Acorn Cottage

These are the terms and conditions which we use for our cottage.

 

Please read this carefully.
1. Terms
All terms are per week (Saturday to Saturday*) for the property as equipped and described. The usual time of take-over is 4pm (subject to unavoidable delays). You must leave your property by 10am. You are obliged to leave everything in a clean and tidy condition. You are responsible for any damage or loss sustained during your stay.
I reserve the right to correct errors in advertised prices. I will advise you of any error at the time of booking.
I reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. In this case, I will contact you as soon as I become aware of the error. If the correct price is higher and you do not wish to pay this, you will be entitled to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies you have paid to me providing you notify me within 14 days of my advising you of the error. I promise that I will not seek to correct any error in a confirmed price within 8 weeks of the start of your holiday or more than 7 days after you make your booking.
*For weekly holidays starting Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, the previous Saturday charges apply; for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday starts the following Saturday charges apply.
2. Booking Confirmation
A binding contract between us will come into existence when I despatch by post the hire invoice and booking acceptance. The contract shall be deemed to have been made at my office in Seaford and be subject to English law. We both agree to submit any dispute to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales. In all cases these Conditions of Hire form the basis of your contract.
3. Number in your party
It is a condition of your booking that the total number in your party shall not exceed the capacity of the property as advertised. Babies under 2 are not normally counted as a member of your party.
4. Booking monies
When you book you must pay the applicable Initial Deposit Payment which is 10% of the full rental. Your-Balance-of-Hire-Money is due and payable 4 weeks before your holiday start date. I reserve the right to pass on to you any bank charges and other costs that I incur if payment is made in a foreign currency, by Eurocheque exceeding £700, or by any other method not normally accepted by myself or if I have to re-present a cheque or process late payments. I currently accept payment by cheque, cash or postal order.
5. Changes by you
Once a booking has been confirmed by myself to you, should you require me to amend it or to re-invoice you for any reason (including for example accidental loss of the original invoice) then a fee of £20.00 will be charged. You may transfer your booking to someone else/another party (introduced by you) at any time providing you pay the administration fee of £20.00 and any then outstanding balance.
6. Cancellation by you
Telephone me immediately if you have to cancel your holiday 01293 884192 or 0790 9970195. Then on the same day send by first class mail your Hire Invoice. Please tell me if you have already paid your balance-of-hire. Your cancellation is effective from the date I receive your written notification. I will acknowledge your cancellation in writing.
If you cancel, you are still liable for the payment of your balance-of-hire money. I will endeavour to relet your holiday. If I am able to do so before you pay your balance-of-hire money, you will only lose £20.00 of your security deposit. If I am able to relet after you have paid your balance-of-hire money, I will refund the whole of that money (so that you only lose £20.00 of your security deposit)
7. Minors
I cannot accept bookings from anyone under 21 years of age.
8. Bed Linen
There are 2 single duvets and 1 double duvet in the cottage, there are also 8 pillows. There are additional blankets. Please take your own sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases and towels.
9. Availability
Your booking is accepted on the understanding that your confirmed property will be available for your use on the agreed date. Very occasionally, "force majeure" does not make this possible. Where "force majeure" (as defined in clause 16) arises, I have the right to cancel your booking. In this event, I will endeavour to offer you an alternative property. If I cannot do so or if you do not wish to accept the alternative I offer, I will refund all monies you have paid to me in full. Where any cancellation or change results from "force majeure" as defined in clause 16, my liabilities are limited to offering you an alternative property (where available) or full refund as set out above. I regret I cannot pay any compensation or meet any expenses or costs you may incur as a result of any such cancellation or change.
I reserve the right to alter or withdraw amenities or facilities, which have either been advertised or previously available, without prior notice; where reasonably necessary due to repairs, maintenance, weather conditions and circumstances beyond my control. I have the right to refuse to hand over accommodation to any person(s) who, in my reasonable opinion or in the reasonable opinion of the caretaker, is not suitable to take charge of it. In such cases, all hire charges paid will be refunded in full, the contract shall be terminated and I wont have any further liability. If, in the reasonable opinion of myself and/or the caretakers, any person(s) is not suitable to continue the holiday because of unreasonable behaviour, damage to property or danger or significant annoyance to others, the contract may be terminated, in which case I wont have any further liability. In this event, you will remain liable to pay the hire price and no refund shall be due.
10. Damage to the property
The hirer shall also be liable for any damage caused in the property during the period of hire. I and/or the caretaker have the right to enter any accommodation (without prior notice if this is not practical or possible) if special circumstances or emergencies arise (for example if repairs need to be carried out).
11. Group/party bookings
The organiser or leader of a group or party booking is responsible for completing the party details on the booking form. Should you arrive at your property with such a group without notifying us of the required details, I have the right to refuse to hand over the accommodation to you. You may be asked to pay a security deposit at time of take-over.
12.Security deposit
A security deposit of £50 is payable at the time of booking. This will be refunded to you within 21 days of the end of your holiday as long as no breakages or damage has been done to the property or fixtures and fittings minus your electricity usage (see clause 13). There is an inventory in the accommodation, please read and check it at the beginning of your holiday, if there is something missing please let us know during your stay.
13. Electricity payment
The electricity meter will be read both at the beginning of your stay and at the end, we will then deduct the amount used from your security deposit in accordance with the rates given by EDF (local electricity supplier) The hot water is heater by an immersion heater and there is a storage heater and background heater. When you leave the property at the end of your holiday please make sure that all the pins in the immersion heater timer are in the off position as advised on the instructions on how to use the heater.
14.Wheelchair/disabled persons
To ensure the accommodation booked is suitable for visitors with a disability, it is essential that all booking applications from parties including people with special needs give me written details of those needs. I also require confirmation as to whether or not the disabled visitor will be accompanied on their holiday by an individual able to attend to all their requirements. The property structure is not suitable for wheelchairs nor persons whom have difficulty with steep stairs.
15. Your vehicles
There is a parking space allocated (as per the directions to Acorn Cottage.) Please use this space and do not park anywhere else. Failure to adhere to parking conditions may result in a deduction being made from your security deposit. Your vehicles and their accessories and contents are left entirely at your risk. I will not be responsible for any loss or damage from or to any vehicle from any cause whatsoever. There is a car park a short distance from the cottage if needed for a second car
16. Force majeure
I cannot accept responsibility or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of my contract with you is prevented or affected by reason of circumstances which amount to "force majeure". Circumstances amounting to "force majeure" include any event which I could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such circumstances include the destruction or damage of the property (which cannot reasonably be remedied to a satisfactory standard before the start of your holiday) through fire, flood, explosion, storm or other weather damage, break-in, criminal damage or any similar event beyond our or the owner's control. Such circumstances also include riots or civil strife, industrial action, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, war or threat of war, actual or threatened terrorist activity and all similar situations beyond my control.
17. Your pet
There is no charge for guide or hearing dogs. Small dogs are acceptable charged at £10 per week per pet (maximum of 2). Other pets cannot be accepted. You must tell me that you are bringing your pet when you make your booking. You must bring your pet basket with you as pets are allowed on the clear understanding that in no circumstances may they lie on the bedding or chairs. Pets must not be left unattended inside the property and you must clear up mess within the grounds of the cottage.
In the interest of visitor safety, and following government legislation, I am sorry but I cannot accept the following types of dog: American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro and Dogo Argentino even where these types of dog are muzzled as required by government legislation.
18. Liability
Except where otherwise specified in these Conditions of Hire I as owner cannot accept liability for any damage, expense, injury, death or loss of any nature whatsoever suffered by any person(s) from any cause whatsoever other than, in the case of the Owner(s) and/or Manager(s) the proven negligence of him/herself or his/her employees or agents or, in our case, the proven negligence of ourselves or our employees or agents. This does not attempt to exclude negligence or breach of statutory duty.
19. Any shortcomings
You must notify any shortcomings with your property to myself so that remedial action, if appropriate, can be taken. If a significant problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please contact me as soon as possible during your holiday. For all complaints and claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death, I regret that I cannot accept any liability if you fail to notify myself of any complaint or claim during your holiday and write to me with full details within 28 days of the end of your holiday.
20. Obtaining the key and directions to the cottage
The key and directions to the cottage will be sent approximately 7 days before your holiday. If you haven’t received these on the Tuesday before your holiday please notify me. Do not start out on your journey to the holiday cottage without the key and directions as you will not be able to obtain access. If you lose the key during the holiday it will be your responsibility to pay for a locksmith to fit a new lock and supply me with 4 new keys. Also you will need to notify me within 24 hours.
21. Personal holiday insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out Personal Holiday Insurance for your holiday.
22. Data Protection Policy
In order to process your booking and to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements I will need to use the information you provide such as name, address, any special needs, etc.
I take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law.
I do not however, pass any information onto any person not responsible for part of your accommodation. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, we cannot provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons.) Your data controller is Miss Jenny Dorney. You are entitled to a copy of your information held by myself. If you would like to see this please contact me.