ACORN COTTAGE

TERMS AND CONDITIONS EFFECTIVE FROM 1 JANUARY 2021

Bookings placed before 1 January 2021 are covered under different set of Terms & Conditions available by emailing stay@acorncottageashover.co.uk if these apply to Your booking.

Bookings placed after 1 January 2021 are covered by the Terms and Conditions below.

1. THE CONTRACT

The Contract for a short-term holiday rental will be between Oaks Lane Farm (referred to as “Oaks Lane Farm”, “Us” or “We”) and the person making the booking (“the lead booker”) and all members of the holiday party (referred to as “You” or “Your”) in the following booking conditions.  UK Law will govern the Contract. The contract of hire is not effective until We have processed the deposit. The contract will be subject to these booking conditions, and must be complied with. The lead booker must be at least 18 years of age at the time of booking and prior to arrival We must be provided with a list containing the names and ages, post codes and contact details of all guests.

2. PAYMENT

Bookings are CONFIRMED on receipt by Us of the deposit of 30% of the holiday cost. The deposit must be paid within 3 days of booking being placed. The balance of the rental will be due for payment FORTY Days prior to the holiday commencement date.

3. CANCELLATION

a) If Your booking has to be cancelled because Acorn Cottage is put under Government Restrictions and has to close and the period of closure covers Your booking, You will be refunded in full.

b) In the event that Your given address is put into Local/Regional Lockdown, rendering You unable to travel, and the period of restriction covers Your bookingYou will be refunded in full.  Please note that this applies only to the address given by the lead booker. If the address given by the lead booker is not in Local/Regional Lockdown but other members of the party are in Local/Regional Lockdown, no refund will apply.

c) If Your booking has to be cancelled because Acorn Cottage has to close through Force Majeure, meaning any of the following circumstances which may hinder or prevent the performance by Us of the Contract, including but not limited to: (a) acts of God, flood, drought, earthquake or other natural disaster; (b) epidemic or pandemic; (c) terrorist attack, civil war, civil commotion or riots, war, threat of or preparation for war, armed conflict, imposition of sanctions, embargo, or breaking off of diplomatic relations; (d) nuclear, chemical or biological contamination or sonic boom; (e) any law or any action taken by a government or public authority, including without limitation imposing a restriction, prohibition, or failing to grant a necessary licence or consent; (f) collapse of buildings, fire, explosion or accident; (g) non-performance by Our suppliers or contractors; and (i) failure of utility service, and the period of closure covers Your booking You will be refunded in full.

d) Customer inability (or the inability of any, some or all of Your intended party) or disinclination to travel to and stay at Acorn Cottage for any reason.

This includes – but is not limited to – illness (including Covid), a requirement or recommendation to self-isolate or quarantine, shielding, a call to jury duty, military service, incarceration, change in personal or work circumstances, family emergencies, travel delays, vehicle breakdown, and delays with public transport.  These remain at Your risk and do not give rise to a right to cancel or to receive a refund unless We re-let the property, other than according to the sliding scale below. You are strongly recommended to take out UK travel insurance to cover these eventualities. If You choose not to take out UK travel insurance, then You accept responsibility for any loss that You may incur due to Your cancellation.

e) Cancellations must be notified to Us by phone and email and once received in writing We will confirm the cancellation request.

f) We will apply a Cancellation Charge on the scale shown in the table below to cancelled bookings. This shall be a percentage of the total cost of the holiday.

* In order to ensure speedy receipt, and thereby processing, of cancellations, We recommend that the You send written notification of cancellation by email requesting confirmed receipt. The effective date of cancellation is when written notification is received by Us.   Any amounts due for refunding will be made within 14 Days.

g) On receipt of the cancellation, the above table states the amount that the Customer remains liable for at that point in time. We will then use reasonable endeavours to obtain a replacement booking. In the event that We are successful in obtaining a replacement booking, We will refund to You the total amount paid by You for the booking less £75 admin charge (bank/card charges, commissions to online travel agents etc) and less the difference in price between Your booking and the replacement booking if one is made.

For example:  A £1000 booking, fully paid, cancelled and relet for £900, means that the original Customer will be refunded as follows, £1000 less £75 admin charge equals £925, less £100 rebooking shortfall, equals Refund of £825.

h) It is the responsibility of the Customer to acquire suitable travel insurance for themselves and their party to cover the booking. We strongly advise that the Customer acquires suitable insurance to cover circumstances beyond the Customers’ control such as, but not limited to, jury duty, incarceration, change in personal or work circumstances, military service, illness – including Covid and shielding – family emergencies and travel delays.

Covid is now a known risk and it is possible for you to insure your holiday against it. This can include the Customer or any member of the party having Covid, the Customer or any of the party having to isolate or quarantine, or You wishing to shield any Members of the party.

