”

Claire Hilton, Founder

Why Valana Stays Exists

Before Valana Stays, I spent my career as a chartered accountant and then a strategy consultant, helping businesses work out what was driving their performance and what to do about it. I loved that work, and it turns out a property is the same puzzle. Behind the day-to-day of guests and cleans, I'm always looking at how each property is doing and where it could do better, and you'll get an honest picture of yours at every step.

That analytical side exists because it's needed. It's a hard time to be a landlord in this country. The Renters' Rights Act has changed the rules, interest rates have eaten into margins, and the list of licences and certificates gets longer every year. A property should be the thing paying you back for all of that, and for a lot of owners it has become another job.

The idea for the business came from the other side of the check-in. I've travelled a lot, and in the best short-lets I stayed in, the door code arrived before I thought to ask for it, a boiler was fixed within the hour, and the owner clearly had no idea any of it was happening. That was the standard I came back to the UK wanting to build, run with the rigour I'd spent my career applying to other people's businesses.

We keep our books small on purpose. I know every property on them, I pick up when owners call, and you won't have to chase anyone for an update. When something needs your attention, you'll hear it from me directly.