Norfolk Cottage

Definitions

The Owner: The Owner is taken as being Mrs Joanna Holding

The Cottage: 4, Old Coastguard Cottages, Mundesley, Norfolk, NR11 8JQ

The Hirer: The Hirer is accepted as being the person(s) named on the Booking Confirmation documents and shall include any member of the Hirer’s party and any third party invited to the Cottage by the Hirer.

Agent: Any person appointed by the Owner to carry out any function related to the hire of the Cottage.

Legal Jurisdiction

This Agreement (and any disputes, claims or proceedings of whatsoever nature arising) shall be governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of England. The Hirer hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts in all disputes.

Terms & Conditions

1. Hire
a. Weekly Hire: All weekly hire bookings start from 4.00pm Friday and the Cottage must be vacated by 10.00am on the Friday the period ends.
b. Weekend Hire: All weekend hire bookings start from 4.00pm Friday and the Cottage must be vacated by 10.00am the following Monday.
c. Midweek Hire: All midweek bookings start from 4.00pm Monday and the Cottage must be vacated by 10.00am the following Friday.
2. Deposit/Payment: A deposit of 25% of the full rental is payable when booking, unless the booking is made within 6 weeks of the hire commencement date, when the full amount is payable. If the balance is not received by the owner by the due date, the deposit will be forfeited and the Cottage re-let. A refundable cheque for £200 is required at the start of the holiday to cover for breakages, damage or extras such as shopping or meals. This cheque, less any costs is refunded or returned on handover of the keys at the end of the holiday.
3. Cancellation: Once a booking has been confirmed in writing and the deposit paid, the hirer is liable for the whole amount of the rent for the period booked. If written notice of cancellation is received, every effort will be made to re-let the Cottage for the period booked, and if a new let is arranged, then only the deposit will be forfeit. If the Cottage cannot be re-let, then both the deposit and the balance payable will be forfeit.
4. Holiday Insurance: Once booked, the hirer is liable for the complete Cottage rental costs. As such, it is strongly recommended that the hirer take out suitable holiday insurance to cover costs incurred by unexpected holiday cancellation.
5. Availability: The booking is made on the understanding that the Cottage will be placed at the hirer’s disposal on the dates agreed. Should this not be possible through fire, theft or circumstances beyond the owner’s control, the full amount paid by the hirer will be refunded. However, note that:
a. No alternative accommodation can be provided;
b. The hirer will not have any claim against the owner for compensation or expenses.
6. Purpose of Hire: The Hirer shall be entitled to occupy the Cottage for holiday purposes only and this agreement shall not confer on the Hirer any security of tenure within the terms of the Housing Act 1988 pursuant to which the occupation shall be deemed to be by way of an excluded tenancy.
7. Maximum Occupancy. The maximum occupancy is 5 adults. If this condition is not observed, the Owner reserves the right to refuse admittance or require that the Hirer vacate the property. In this eventuality, no refund of monies will be due.
8. Amenities. The use of the Cottage includes Gas, Electricity, Water Heating, Central Heating, Bed Linen, Towels and use of TV, DVD and Hi-Fi. Note: Towels are supplied but are strictly for use within the Cottage and must not be removed. The Hirer must supply their own towels for beach or other uses. 4 new mountain bikes are available at the cottage. These are suitable for adults and children of 12 and older. A small charge of £10 per bike per week is made to cover maintenance repairs and accessories.
9. Pets: Unfortunately, we do not accept pets at the Cottage.
10. Smoking: The Cottage is strictly non-smoking. The Hirer may not smoke within the Cottage or allow any member of their party or other invited persons to smoke within the Cottage. Any breach of this rule will result in the termination of the Hirer’s booking and a request to vacate immediately. All monies paid will be forfeited. Smoking is permitted in the outside areas of the Cottage; however the Hirer must ensure that all evidence of smoking in the outside areas is removed prior to departure.
11. Cleaning: All equipment, utensils etc must be left clean, and the Cottage must be left clean and tidy at the end of the hire period. Suitable cleaning materials will be found within the property for this purpose. The Owners reserve the right to charge for excess cleaning at the rate of £25.00 per hour. Note: It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure the safe storage of cleaning materials, particularly in the presence of children.
12. Nuisance. The Hirer shall not cause a nuisance of any kind to the Cottage or to its neighbours.
13. Right of Entry. The Owner and/or their Agent reserve the right to enter the property at any reasonable time, with or without notice, during the Hirer’s period of stay.
14. Damages & Breakages. An inventory of furniture, fittings and contents is displayed in the property. The hirer undertakes to keep the cottage and all the furniture, fittings and contents in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the letting. All damage, breakages or equipment failure to the property or its contents must be reported to the Owner or Agent as soon as possible. The Owner or Agent will repair the damage as soon as practical, however there is no guarantee this will be within the period of hire.
Damage or breakage caused by act or omission of the Hirer or persons attending the property at the Hirer’s invitation must be repaired or replaced by the Hirer at the Hirer’s expense within 7 days of the cost of repair or replacement being determined and notified to the Hirer. The cost of repair or replacement shall generally be determined within 14 days of notification. Any repair or replacement shall be to the original standard.
Should the damage result in another booking being cancelled, the Hirer will be held liable for all consequential losses to the owner.
All breakages are chargeable. The tariff for the breakage of common items, i.e. drinking glasses, plates, bowls, mugs, is £2.50 per item.
15. Appliance Breakdown. In the event of a breakdown, the Owner will do everything possible to ensure swift repair/replacement of any appliance provided at the property. However, the Hirer must accept that it may be impossible to deal with every eventuality during the course of a booking period. Where a breakdown is determined to be a direct result of misuse, the Hirer will be required to cover the full cost of repair or replacement.
16. Left Items. The Hirer will be notified of any of the Hirer’s possessions that have been left in the property after it has been vacated. Notice will be made in writing by post or email, generally within fourteen (14) days after the end of the booking period. The Hirer must meet the cost of returning any item and the Owners will also levy a charge of £5.00 to cover handling costs. If the Hirer does not wish for the item to be returned, the Owners will dispose of it as necessary but reserve the right to levy a charge for any items which are hazardous or difficult to dispose of. Please Note: any item to be returned will be suitably packed but the Owners accept no responsibility for loss or damage in transit.
17. Security. The Hirer is responsible for the security of the Cottage for the duration of the booking period and also immediately after vacation, until such time as the Owners and/or their Agents re-enter the Cottage. The Hirer is expected to take all reasonable care of it. This includes ensuring that the Cottage is fully secured when leaving it. No windows should be left open and all locks must be secure.
18. Complaints Procedure. If the Hirer is not entirely satisfied with the accommodation offered, they must contact the Owners or the Owners’ Agent immediately, and every effort will be made to resolve the problem. If the situation cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, the Owner will attend as soon as possible to inspect the property. The Owner will not consider claims for problems notified to them after the hire period has ended.
19. Variation to descriptions. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of details on the Owners’ literature, advertising, web sites, etc. However, changes to the details may be necessary from time to time and the Owners reserve the right to make any changes without notice. Where changes are fundamental to a booking, notification will be made in writing by post or email.