Booking Terms & Conditions

By booking your holiday with Birch Tree Cottages you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Contract

This contract becomes binding when you receive a booking confirmation. This contract shall be governed by and subject to the laws of England and Wales.

Payment

A deposit of 30% of the rental fee is payable when booking, unless you are booking within six weeks of the start of your holiday, in which case the whole cost is payable. We will send you a confirmation, by email, upon receipt of this deposit.

The balance of the cost of the holiday is due 6 weeks before you arrive, a security deposit of £100 against damage/breakages may also be required. This is returnable following your departure. Non-payment of the balance of the rental on or before the due date shall be construed as a cancellation of the contract by the customer.

Payment can only be accepted by Stripe or PayPal and received no less than two weeks before the commencement of the rental.

Security Deposits

It can take up to 30 days after your stay to receive a security deposit refund. All security deposits for the month are possessed on the last Wednesday of that month. If your stay is in progress on the last Wednesday of the month, your security deposit will be refunded on the last Wednesday of the following month.

Email confirmation will be sent once your refund has been issued. Payments may take between 5-10 workings days to show back in your accounts depending on your provider.

EV Charging

Unfortunately, this is something that we can't yet offer and therefore, there is to be NO EV CHARGING ONSITE.
Charging an electric vehicle will overload our power supply and blow the electrics.

Anyone that ignores the above and is found charging an EV at any of our Holiday Cottages will be asked to leave.

Please do your research before arrival and find the nearest EV charging station suitable for your vehicle.

Cancellation and Insurance

If the booking is cancelled within 3 weeks before the arrival date, the entire rental fee will be due and no refund will be given. For cancellations made 6 weeks before the arrival date, 50% rental fee will be refunded. For cancellations made more than 6 weeks before the arrival date, a full refund will be given less £100 administration fee. The amount of the cancellation fee constitutes reasonably estimated losses arising out of the cancellation.

Please note, if you cancel but we succeed in re-letting the cottage for the same period we will refund any such rentals received less £100 administration fee.

For these reasons we strongly recommend that you take out Holiday Insurance for your holiday.

Please note, if you cancel but we succeed in re-letting the cottage for the same period we will refund any such rentals received less £100 administration fee.


Holiday Insurance

Holiday Insurance is not compulsory but we strongly recommend such insurance cover to protect against the cancellation penalty.

Non-Availability of Cottage as Booked

We would only cancel your stay if the cottage were unavailable for reasons beyond our reasonable control. We would attempt to offer you alternative accommodation; however, if this was either not possible or not acceptable to you, then we would refund to you all monies paid to us. Our liability to you would not extend beyond this refund.

Arrival

The Holiday Home will be available from the agreed “check in time” of 4pm on the day of your arrival, unless otherwise agreed in advance.

Departure

We require that you vacate the cottage by the agreed “check out time” of 10am on the morning of your departure. We ask that you leave the property in a clean and tidy condition.

Care of the Property

We ask you to take all reasonable care of the property and its furniture, pictures, fitting and effects in or on the property and leave them in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the rental period. We ask you not to do or permit anything on the premises which might cause a nuisance to the owner or neighbors.

Liability

We do not accept responsibility for injury to persons or loss/damage to possessions unless caused by proven negligent act or omission of ourselves, our employees or contractors, or agents of the same, whilst acting in the course of their employment. This includes loss or damage to vehicles and their contents, and to the personal possessions you bring with you.

The Holiday Home Owner and her/his agents will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the Customer or any member of the Customer's party or to their property, except where such loss or damage is due to the negligence of The Holiday Home Owner, her employees or agents. In those circumstances, the liability of The Holiday Home Owner to you will be limited to the loss or damage which was a foreseeable result of such negligence. Except in the case of death or personal injury resulting from such negligence, The Holiday Home Owner total liability to you in respect of any breach of the terms and conditions or tort or other act or omission by The Holiday Home Owners agents in connection with this agreement shall be limited in aggregate to the price agreed to be paid by the Customer for the right to use the property for the period agreed.

Complaints

Should you find any faults or have any complaints during your stay, please advise The Holiday Home Owner /Manager immediately so that any appropriate action can be taken. In the case of a serious problem please confirm this in writing.

Number of Persons & Pets in the Property

The number of persons & pets occupying the property must not exceed the maximum number stipulated on the website/stated by the lead guest when booking. The Holiday Home Owner reserves the right to refuse entry to the entire party if this condition is not observed.

Damage and Breakages

You are responsible, whether caused directly or indirectly, for the cost of any breakages or damages to the Holiday Home and its contents. In the event of damage to the property you will on an indemnity basis reimburse The Holiday Home Owner the cost of the repairing the damage. In the case of breakages, you will on an indemnity basis reimburse The Holiday Home Owner the cost of replacing (as new) or repairing the damaged item or items.

Please report damages/breakages to The Holiday Home Owner/Manager before you leave.

Pets (if permitted)

The following dog terms apply:

  1. Dogs must be under strict control at all times while in or at the Property;
  2. Any fouling must be cleared up without delay;
  3. The dog owner must bring the dog's bed or basket for sleeping in;
  4. Dogs must not be left alone in or at the Property or elsewhere at any time;
  5. Dogs must not lie on beds or furnishings, and hair must be cleared up before departing;
  6. Dog owners must ensure that their pets are free from parasites and fleas before they occupy the Property. Failure to do so may incur subsequent charges;
  7. ou will be liable for any damage caused by your and any Holidaymakers’ dogs. Any damage is to be reported to the Owner (or their representative) immediately. Any additional cleaning required, that may incur an additional charge, will be at the Owner's discretion.

Smoking

NO SMOKING INSIDE THE HOLIDAY HOME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Children (if permitted)

Guests must accept total responsibility for the safety of their children.

Right of Entry

The Holiday Home Owner and/or his/her agents shall be allowed the right of entry to the property at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspection or to carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance.