How to reduce water consumption in your holiday rental

Whether you run a gîte, a holiday home or an Airbnb flat, every drop of water counts.

By adopting simple yet effective practices, you not only help protect our planet, you also cut your bills. And let's be honest: who wouldn't want to save money while making their property more appealing to environmentally aware guests?

Why save water in a holiday rental property?

Water management is a major environmental issue, and holiday rental properties such as holiday homes, gîtes and Airbnbs can use a great deal of water. By taking steps to reduce consumption, you make an eco-friendly gesture and add value to your property at the same time.

Install water-saving fittings

Water-saving taps and showers: The first step towards saving water is to fit flow restrictors to your basins and showers. These small devices cut the volume of water used without spoiling your guests' comfort. They are also easy to fit and inexpensive. We're talking about a 60% reduction in consumption, going from around 18 to 20 litres down to about 8 litres. That's far from negligible!

Dual-flush toilets: A standard toilet can use up to 9 litres of water per flush! Go for a dual-flush model, which offers a low-volume option for small jobs and a fuller flush for the rest. Simple, effective and good for the planet (and your wallet).

Adopt smart gardening techniques

Native, hardy plants: If your rental property has a garden or a terrace, choose plants suited to the local climate that cope well with drought. They need less watering, which means less water and less maintenance. Handy, isn't it?

Mulching: Another tip straight from the professionals: mulching. Adding mulch around your plants keeps moisture in the soil for longer. That reduces the need for watering while protecting the plants from the heat. What's more, natural mulch such as wood chips gives your green space a smart, well-kept look!

Use rainwater harvesting systems

For properties with outdoor space, rainwater harvesting systems are an excellent way to save. They collect rainwater in tanks, which you can then use to water the plants or clean outdoor areas. It's cost-effective, eco-friendly, and it shows your guests that you are committed to a sustainable approach.

Inform and involve your guests

Posters and practical guides: Communication is essential if you want your guests to adopt good habits. Put posters up in the bathrooms and the kitchen as a reminder to turn the taps off or to keep showers short. You can also create a short welcome book (digital, perhaps with StyQR!) to explain your eco-friendly initiatives.

Maintain and repair your fittings regularly

Check for leaks: Small leaks can turn into big waste! Make sure you check your installations regularly for leaks in the pipes, toilets or taps. A drop falling every second may seem harmless, but it can prove costly over time.

Fit detection systems: If you have a large property, consider installing connected water leak detectors. These devices will alert you if there is a problem, so you can act quickly and avoid extra costs.

Invest in efficient household appliances

Water-saving dishwashers and washing machines: Modern appliances use less and less water. Choose efficient models with a good energy rating to cut your consumption effortlessly. What's more, mentioning that your property is fitted with energy-efficient appliances can attract environmentally aware guests.

Water filtration systems: Finally, installing a water filtration system can also be a good idea, especially if the water in your area isn't of the best quality. Your guests won't need to buy plastic bottles, which is good for them and for the planet.

Modern technology for managing water consumption

Smart meters: New technology offers practical solutions for managing water use. Smart water meters let you monitor consumption in real time and spot peaks or anomalies. Some systems even send notifications to your smartphone!

Here are the levers covered above, with what each one delivers and what it takes to put in place.

Lever	What the article says	What it takes
Flow restrictors on taps and showers	From 18 to 20 litres per minute down to about 8, nearly 60 % less	Easy to fit, low cost
Dual-flush toilets	A standard toilet can use up to 9 litres per flush	Replacing the unit, worth it if the toilet is ageing
Local plants and mulching	Less watering, soil moisture kept longer	A garden or a terrace
Rainwater harvesting	Watering and outdoor cleaning without drinking water	An outdoor space and a tank
Signs and welcome book	Taps turned off, shorter showers, the approach explained	One sign in the bathroom, another in the kitchen
Leak checks and connected detectors	A drop a second ends up costing a lot; alert on your phone	Checks between two stays
Efficient appliances and smart meter	Less water with no effort, real-time tracking of anomalies	An investment, when appliances are replaced

Carry out a water consumption audit/h2>If you want to go further, have a water consumption audit carried out on your rental property. A professional can help you identify areas for improvement and put tailored solutions in place to optimise water use. It may involve a small investment, but the long-term savings make it well worth it! Saving water in your holiday rental property isn't just an eco-friendly act, it's also an excellent way to reduce your running costs and add value to your property. By adopting these solutions, you offer your guests a more responsible experience while saving money on your bills.

If you'd like to discover even more small gestures for the planet, take a look at our article on White Vinegar: Your Secret Weapon for Eco-Friendly, Effective Cleaning

Frequently asked questions

Do flow restrictors really make a difference? Yes, and they are the best value item on the list. Going from 18 to 20 litres per minute down to around 8 litres cuts roughly 60% of what a tap or a shower uses. They are easy to fit, they cost very little, and your guests will notice nothing under the shower.

Do I have to replace the toilet to save water? An older toilet can use up to 9 litres with every flush. A dual flush model gives you a small volume for light use and the full volume for the rest. If your toilet is already showing its age, this is the swap that pays back fastest.

How do I ask guests to save water without sounding like a killjoy? Put the message where the action happens: one notice in the bathroom, one in the kitchen, reminding people to turn the tap off and keep showers short. Then explain your choices in the welcome book, on paper or on a screen, because a guest who understands the reasoning follows it. A rule with a reason behind it always lands better than a rule on its own.

How can I spot a leak in a home I do not live in? Check the pipes, taps and cisterns regularly, ideally between two stays. A drip every second goes unnoticed at the time, but it shows up on the bill. In a larger property, a connected leak detector alerts your phone before the problem turns into a repair.

What can I actually do with harvested rainwater? Use it to water the plants and clean outdoor areas, two jobs that have no need for drinking water. The tank fills itself, and the effort is visible, which makes it a concrete argument with guests who care about these things.

Is a water audit worth it for a single rental? Not as a first step. Start with flow restrictors, leak hunting and guest information, because that is where most of the litres are. An audit earns its place once those basics are done and the bill stays high, since a professional will then pinpoint what is specific to your property.