Individual Algarve Properties - holiday villa reviews for the Algarve

IAP Accreditation Award and Membership

IAP has been formed by a group of professionals involved in the interior design, garden design and landscaping, building maintenance and management of rental properties on the Algarve. We have all either owned or managed properties here over the last twenty years. It was formed because we felt that for too long rental properties tend to be of an indistinguishable style; serviceable but not special; almost bland both in internal and external presentation, each reasonably similar to the next. In addition sometimes levels of service provision are also disappointing. We want your clients to know that if they are looking for a property to rent that delivers something more than this, they might find it amongst the properties that we have chosen to review.

We wanted to create an independent standard that would recognise attention to detail; recognise that thought, care and imagination had gone into creating a holiday home, from the initial concept to the finishing touches; from the roof terrace to the garden. IAP properties can be villas or apartments; old or new; character or contemporary, small or large, but each IAP property must show a discernible difference; something to identify it as individual, and special, and somewhere that clients will want to return to. Different people enjoy different aspects as opinion and taste are all highly subjective, but appearances and ambience do matter especially on initial impact, and are vital in creating repeat business.

IAP accreditation is therefore a valuable tool for both property owners and potential clients.

For owners, if the IAP Membership is awarded, they – for a nominal, non refundable monthly rate – can use the IAP logo on their own website or advertising, a click on a text link then takes them to the IAP website/web property review page. Owners can use it knowing that their property will be more attractive for that award, and be sure that they are then offering something very different from everybody else. A reciprocal return link to an owners site allows clients instant and direct booking access. It means that any potential client, regardless of how they reach a property, will be able to access the IAP review page and know why that property has been awarded the IAP Membership.

Clients linking on the IAP text link are lead to the IAP website, and the IAP description and recommendation of that property, reassuring them that the property they are looking at meets IAP criteria - and there are many other available rental properties that they could choose - somewhere interesting and individual, somewhere they would like to stay in and return to.

Few properties will hold the IAP accreditation however, and this is what will make the valuable difference to both owner and client.

We have set a limit on the number of properties which will be awarded the IAP status at a maximum of 350 at any one time, and each Membership may be renewed subject to our annual site visit review and re-endorsement. If the property is not listed on the IAP review page, then it doesn't hold IAP status.

Should a property not meet our criteria, there are three options available:

For more than a brief summary, an owner can approach Villa Doctor who will produce a full breakdown and recommended course of action for a fee of £200.00, in order to meet IAP criteria and earn Membership. This fee includes the first annual membership of IAP, (£120.00) subject to those recommendations being met.

The Owner can then either undertake the modifications themselves or ask Villa Doctor to oversee the work, which would be priced separately. If however the owner is under contractual obligation to their Property Management company or agency, then that company will undertake the project on owners behalf..

The property is then inspected again by IAP, and, if all aspects of Villa Doctor recommendations have been met, IAP Membership will be granted.

If you would like a property to be considered for IAP Membership or wish to know more about it, please contact us –

Individual Algarve Properties – +44 (0) 7970 926 237