There are several options which include cover for Covid related cancellations available from organisations like:

Trailfinders: https://www.trailfinders.com  

Coverwise: https://www.coverwise.co.uk

Go Compare: https://www.gocompare.com

4. PERIOD OF HIRE

You should not arrive on the commencement date before the time stated when You book and must leave on the day of departure by the time stated when You book. Failure to do so may result in You being charged a further day’s rental. You must not use the property except for the purpose of a holiday during the holiday period, and not for any other purpose or longer period. The agreement to stay in the property for the holiday period does not create the relationship of Landlord and Tenant between the parties. You shall not be entitled to a new tenancy, or to any assured short hold or assured tenancy or any statutory protection under the Housing Act 1988 or other statutory security of tenure now or at the end of the Holiday Period.

5. NUMBER OF PERSONS USING THE PROPERTY

Under no circumstances may more than the maximum number of persons stated on the web site occupy the property. We reserve the right to refuse admittance if this condition is not observed. You may invite other people to visit You in the property during the day/evening and extra chairs can be provided on request.

6. LIABILITY

Oaks Lane Farm, its employees and representatives shall not be liable to You or Your party for loss or damage to property howsoever arising. You must take all necessary steps to safeguard yourselves and your property.

7. CARE OF THE PROPERTY

You are responsible for the property and are expected to take all reasonable care of its furniture, pictures, fittings and effects, in or on the property. You must leave them in the same state of repair, and in a reasonable clean and tidy condition at the end of the rental period. You must not use the property for any dangerous, offensive, noxious, noisy, illegal or immoral activities or carry on there any act that may be a nuisance or annoyance to the owner or other neighbouring properties. Smoking/vaping, candles or other naked flames are not allowed in any part of the property.  Any damages will have to be paid for in full within seven days of notification. We recommend that You have insurance in place to cover this.

8. DAMAGES & BREAKAGES

You are legally bound to reimburse us for replacement, repair or extra cleaning costs on demand.

9. WIFI

WiFi is provided for the guest’s reasonable use. The guest agrees to reasonable and lawful usage of this service.

10. RIGHT OF ENTRY

We shall be allowed the right of entry to the property at all reasonable times or in an emergency for purposes of inspection or to carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance.

11. COMPLAINTS

Every effort has been made to ensure that You have an enjoyable stay. However, if You have any problem or cause for complaint, it is essential that You contact Us immediately to give Us the chance to resolve it. We value your custom and want You to return.

12. DATA PRIVACY STATEMENT & COOKIE POLICY

See our Privacy Policy here https://www.acorncottageashover.co.uk/privacy-policy/ 

See our Cookie Policy here https://www.acorncottageashover.co.uk/privacy-policy/

13. DRONES, NIGHT LANTERNS AND FIREWORKS

The use of drones is not allowed without our express written permission. Fireworks and Night Lanterns are expressly forbidden.

14. PETS

We only allow dogs, and only when have they been booked in. Two dogs are allowed in the property. We may allow more dogs to stay but this must be agreed in writing before arrival. In order to maintain the property in good condition for everyone to enjoy and for the benefit of our neighbours and ourselves it is necessary that guests bringing dog(s) agree to these conditions.

Additional Terms and Conditions for guests bringing their dog(s)

We provide doggy throws so that your pets can join you on the sofas in the lounge.  Dogs are not allowed upstairs. We can provide a stair gate on request if Your dog is inclined to wander in the cottage.  Registered assistance dogs are allowed upstairs.

On arrival, and at all other times, Your dog(s) must be kept on the lead in and around the parking area and our garden, this means keeping them on the lead when You first set out for Your walk.

Once out in the footpaths dogs can be off the lead provided no livestock are in the field and the dogs are under your control. They must not chase any livestock or wildlife. You must keep Your dog(s) under close control at all times for their own safety as well as for livestock.

There are lots of dog walks from the door and in the surrounding area. Please put Your dogs on a lead if livestock present. Please also make sure You close any gates behind you.

Poop patrol! When taking Your dog(s) for a walk, please pick up after them everywhere.  We provide free poop bags, please secure these and place in the black wheelie bin by the front gate.

When You bring a muddy dog back from a walk, please clean them off using the outside taps and the canine towels provided. On no account use the towels provided for human use or wash Your dog in the bath or shower.

Your dog(s) must not be left alone in the property at any time. If anything has to be replaced due to damage caused by Your dog, it will be at Your expense. We provide a guide of dog friendly pubs and restaurants and places to visit so that Your dog can remain with You. The private garden is fully enclosed although We cannot guarantee it is escape proof. A tying ring is provided so You can relax outside with Your dog(s).

The dog(s) are not allowed in other areas of our garden or in any of the ponds or watercourses.

We regret that dogs that bark continuously are not allowed at the property as they will disturb our neighbours.

When You go home, please leave the property looking as if no dog has been there, including removing dog hair from rugs; if the property requires additional cleaning or dogs have been in the bedrooms or on the furniture, We will charge a £50 fee to cover the cost of additional cleaning.