Terms & Conditions

General

Your contract is under a “Licence to Occupy.” You are booking a holiday let and must only occupy the property as a holiday with the persons named on the booking form for the duration specified on the booking.

Reservations

A booking is only confirmed once we have received a deposit or the full balance whatever the terms of the booking website you booked through require. We will then confirm your booking in writing. If you do not comply with the terms of the booking acknowledgement within the time stipulated eg paying any balance then the reservation will lapse. You will also be required to state all names of people who will occupy the property.

Deposit

This must be paid by bank transfer stipulated by the booking website or if booking direct by providing us with your credit card details. If a booking is made 60 days or more before the holiday starts, a non- refundable deposit of 25% is payable, otherwise the full balance is due. If the balance payment is not received by the due date as set out in the confirmation from the booking website, then the guest will lose their booking and the deposit will be forfeit.

Cancellation

When you make a booking and we have received the required deposit, a legally binding contract exists between us that is non-cancellable and non- refundable, except in exceptional circumstances. You may still remain liable to pay in full or in part for the booking, even if you are unable to take your holiday.

In the event of cancellation less than 60 days before a holiday begins the whole rent and any booking fee charged by the booking website is non-refundable unless we succeed in re-letting, in which case an administration fee of £100 and our readvertising costs and any other costs eg commission we incur will be deducted plus any discount that has had to be applied to any replacement booking and the rest refunded to you. With more than 60 days notice, only the deposit and any booking website booking fee will be forfeit. If for some reason you do need to cancel, it is important that you tell us at the first opportunity so that we may attempt to re-let  and minimise your loss. You should take out cancellation insurance to protect you against this loss.

Cancellation Insurance

Traditionally, people have not taken out insurance for UK holidays but it is strongly recommended that you do. There is plenty of choice available on the internet.

Payment options

We take credit and debit cards via a secure service as well as Paypal and bank transfer.

Eligibility

The person making the booking must be aged 18 or older. Oyster Shell is suitable for family gatherings and bookings will not be accepted from groups of single people under the age of 18 nor for “stag” or “hen” type parties or any booking that breaches Covid guidance.

Arrival and Departure

All holidays and therefore your licence to occupy commence at 1600 on the first day and terminate at 1000 on the day of departure unless otherwise notified in your confirmation letter.

Smoking

The house is non-smoking. We ask you not to smoke inside under any circumstances.

Linen

Linen is changed between holidays. Towels are provided but these should not be removed from the house. Please bring your own beach towels. Please bring your own linen for the cot.

Pets

Yes pets are allowed and charged at £50 per booking

Mobile phones

Most mobile phones work here.

Electricity, Gas and Internet

Electricity – but with a contribution requested for car charging, gas and internet is included in the rental. There is a phone but please put some money in the honesty box for any use. It is strictly forbidden to charge cars or any devices using a household plug with extension lead.

Parking

There is room for 2 cars on the secure driveway and another in the parking bay outside the gate. There is an electric car charger available at additional cost.

Other

The house has a stocked pantry and a wine fridge which you are welcome to use but you are asked to make a contribution in to the honesty box.

Cautionary Deposit

A £250 per booking cautionary deposit is taken as security against damage and your obligations etc and any failure to adhere to these terms and conditions. It will be returned within 10 days of the holiday ending less any amounts for damage etc

Your Obligations

You agree:-

a.         to pay for any losses or damage to the property.

b.         to take good care of the property and leave it in a clean and tidy condition on departure. We reserve the right to make a charge for extra cleaning if the house is not left in a satisfactory condition and may refuse to take a booking from that guest again.

c.to permit the owners and their cleaner and agents reasonable access to the house including exceptionally during the stay.

d. not to part with possession of the house, or share it, except with members of the party listed when booking and not to exceed a total party size of 8 (whether adults or Children over 2 year old) and one infant in the property including any visitors at any time. The property includes the house, grounds and the balcony.  If you have only paid for a reduced group size and more people occupy than specified on the booking form you will be liable for the additional costs which may be retained from the cautionary deposit.

e. not to sell or transfer the booking to another party without our agreement.

f. not to cause an annoyance or become a nuisance to occupants of adjoining or nearby premises, this includes no noise so as to be heard by neighbours after 10pm and during the daytime any music or conversation is respectful of the residential location.

g. not to smoke including e-cigerettes inside the house.

h. To abide by the house rules in the booking confirmation from the booking website and the rules displayed in the property.

I. To ensure all rubbish is properly disposed of from the property.

Non-availability of property

If for any reason beyond our control the house is not available on the date booked (owing, for example, to fire damage) or if it becomes unsuitable for holiday letting, all rent and charges paid in advance by the guest will be refunded. If it becomes non-available during the course of your stay, a pro-rata refund will be made.

Liability

We will not be liable for any act, neglect or default outside our control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless we are responsible. In addition, we accept no liability for loss of or damage to the guest’s possessions in the house and garden. Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or for any matter which it would be illegal for us to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.

Breach of Contract

If there is a breach of any of these conditions by the guest or any of their party, we reserve the right to re- enter the property and end the holiday and the licence to occupy and ask the guest and their party to leave. If there is a breach of any of these conditions by us, then the guests have the right to end their holiday and leave.

Complaints

All complaints must be notified to us via the booking website as soon as reasonably practicable, as we may be required to carry out an on-the-spot investigation followed by remedial action. Guests have a legal obligation to mitigate their loss. If we are denied the opportunity of investigating the complaint within a reasonable time or denied the opportunity to put matters right during the holiday, then the guest will waive all rights. We will do our utmost to ensure that any problems are resolved quickly and to your complete satisfaction.

Losses or Damages

You should be aware that you have a legal liability to pay for any damages you may cause during your holiday. Oyster Shell  is insured for the usual risks covered by a Holiday Letting building and contents policy. However, in certain circumstances, if you should cause any loss or damage you could become liable and you would probably not be covered by the personal liability section of your own household policy. Our insurance does not cover your personal possessions including your car. You are advised to check on these points with your insurers. You may find that, providing they are given notice, they will extend your normal cover to include your holiday home.

General Date Protection Regulation

We will retain your personal details on file within our secure system (but not payment details) and will use any data for the purposes of providing and paying for the accommodation and marketing our cottage to you in the future, for example, making special offers. We promise not to bombard you and at any time you can indicate to be removed from any marketing by informing us. Data in the booking form may be shared with third parties – for example the credit card processing company – but only to the extent needed to provide the accommodation and services in the booking form.

Governing Law

Any dispute will be governed by the non-exclusive law and jurisdiction of the English or Scottish Courts.

Oyster Shell – standard booking terms and conditions March  2020