1. DEFINITIONS Throughout this document.
Owner: The principal on whose behalf the Agent offers property for hire.
Agent: The person who offers the Owners property for hire.
Hirer: You, the holidaymaker.
Hire Charge: The cost of hiring the property for the hire period.
Total Hire Period: The period from the commencement of the first consecutive hire period, or if only one hire period is booked, that hire period.
Hire Period: See 4. below.
Total Hire Charge: The cost of hiring the property for consecutive hire periods, or if only one period is booked, the hire charge for that period.
2. BOOKINGS All bookings are subject to these conditions except by prior arrangements confirmed in writing by the Agent. Telephone bookings will be held for four clear days to allow for receipt of the completed booking form and the initial deposit. A deposit is payable upon booking. The balance of the total Hire Charge must be paid at least six weeks before the beginning of the total hire period, failing which the deposit will be forfeited and the hiring cancelled at the sole discretion of the Agent. Reminders will not be sent to hirers when the balance falls due. In the event of late payment of a balance, the right is reserved to cancel the hiring. When bookings are made six weeks or less in advance, the whole of the hire charge must be paid on booking.
3. DAMAGE DEPOSIT £100.00 deposit is payable with the final balance to be held against any breakages or damages. The deposit is returnable within one month of the end of the hire period if everything is in order, subject to any necessary deductions for damages or extras not separately paid for. If there are any charges in excess of the breakage deposit the hirer agrees to reimburse the Owner or his Agent. Any substantial damage caused by the hirer, the hirer`s family or the hirer`s invitees or behaviour of an unacceptable type will result in immediate eviction without compensation and a claim for loss and damages by the Agent. In this event neither the Owner nor the Agent will have any further contractual obligation to the hirer.
4. HIRE PERIODS Hirings normally run from 2.00pm on the first day of the hire period to 10.00am on the last day of the hire period. If the time of arrival is to be later than 4.00pm on the first day of the let the Agent must be informed so that the keyholder can be notified. In the event of late arrival resulting in failure to gain access to the property, responsibility for overnight accommodation is the hirer`s. The number of persons staying in a property must not exceed the number specified in the literature provided for each property unless by prior agreement with the Agent. The owner`s representative has the right to cancel the hiring if the number of persons arriving at the property exceeds those notified and agreed on the booking form.
5. FUEL AND CLEANING Hire charges are inclusive of water, gas and electricity charges (where appropriate) in high season. Gas and electricity in all seasons will be metered on consumption. Unreasonably high consumption will be charged from the £ 100.00 deposit at cost. Unreasonable consumption will be determined by, and at the sole discretion of the owner`s agent. Hirer`s are expected to leave holiday accommodation clean and tidy. You are required to clean the cottage before your departure. This should include tidying, washing up, vacuuming or other floor cleaning, cleaning of showers, wash basins and WCs, cookers, the removal of rubbish and tidying of bed linen. If the property needs any cleaning after your stay you will be charged for this and the amount will be deducted from your damage deposit.
6. LINEN Sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels are not provided. The hirer should provide these items.
7. FACILITIES Every effort has been made to ensure that descriptions of the owner`s properties and nearby facilities are accurate. However, neither the Owner nor the Agent can accept any liability for any changes. Conditions in rural France are often different from those in England (for example, plumbing is not renowned for its efficiency) and neither the Owner nor the Agent can be held responsible for technical problems, nor can they accept any responsibility for animals, birds, insects which may be present in or around the property. The use of the accommodation and the amenities, where offered (such as bicycles, etc) is entirely at the hirers`/users` risk. Hirers and their parties leave personal belongings in or around the property entirely at their own risk and neither the Owner nor the Agent can be held responsible for any injuries or losses however caused.
8. ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION Bookings are made on the understanding that the accommodation booked will be available for the dates specified. If, due to circumstances beyond the owner`s or the Agent's control, this is not possible, every effort will be made to provide alternative accommodation. Failing this, the Agent will make a prompt and full refund of all money paid, and there will be no claim against the owner or the agent. In the event of the booking being cancelled or altered by reason of force majeure (which includes floods, storms, riots, strikes, wars, and Acts of God) or other events outside the owner`s control, neither the Owner nor the Agent can accept liability. If the hirer or any other person in the hire party falls ill on holiday or for any reason has to return early, neither the Owner nor the Agent can be responsible for any additional costs nor can any part of the hire charge be returned.
9. CANCELLATION CHARGES In the event of cancellation by the hirer, a charge will be made as follows:
More than six weeks before the holiday.... ..... 25% of the cost (the deposit)
Less than six weeks before the holiday.... ..... 100% of the cost (the balance)
If it is possible to re hire the property after cancellation, the cancellation charge less an administration fee of 15% will be refunded. Changes to a booking may sometimes be possible, but the hirer will be liable to a £20.00 fee for alteration.
10. INSURANCE Both the Owner and the Agent strongly recommends that hirers arrange the appropriate holiday insurance.
11. COMPLAINTS In the unlikely event of a complaint about the property, this should be reported to our local agent, his appointed representative or our Head Office (Tel: 00 44 1428 725301) within three days of arrival and confirmed in writing in a letter posted within one week of arrival. Failure to do this will result in the owner or his agent being unable to deal with the complaint. Complaints cannot be accepted after a hirer has returned home and there has been no opportunity to put matters right during the hire period.