Finest Retreats, the UK’s largest independently owned holiday let management company, has acquired My Favourite Cottages, a Devon-based agency specialising in coastal and rural holiday cottages. 

The acquisition takes Finest Retreats’ total portfolio count above 900 properties.

The original founder, Harry Roberts, has retired whilst the entire operations team at My Favourite Cottages has been retained, ensuring continuity of service for property owners during the transition. 

The acquisition follows Finest Retreats’ purchase of Forgotten Corner Holiday Cottages on Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula in 2025 and reflects the company’s broader ambition to grow through carefully selected acquisitions of owner-managed businesses that share its values.

My Favourite Cottages has been operating for over a decade, building a portfolio of 72 properties across Devon. T

The acquisition was completed at the end of July 2026, with Finest Retreats having already made marketing and operational changes behind the scenes that it claims have generated an early increase in bookings and occupancy.

Richard Bond, owner of Finest Retreats, says: “I’m proud that when Harry chose to retire, he specifically approached us to take on the mantle. It says a lot about the reputation we have built and what we stand for as a business. 

“His whole operations team has stayed on and every owner has been personally contacted, which means the transition has been as smooth as it possibly could be. We are really looking forward to getting to know each of them over the coming months and making sure they feel the full benefit of being part of the Finest Retreats family.”

The transition preserves the local knowledge and personal service that My Favourite Cottages’ owners rely on, and adds the support of Finest Retreats’ wider marketing and distribution network, proprietary technology and full management infrastructure.