Basic Guide to starting a Self-catering Accommodation

In essence, a self-catering establishment offers clean, comfortable, furnished accommodation where visitors have the ability to cater for themselves. Self-catering holiday houses offer real living space, instead of just a place to sleep and adding little extra touches such as a welcome pack, flowers, dvds or books will help to create the right impression.

It can be a cottage in a rural setting, an apartment in a city centre, a house in a suburban location, a log cabin or a chalet. It is a flexible base for exploring all that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Tourism legislation requires all tourism/visitor accommodation to hold a current Tourism Northern Ireland (NI) certificate. This involves a visit to the property from a member of Tourism NI’s certification team, who will inspect the property to ensure it meets certification requirements.

Under current legislation, a statutory (legal) inspection of the premises is undertaken every four years. A certificate issued by Tourism NI, following this inspection, is also valid for four years.

Applications can be submitted online at https://forms.tourismni.com/Forms/,  accompanied by a fee. £40 is payable for every unit you intend to let, subject to a minimum fee of £40 and maximum of £350.

Payment and application can also be made by post by downloading and completing the application form here.

You can also request an application pack by contacting the Quality & Standards team by email to qa@tourismni.com or telephone 028 90 441545. When a completed application form and fee are received, a member of Tourism NI’s inspection team will contact you to arrange a suitable time and date for the visit.

The requirements and recommendations set out here are intended for guidance; they are not comprehensive. During an inspection you will be advised on matters not specifically detailed here, however, inspections do not cover all aspects of tourist accommodation; it is the responsibility of certified premise operators/owners to make every reasonable effort to ensure that visitors enjoy a safe and secure stay. As part of your duty of care to visitors you should remain vigilant of potential risk to visitors and of how you describe your premises in marketing and promotion.