Reservations of all accommodation whether made by telephone, fax, in person, in writing or from the Internet are accepted by Manor Cottages, hereinafter referred to as MC on the following conditions:
1. CONTRACT OF HIRE
The hiring contract will be between you the Hirer and the Owner of the property for which the booking is made and shall be deemed to be made subject to these Conditions of Hire and governed by English Law. The contract is for the hire of the property for holiday purposes only. MC act as Agents for owners, and are not Principals. The Contract of Hire is not effective until MC despatch to the Hirer written confirmation of the booking. We do not accept bookings from Hirers under 18 years of age.
2. INITIAL PAYMENT
Bookings will be confirmed upon receipt by MC of the required deposit payment and the booking fee. However, if the booking is made within SIX weeks of the holiday commencement date, the full accommodation rental will be required.
3. BALANCE PAYMENT
The Balance of the Hire will be due for payment SIX weeks before the holiday commencement date. The Owner / MC reserves the right to cancel a holiday where full payment has not been received less than 21 days before the holiday commencement date. The deposit paid on the booking is non-refundable.
4. CREDIT CARDS & BANK TRANSFERS
Payments for holiday bookings may be made by credit or debit card with a 2% charge levied on credit card payments. Payments made by bank transfer should INCLUDE any handling charges / any bank charges are to be borne by the customer.
5. VALUE ADDED TAX
Where VAT applies to the property rental, it is included in the quoted price at the rate of the time of printing, i.e. 17.5%. All VAT inclusive rentals are subject to change if the rate changes. Please note that the MC Confirmation of Booking is not a VAT invoice.
6. CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING
Once MC has issued a 'Confirmation of Booking', either by post or email, the Hirer is responsible for the total published price of the property and any extras as shown on the confirmation. Any amendments to bookings, where applicable, will be subject to a £35 administration fee.
7. BOOKING CANCELLATION
The Cancellation / Curtailment Protection Scheme does not extend to overseas bookings and these customers are strongly advised to make their own alternative arrangements to ensure cover. If you are forced to cancel your holiday you must inform MC immediately. Please click here for full details of the Cancellation Scheme. In all cases of cancellation where the reason for cancellation is not covered by the Cancellation Protection Scheme, the deposit is forfeited.
Cancellation Protection is arranged for customers and is added to the total cost of your holiday. This will protect you for all or part of your responsibility for the balance of hire terms if you cancel for one of the qualifying reasons set out. We urge all customers to consider Cancellation Cover as an important financial decision when making a booking. Cancellation made for reasons outside these listed are not protected in this way, and you will remain liable for full payment unless we are able to re-let all or part of the period booked.
8. BOOKING FEE
MC charge a fixed booking fee of £12 for each booking, included in the rental price.
9. AMENITIES
The use of accommodation and amenities, where offered, such as swimming pools, tennis courts or fishing lakes etc. is entirely at the user's risk, and no responsibility can be accepted for injury, or loss or damage to user's or visitor's belongings.
10. PARTY MAKE UP AND NUMBERS
Under NO circumstances may more than the maximum number of persons, as stated in the brochure/website, occupy a property. Single sex parties must be advised to MC at time of booking, in order to advise owner. Failure to do so may end in loss of deposit. Owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or eject customers if these conditions are not observed. In addition, MC and the owners reserve the right to refuse or revoke any bookings from parties that may in their opinion (and at their sole discretion) be unsuitable for the property concerned. No properties or rooms within properties can, under any circumstances be sublet to a third party or be supplied/used by guests not named at the point of booking. In all instances, MC and the owners reserve the right to refuse bookings if, in their opinion, this condition is violated.
11. HIRER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
The Hirer is responsible for the property and is expected to take all reasonable care of it. All equipment, utensils, etc. must be left clean and correctly replaced to their original location, and the property must be left clean and tidy at the end of the hire period.
12. DAMAGE
All damages, breakages and moving of furniture are the legal responsibility of the Hirer and the Hirer's party. They must be notified to the owner or keyholder before the end of the holiday. Their cost(s) shall be refundable on demand. However, minor damage or breakages will not normally be charged but we do reserve the right to charge bad tenants for extra cleaning, breakage or damage and may refuse future bookings.
The Holiday Home Owner reserves the right to repossess the Holiday Home at any time, where the Hirer or any member of the Hirer's party has caused damage. The Holiday Home Owner shall not be liable to make a refund of any remaining portion of the hire terms paid.
Any Damages/Security Deposits charged by the owner and administered by the Owner themselves or by MC will be cashed no more than one week before the holiday start date to allow for bank clearance and reimbursed promptly after the holiday (less any penalties which may be incurred). MC reserves the right to request payment of a security deposit should it be deemed necessary by the Owner.
13. CUSTOMER SERVICE
If you are dissatisfied with the service you received you should follow the Customer Service procedure outlined in the "FAQ's" section of the website. Any contract shall be governed by English Law and interpretation.
14. LITERATURE
MC take every care to ensure the accuracy of the property descriptions. All information in the brochure and on our website is given in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of going to press, but MC cannot be held responsible for misunderstandings or changes beyond its control, which may become known after publication of this literature. The statements and prices in the brochure, the website and elsewhere are made in good faith but the agent has no liability for inaccuracies.
In addition, whilst we advertise properties as non-smoking or no pets, as instructed by the Owner, we cannot guarantee the fact. The Property description shows what amenities that property has but generally does not state what is not in the property.
Further, MC cannot accept liability or responsibility for happenings outside its reasonable control, such as breakdown of domestic appliances, plumbing, wiring, temporary invasion of pests, damage resulting from exceptional weather conditions or the owner's negligence resulting in loss, injury or accident.
Please be aware that if a property is advertised as having an enclosed garden, this does not necessarily mean a secure garden. It may be enclosed by hedging or open style fencing.
15. LEGAL
In the event of any dispute between parties it shall be referred to the jurisdiction of the English courts only and any actions shall be heard in the court for the area in which the property is located. Any disputes arising between you and The Owner or MC, if not mutually resolved, can be referred to a single arbitrator agreed, or in the default of such agreement, to the President for the time being of the Law Society or Institute of Arbitrators. In either case, such arbitration would be subject to the provisions of the Arbitration Act of 1996 or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force. All parties will contribute equally to the cost of Arbitration.
16. AVAILABILITY
The Hiring Contract is made on the understanding that the property and its facilities will be available for the dates stated. Without prejudice to the foregoing, in the event that a property is not available or unuseable through events arising outside the control of MC or the Owner, (Force Majeure - includes without limitation fire, flood, damage to property) then MC may be forced to cancel the booking or offer suitable alternative accommodation. If not acceptable, it will entitle the Hirer to a refund of all monies due. The Hirer will be advised as early as possible. The Hirer will not as a result have any further claims against MC or the owner. No compensation, costs, expenses or other sums (including without limitation the cost of securing alternative accommodation) will be payable in any other such circumstances by either the owner or MC.
Please note that reservation requests taken via our website are not confirmed bookings until we have contacted you and accepted a payment.
These Booking Conditions supersede any previous issues.