Christmas Temp Cover for Property Businesses: Why planning now protects your peak
More property professionals are taking extended leave this Christmas. Discover how temporary recruitment keeps your sales suites, BTR sites and concierge desks running.
Alice Murray
December puts property businesses in a difficult position. Annual leave peaks just as the market prepares for its busiest restart of the year. For leaders in new homes, Build to Rent and residential management, Christmas temp cover is a continuity decision, and the businesses that plan it early are the ones that start January at full speed.
More of your team in property will be away this Christmas
Our latest LinkedIn poll of property professionals shows festive leave is getting longer:
• 55% plan to take 8 days or more off this winter
• 27% plan to take 13 days or more
• Only 20% plan to take 3 days or fewer
Last year, 18% of respondents planned to take 11 or more days. This year, 27% plan to take 13 or more, a larger share taking an even longer break. For a sales suite or resident services team of five, that can mean two or three people away during the same fortnight.
The property market does not pause for Christmas
Leave rises while buyer and renter activity does not stop. Rightmove recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day in 2025, with visits nearly doubling from Christmas Day. Buyer enquiries to agents rose by 67% between 20 to 24 December and 26 to 30 December, and new listings more than doubled across the same period.
“The week between Christmas and New Year is when buyers have time to browse, book viewings and make decisions. If your sales suite is closed or short-staffed, those leads go to a competitor. We place experienced new homes and customer service temps who can step in, follow your process and keep enquiries moving.”
Alice Murray, Business Manager, New Homes Contract, deverellsmith
Where temporary staff make the biggest difference
Our temporary recruitment teams see the most December demand across:
• New homes sales and show home cover
• Build to Rent resident services and lettings
• Maintenance operatives for out-of-hours and winter callouts
• Concierge and front of house, including night shifts
• Customer care and aftercare for completions and handovers
“Residents don’t stop needing support because it’s Christmas. Heating faults, deliveries and move-ins all continue, and BTR operators are judged on how quickly they respond. Clients who brief us in November get the strongest candidates and time for a proper handover before their own teams leave.”
Grace Harris, Senior Recruitment Consultant, Build to Rent Temporary, deverellsmith
Why book temporary cover before the end of November
Securing temporary staff for December early gives your business:
1. Full operational coverage when core staff take leave
2. Time for handovers and training, so temps understand your sites, systems and service standards
3. Consistent client and resident service, protecting your reputation and conversion rates
4. First access to the best candidates, before the December rush narrows the available pool
What to look for in a temp recruitment partner
Speed matters, but so does risk. Before appointing a provider, check that they offer:
• Property-specific candidates with relevant sector experience
• Full right to work checks and candidate referencing
• GDPR-compliant handling of candidate and client data
• Weekly payroll managed on your behalf
• A named consultant who knows your business and can replace a temp quickly if needed
Secure your festive staffing today
Extended leave and a busy Boxing Day restart make December one of the most demanding months for property businesses. Planning now means your sites stay open, your residents stay supported and your sales pipeline keeps moving.
Contact our Temp Team today or send us a job brief to discuss your Christmas staffing requirements. Explore our full range of recruitment services.
Ideally by the end of November. This allows time for candidate selection, site inductions and handovers before staff leave begins.
Yes. We regularly place temps in new homes sales, concierge, resident services and customer care roles, all screened for property experience.
Your consultant will source a replacement as a priority, so your service is not interrupted.
Yes. Many clients use the festive period to assess candidates for permanent or contract roles in the new year.
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