TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HIRE

In the following the Lakeland Cottage Holidays is referred to as the Agent, the property owner/caretaker as the Owner and the person responsible for the booking is referred to as the Hirer.

1. YOUR BOOKING

A provisional booking may be made and will be held for no longer than seven calendar days, during which time a deposit, or the full payment must be received. Your holiday is not confirmed until such time as we have received your complete deposit and you have received written confirmation from The Agent. The deposit consists of one third of the rental price, the booking fee and any additional monies due for extras such as Cots, Highchairs, Dogs, Towels, etc. The balance of the rental and the Good Housekeeping Bond is due no later than six weeks prior to the start of your holiday. The Good Housekeeping Bond, per property, is 75 for parties up to and including six people and 125 for parties greater than six people. If the booking occurs within six weeks of the start of the holiday, then the full payment is due. If you make a payment that is not honoured for any reason whatsoever, then the Agent is entitled to make an adminis-tration charge of 50. If any payment required is not made by the due date, then the booking may be treated as being cancelled. Unless identified specifically, all prices quoted include VAT and IPT (Insurance Premium Tax) at the prevailing rate where applicable.

2. CANCELLATION OR CHANGES TO YOUR BOOKING BY THE OWNER/AGENT

Occasionally, problems may occur with properties that extend beyond the control of the Owner and Agent that may result in a booking being changed or cancelled. If this does happen, then we will contact you as soon as is reasonably practicable and inform you of the cancellation or change. If a significant change has to be made, which is unacceptable to you or your booking has to be cancelled, then as far as is practicable, an alternative property of a similar type and specification from those advertised will be offered. You are expected to pay any additional price difference, while any lower price difference will be refunded. If you do not wish to accept the alternative property offered, then you will be entitled to a full refund of all monies paid, excluding the Booking Fee and Cancellation Fee if paid.

3. CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE OWNER/AGENT

Except where otherwise expressly stated in the Terms and Conditions, the Owner and Agent shall not be liable, jointly or individually, for any changes, cancellations, loss or damage suffered, or for any failure by the Owner and/or Agent to perform any of their respective obligations owing to event(s) or circumstance(s) beyond the reasonable control of the Owner or the Agent (referred to as "force majeure" in these Terms and Conditions). By way of example, force majeure includes, but is not limited to, floods, fire, epidemics, destruction or damage to the property. In such circumstances (where your holiday is prevented), the Agent will refund all monies paid, except the Booking Fee. No compensation, expenses, costs, or sums required to secure alternative accommodation will be payable by the Owner or the Agent.

4. LIABILITY

Neither the Owner nor the Agent shall have any liability for death or personal injury. The hirer must take all necessary precautions to safeguard personal property. No liability is accepted in respect of damage to, or loss of personal property.

5. ALTERATIONS TO BOOKINGS

If the hirer wishes to change a booking after confirmation has been issued, then an administrative charge of 25 plus VAT is payable, once any such change has been agreed. In some circumstances, a change of booking may result in the cancellation of the original booking and a new booking being made. In such cases, the charge incurred may be as much as the total cost of the original booking.

6. CANCELLATION OF A BOOKING

If the Hirer wishes to cancel a booking, then the Agent must be informed as soon as possible by telephone, and the cancellation immediately confirmed in writing. The day that notice of cancellation is received by telephone is the day the booking will be regarded as having been cancelled. Cancellations must be received at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a holiday. Cancellation cannot be accepted after the holiday has begun. In the event of a cancellation, the Hirer is still liable to pay all monies due at the time of cancellation, unless covered by our Cancellation Plan (explained below). The Agent shall make every effort to re-let the property and if successful will refund the original hirer by an amount proportionate to the new letting price but not greater than the original letting price paid. The above cancellation refund is subject to an administrative charge of 25 plus VAT, provided that all monies due from the original hirer have been received by the Agent.

7. CANCELLATION PLAN

The Lakeland Cottage Holidays "Cancellation Plan" waives your liability to pay the outstanding balance only, up to a maximum of 350 per property hired, if any of the qualifying criteria are met and supported by, for example, medical evidence from a duly qualified independent medical practitioner. If the balance has been paid, then the Cancellation Plan is void. The Hirer's reason for cancellation must meet one of the following criteria, must apply to a member of the Hirer's party, must have occurred subsequent to the holiday being confirmed and must be supported by appropriate written evidence: Illness or Pregnancy resulting in unfitness to travel, Death, Redundancy (subject to two years continuous employment with the same employer), Jury or Witness service in a Court of Law, Illness or Death of a close relative (defined as Spouse, Son, Daughter, Parent, Grandparent, Sister, Brother or Fianc). Other circumstances will be judged on their merits without invoking any precedent for a refund of any kind. Upon cancellation, the hirer will be asked to complete the Agent's Booking Cancellation Form, which may require signature by a medical Practitioner or Employer. The Agent reserves the right to seek further information from a third party where necessary in order to corroborate the reasons for a cancellation. Where the reason for cancellation is not covered by any of the above criteria, or sufficiently sup-ported by written evidence, then the Hirer will remain liable for all monies due.

8. PROPERTY HIRED

The property is available from 4.00pm on the start date of the holiday and departure must be made no later than 10.00am on the last day of the holiday. The Hirer and all members of the Hirer's party must agree to keep the property clean and leave it in the condition as found. The Hirer is responsible for any breakages or damage, along with any additional cost that may result from such breakage or damage. Unless other-wise paid for, such costs will be deducted from the Good Housekeeping Bond. All breakages and damage must be reported immediately to our office. Admission to, or repossession of, a property may be made if it is suspected that damage or breakages are likely to occur. Such circumstances will be regarded as a cancellation by the Hirer and no refund will be made in respect of this. Neither the Owner, nor the Agent, shall have any liability to the Hirer as a result of the above. The Hirer must not allow more people to occupy the property than the maximum number stated in the brochure. No pet must be allowed in a property unless this has been arranged in advance and shown on Hirer's booking confirmation. If the Hirer has arranged to take a pet, and this has been confirmed, the pet should not be allowed on furniture or in bedrooms at any time, nor left unattended in the property. The Hirer must allow the Agent or Owner, and any workmen thereof, access to the property at any reasonable time, except in the case of emergencies where immediate access is required to prevent damage to, or to make safe, the property.

9. COMPLAINTS

If you are dissatisfied with your property and have a bona fide cause for complaint, then you must contact our office as soon as is practicable. The property owner and ourselves are anxious that all complaints are dealt with as soon as possible. It is too late to remedy complaints if they are notified at the end of your or after your holiday.

10. BROCHURE DETAILS

All reasonable effort is made ensure that property details provided are accurate and representative. There may be small differences between the actual property and its description, as both the property owner and ourselves are continually striving to improve the properties and the facilities provided. Occasionally, some advertised facilities or services might be unavailable or subject to restrictions. If this circumstance arises, then the hirer will be informed as soon as is practicable. No responsibility is for any changes to or closures of amenities, attractions or pursuits. No liability is accepted for any claims about any properties or their facilities/services other than those confirmed in writing.