Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions For the letting of a holiday home on a short-term basis
Please read these booking conditions carefully as they, together with the specific information about your confirmed accommodation, form the basis of your contract with the owner of the property in which your accommodation is to be provided. In these conditions “the client” or ‘you’ includes the lead-named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made. “The owner”, ‘we’ or ‘us’ means the owner of the property or someone acting on the owner’s behalf.
Booking and payment
When the lead person named on the booking makes a booking he/she guarantees that he/she is aged 18 or over, has the authority to accept and does accept the terms of these booking conditions on behalf of all members of the party booking.
A deposit of up to one third of the rent must be paid at the time of booking. If the reservation is made within 60 days of your travel date the full amount is payable upon booking. No contract will exist until we receive this amount and confirm your booking. The balance must be paid at least 60 days before departure. If the balance is not received in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by you and the cancellation charges in accordance with the clause below will apply. If the arrangements you wish to book are available, the owner will confirm the booking in writing. A binding agreement will come into existence between the client and the owner when we despatch this confirmation to the client.
The lead person whose signature appears on the booking form (or an electronic or telephonic agreement of a similar nature) is responsible for listing all names and addresses of all members of the party booking on the booking form, making all payments due and notifying us in writing if any changes or cancellations are required as well as for the conduct of the other members of the party.
We will hold any agreed Security Deposit to be applied against the reasonable cleaning and/or replacement of the property, furnishings, fixtures and fittings. We will return the Security Deposit to you within 14 days of the return of the keys to us, less any deductions in accordance with the conditions listed above.
Alterations and Cancellation by the owner
Although it is unlikely that we will have to make any significant changes to confirmed arrangements, or that specific accommodation ceases to be available as booked, this does occasionally happen, and we will try to advise you of any change or cancellation at the earliest possible date. In this event, we will offer you equivalent alternative accommodation or (if you reasonably choose not to accept the alternative offered) we will refund you all money you have paid (including the deposit).
Cancellation by the Client
Cancellation must be in writing by the lead person and sent by recorded delivery to the owner’s or the owners’ agent’s address. Cancellation of accommodation will be effective from the date of receipt by us of the written cancellation notice.
Any monies paid at the date of cancellation are not refundable in the event of cancellation by the client and the client will be liable to pay the balance of the cost of the accommodation unless the owner is able to re-let the property to another client. In the latter case the owner is entitled to charge you a reasonable charge for administrative work along with the amount of any financial shortfall if the value of the new booking is less than that of the original booking. If you are covered by holiday insurance you may be able to recover these cancellation charges.
Alterations by you
If, after the contract comes into effect, you wish to change any details of the booking (e.g. arrival date) we will endeavour to comply. A fee not exceeding £25 may be charged for each amendment. In the event that 60 days before arrival you wish to alter your arrival date to a later date the cancellation charges will apply.
Prices and other charges
The price of your accommodation is subject at all times to changes arising from government action such as changes in VAT or any other government imposed changes which may result in a variation of your holiday price. We reserve the right to alter any of our advertised accommodation prices in this event or in the event that we make an error You will be advised of the price of the accommodation that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. Please note that changes and error may sometimes occur and we reserve the right to correct them.
We will make an administrative charge in respect of work and expenses associated with a cheque that is returned unpaid. (If paid on representation this will not exceed £50)
Force Majeure
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include, but are not limited to war, threat of war, civil strife terrorist activity and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster and adverse weather, sea, ice and river conditions and all similar events outside our control.
The Owner’s Obligations to You
The accommodation provided at the property will be done so using reasonable skill and care. This means that we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in providing your arrangements. Further, we will be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment or carrying out work we had asked them to do. It is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us.
We have no liability in the following situations:
(i) where the accommodation cannot be provided as booked due to circumstances beyond our control
(ii) where you incur any loss or damage that could not have been foreseen at the time of your booking, based on the information provided by you.
(iii) where you incur any loss or damage that relates to any business activity. (iv) where any loss or damage relates to any services which do not form part of our contract with you.
If we are found liable to you on any basis, we limit the amount we have to pay you to a maximum of twice the cost of your accommodation. This limit does not apply to cases involving death or injury.
Your use of the property
You can arrive at your accommodation after 14.00 hours on the Arrival Date of your holiday and you must leave by 11.00 hours on the Departure Date, unless otherwise agreed by us in writing.
If your arrival will be delayed, you must contact the person whose details are given on our booking confirmation so that alternative arrangements can be made. If you fail to do so you may not be able to gain access to the Property. If you fail to arrive by midday on the day after the Arrival Date and you do not advise the contact of your anticipated late arrival we may treat the booking as having been cancelled by you.
The booking is not transferable. Only those guests whose names and addresses appear on the booking form or similar paper records may stay overnight in the property unless the owner gives express permission for overnight guests of the client to be accommodated in addition to the pre-booked party. Day guests in reasonable numbers (and in all cases, within the numbers intended for the accommodation in question) may be entertained in the property but the owner reserves the right to require advance notice of any such invitation. If persons whose names do not appear on the booking form or other records, and for whom no permission to stay has been granted by the owner, are found to be staying overnight in the property the owner reserves the right to terminate the holiday without compensation.
