SHC booking conditions
1.
CONTRACT
1.1
The contract is for a short-term holiday letting and is made between the Client and Stately Holiday Cottages Limited (SHC) as agent for the property owner.
1.2
The contract will be entered into when SHC issues the confirmation of booking by letter, fax or email.
1.3
The Client who makes the booking does so on behalf of the Client and all members of the Client's party and the booking is confirmation of the Client's and the Client's party's understanding and acceptance of these terms and conditions.
1.4
The Client and all members of the Client's party will be deemed to have read and understood the "Travel Wise with SHC" information and compliance with any requirements or directions therein is a term of the contract.
2.
PAYMENT
2.1
All bookings are subject to a 25% non-refundable booking deposit (unless otherwise stated). An invoice for the full SHC Charge less the deposit already paid will be issued and payable 12 weeks before departure.
2.2
VAT at 20% is included within the SHC Charges for all properties. If VAT increases or if additional charges shall be levied for any services included within the SHC Charge after the date of the booking SHC reserves the right to invoice the Client for the additional amounts which shall be payable on invoice.
2.3
All cheques should be made payable to 'HSBC Trustee (Guernsey) Limited' and sent to SHC at the designated address. Please note that cheques are not accepted for payment within 12 weeks of the commencement of your holiday. (See 2.5 below).
2.4
If the Client does not pay any invoiced amount within 2 weeks from the due date (or, if earlier, before the start date of the holiday) the contract shall be deemed to be cancelled by the Client and any monies already paid shall be forfeited subject to 4.3 below.
2.5
In the case of bookings made less than 12 weeks before the commencement of the holiday week(s) the SHC Charge is payable in full on booking. Full payment must then be made by credit or debit card.
3.
CREDIT CARDS
3.1
An administration charge will be levied for payments by credit card. At the time of publication this charge is 2.25% of the payment amount but may be varied at any time.
4.
CANCELLATION
4.1
Any cancellation made by the Client for whatever reason shall be in writing, email or fax and addressed to SHC at its designated address.
4.2
Subject to clause 4.3, if you have to cancel your holiday and SHC subsequently re-lets the holiday at full price, a refund of all monies paid, less the deposit (clause 2.1) and a £30 (including VAT) administration fee, will be made. If the property is re-let at a reduced price, the refund, less the deposit, will be the lower of the monies paid and the reduced price, minus (in either case) the deposit and a £30 (including VAT) administration fee and any credit card administration chargeand the deposit.
4.3
Should a cancelled holiday be taken by the property owner (which the property owner is entitled to do within 42 days of the start date for a non UK holiday and 14 days of a UK holiday) no refund will be given.
5.
HOLIDAY CANCELLATION INSURANCE
5.1
It is the Client's responsibility to arrange adequate holiday insurance for the Client and all members of the Client's party.
5.2
This responsibility shall include insuring the Client's and the Client's party's own possessions during the holiday including when they are on or in the contracted property.
6.
NON-AVAILABILITY
6.1
In the unlikely event that the property becomes unavailable following confirmation of the booking or changes are necessary to the booking for reasons outside the control of SHC or the property Owner, SHC undertakes to notify the Client as soon as reasonably possible and may offer alternative accommodation of a similar type and standard in a similar location for the holiday week(s) subject to any necessary price adjustments.
6.2
If it is not possible to arrange alternative accommodation or if the Client does not wish to accept the alternative accommodation the booking will be cancelled with a full refund of all monies paid and neither SHC nor the property owner shall have any further obligation or liability for non-availability, changes or cancellation as referred to in this condition.
7.
CONSTRUCTION WORK
7.1
Prior to the holiday: if we are aware of construction work in the immediate vicinity of your property which, in our opinion, may severely affect the enjoyment of your holiday we will treat it as a case of non availability and clause 6.1 and 6.2 above will apply.
7.2
Whilst on holiday: if construction commences, which affects the enjoyment of your holiday, our local staff will try to have the work stopped. If this is not possible, neither SHC nor the property owner shall have any liability for disturbance or impairment of your holiday or any other effect of or loss resulting from the construction.
8.
LETTING PERIOD
8.1
Unless otherwise notified on the Arrivals Sheet sent with your final invoice the letting commences at 4.00 pm on the day of arrival and ends at 10.00 am on the day of departure.
9.
NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS
9.1
The number of persons occupying the property must not exceed the maximum number specified in our literature. SHC and/or the owners reserve the right to refuse entry to the property by the Client and all members of the Client's party if this requirement is not observed or charge you whatever amount they consider reasonable if you do not comply. Please note that infants under the age of 2 years on the start date of your holiday are not included within the occupancy limits provided they sleep in a cot.
9.2
The minimum age for the party leader should not be under 21 years.
9.3
SHC on behalf of itself and the owner/agent reserves the right to refuse bookings from any single sex groups.
10.
COMPLAINTS
10.1
The vast majority of holidays are a complete success but things can go wrong from time to time and it is essential to discuss any problems with the local management/representative, all of whom are committed to ensuring the success of your holiday. Regrettably, we cannot accept any complaints which have not been brought to the attention of local staff.
10.2
Any complaints not resolved locally must be confirmed in writing to SHC within 28 days of your return.
11.
CARE OF THE PROPERTY
11.1
The Client shall take reasonable and proper care of the property and its contents and leave it and them in the same state of repair and condition and in
the same clean and tidy condition at the end of the holiday week(s) as at the beginning, with all of the washing-up completed.
11.2
Neither the client nor any member of the Client's party shall do or permit anything which may be a nuisance or cause damage or annoyance to any adjoining or neighbouring owner or occupier and in particular neither the client nor any member of the Client's party shall make excessive or unreasonable noise in or around the property. Serious or persistent breach of this clause 11.2 shall entitle SHC and/or the property owner to terminate the letting early without compensation.
11.3
The Client is liable to reimburse SHC and/or the property owner on demand for all costs incurred in replacement, repair, or otherwise where the Client or any member of the Client's party is in breach of clause 11.2 or any requirements or directions within the "Travel Wise with SHC information.
11.4
Damage/breakage deposits - we rely on SHC clients' honesty to report and pay in resort for any damages or breakages caused during the period of occupation but, as a precaution, we take your credit card details when you make your final payment to cover breakages up to the value of £500. Details will be held on file for two weeks after your return. Prior to taking any money from your card we will always give prior written notification. In all cases we reserve the right to charge for damage or breakages whether or not reported or found before departure including those over £500 in value. In a few instances, a different inventory deposit/system is required by the owners of a given property, details of which will be found with the individual Rental Charges.
12.
RIGHT OF ENTRY
12.1
SHC and/or its agents and/or the owner or the owner's representative shall have a right of entry to the property at all reasonable times for purposes of inspection or to carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance but (except in case of emergency) shall endeavour to make a prior arrangement with the Client.
13.
LIABILITY
13.1
Neither SHC, nor the property owner nor their employees, servants and agents shall have any liability to the Client or any member of the Client's party for any accident, loss, injury, damage, expense or inconvenience which may be suffered, incurred, arise out of or be in any way connected with the letting unless caused by their negligence or breach of contract when such liability shall be limited to the person so negligent or in breach.
13.2
Nothing in this contract shall create any rights for third parties under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
14.
VERBAL INFORMATION
14.1
SHC does not warrant and is not responsible for the accuracy of, any verbal information given or statements made by its employees, servants or agents.