The purpose of the property rental is holiday use only and the client is not permitted to conduct a business, trade or profession (other than the maintenance of business communications by telephone, post or electronic means) from the premises without the written approval of the owner.
The client and his party are required to apply normal security precautions for the prevention of theft or burglary including locking of all doors and securing of all windows when the property is unoccupied and the securing of doors whilst the occupants are asleep to prevent entry by an intruder.
The client will leave the property in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the period of occupation, ensuring that kitchen surfaces are free from grease, and that litter and refuse is placed in bags or receptacles that are provided for that purpose. The owner may make a reasonable additional charge for additional cleaning work if the property is left in a dirty condition or an abnormal amount of refuse needs to be disposed of.
In the event of damage to the premises or any of the owner’s property, or loss of the owner’s equipment, the client must inform the owner immediately (except that minor damage or loss need not be reported between 2000 hours and 0800 hours). The owner may make a reasonable charge for replacement of lost keys.
If we or any other person in authority is of the reasonable opinion that you or any member of your party is behaving in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger or upset to any other person or damage to property, we will be entitled to terminate the holiday of the person(s) concerned. The person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service and we will have no further responsibility to them. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
You will be responsible for making full payment for any damage or loss caused by you or any member of your party during your time away. Payment must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or their agent failing which, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions.
The owner has a right to enter the property at any reasonable time to effect urgent essential repairs to the property or the fixtures and fittings of the property and this right extends to any tradesperson or maintenance worker appointed by the owner. In an emergency where the safety or security of the premises or the occupants is endangered, or serious damage to the property would ensue if an emergency repair were not carried out, this right may be exercised at any time of the day or night. The owner will endeavour, so far as practicable in the circumstances, to make the best possible arrangements for the continued comfort of the client and his/her party, to keep the client informed about the progress of the work, and to carry out the work at a time convenient to the client where this can be arranged. The owner may enter the premises at any reasonable time to carry out an inspection or for other purposes.
Fireworks are not permitted to be used or brought onto the premises or grounds unless the owner has given express written permission for them to be used or brought in.
The client must treat the property’s neighbours with respect at all times and in particular must ensure that the level of noise emanating from the property is reasonable at all times. Between 2300 and 0800 noise must be kept to a low level that does not cause any disturbance to local residents. The client must ensure that proper control is exercised over children and that vehicle doors are closed quietly and horns not used unnecessarily. Refuse must not be left in a position to cause inconvenience to neighbours and the parking of vehicles must be carried out with due consideration for neighbours. Animals in the custody of the client and his/her party (if permitted) must not be allowed to stray onto neighbours’ property.
No electric appliances (other than radios, mobile telephones, portable computers, and other small consumer electronic devices) may be brought into the premises without the owner’s express permission
Accuracy
The owner will describe the property honestly and without omitting significant information but minor variations from the brochure or website description may occur as a result of maintenance, painting, improvements or replacement of fixtures and fittings. The owner undertakes to inform the client of any significant variations compared to the brochure or
website description. Significant variations are those that, in the opinion of a reasonable person, would have a substantive effect on the enjoyment of a holiday in the premises.
We take great care to provide accurate information on the property and general area in which it is located. However, there may be occasions when facilities which are not under our direct control may not be available. We will endeavour to inform you of any such changes in advance, although these will not in themselves necessarily entitle you to cancel your booking without the usual penalties.
Complaints
In the event that the client has a complaint about any aspect of the premises or the service provided he/she must bring this to the attention of the owner at the earliest opportunity during the stay, in order to give the owner the opportunity to remedy the cause of the complaint. Any verbal notification must be put in writing within 21 days of the end of your stay at the property. All such complaints should include all relevant information together with your booking reference Failure to do so will affect our ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract.
Public Utilities
The owner takes no responsibility for the failure of public utilities including suppliers of electricity, gas, telephone, Internet, cable television or water services.
VAT
Value Added Tax is included in the charges quoted for the holiday, if it is applicable.
Law and Jurisdiction
English Law will apply to our agreement and to any dispute or claim which arises between us out of it. Any such dispute or claim must be dealt with under the EASCO Arbitration Scheme or by the Courts of England and Wales. Residents of Scotland or Northern Ireland may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland as applicable.
Additional Local Conditions
Nothing in the local conditions may override the main conditions. Where there are inconsistencies between these local conditions and the main conditions, the main conditions shall apply to the extent of the inconsistency.
1. The maximum number of guests, unless agreed in writing with the owner is four plus an infant.
2. No smoking is allowed in the apartment, common areas or grounds.
3. No pets are allowed.
4. We understand that small items do get broken, but in the event that there is more substantial damage we may ask you to contribute if it has been caused by negligence.
5. No business can be carried out in the apartment, and any activities that are not consistent with the use of the building as a block of high class apartments are not permitted – please ask if you have any questions!