Terms & Conditions
1. GENERAL
‘The Agents’ act only as Agents for the Owners of the property, ‘The Owners’. Clients applying to hire a property are referred to as ‘The Applicants’ until such time as they take up residence when they are referred to as ‘The Tenants’.
2. DEPOSITS
Bookings will only be accepted in writing on the Agent’s official booking form accompanied by the first payment (as shown on the front of this form), plus the cancellation premium or proof of alternative insurance. If a booking is made less than six weeks before arrival the full rent plus the deposit and cancellation premium are due at the time of booking. In the event of a booking not being accepted by the agents, all fees paid will be refunded immediately.
3. FINAL PAYMENT
Once the booking form is received and accepted by the Agents, the applicants are liable for payment of the balance of rent, plus any additional charges, six weeks before the start of the tenancy. Applicants residing abroad are required to send a final payment eight weeks in advance. Non payment by the due date will be treated as a cancellation and the Agents may re-let the property without reference to the applicants, who remain liable for the payment of the full amount, although credit will be given for any rents received as a result of re-letting less the Agent’s expenses.
4. CANCELLATION
The Agents operate a cancellation plan, limited to a total of £2,000. The compensation covers loss of rental, as shown on the booking form, if the applicant or anyone named on the booking form has to cancel the holiday due to death, disablement, or illness which must be certified by a qualified medical practitioner. Illness relating to pregnancy is not covered by the plan.
CANCELLATION UNDER THE PLAN
Cancellations under the plan must be notified to the Agents in writing within ten days of the event causing cancellation and provided an appropriate certificate is sent to the Agents, no further payment is due and all previous payments will be refunded in full, less the cancellation premium. The cancellation plan terminates on the day your holiday starts. Should the cancellation be for reasons not covered by the plan, the rental agreed is forfeit. The Agents will endeavour to re-let the property and, if successful, will normally refund the balance of rent less any reasonable expenses incurred in re-letting. The premium for the cancellation plan is shown overleaf. Applicants are covered by the plan on acceptance of their booking, if no alternative has been agreed and providing the cancellation plan has been paid in full.
We regret that this service is not available for our overseas visitors.
5. PRICE CHANGE
The Agents reserve the right to amend prices quoted in the brochure due to errors, omissions or changes in the VAT rate or for any other reason whatsoever.
6. METHOD OF PAYMENT
All payments may be made by cheque or cash.
7. OVERSEAS BOOKINGS
Applicants residing abroad paying by cheque, must allow an additional two weeks when sending the final payment (eight weeks in advance). Cheques should be made out for the sum involved at the current official exchange rate and the Agents reserve the right to charge a supplement to cover any loss due to currency fluctuations between the time of payment and of the tenancy or any bank charges incurred.
8. TENANTS’ OBLIGATIONS
The tenants agree:
(a) To pay for all gas, electricity, fuel and telephone charges incurred during the tenancy where these are separately metered.
(b) To pay for any loss or damage to the property, howsoever caused, reasonable wear and tear excluded.
(c) To take good care of the property and leave it in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the tenancy.
(d) To permit the Owners and Agents reasonable access to the property.
N.B. Some properties may be offered for sale and the Estate Agent may have to make appointments with the tenants for interested parties to view.
(e) Not to part with possession of the property or share it except with members of the party shown on the booking form.
(f) Not to exceed the total number of people stipulated in the property description, we class babies as people and therefore they must be included in the total.
(g) Not to cause any annoyance or become a nuisance to tenants or occupants of adjoining premises.
9. HIRING PERIODS
All lettings commence at 1500 hours on the first day of the tenancy and end at 1000 hours on the day of departure, unless otherwise notified. The period cannot be extended unless approval in writing is given by the Agents and the tenants will be liable for any cost of whatsoever nature incurred because of the unauthorised extension.
10. NON AVAILABILITY OF PROPERTY
If for any reason, beyond the Owners’ or Agents’ control (e.g., fire damage) the property is not available on the date booked, all rental charges paid in advance by the applicants will be refunded in full, but the applicants shall have no further claim against the Owner or Agents. The Agents will, however, endeavour to offer alternative accommodation if possible, but in the event of them being unable to do so the liability under all circumstances shall be limited to the refund of monies paid in advance.
11. Problems & Complaints
The Agent will deal with all problems and complaints with regard to the Property on behalf of the Owner. The Tenants should notify the Agent of any problems or complaints about the property as soon as they become evident during the tenancy, so that the Agent can make an on the spot investigation and take the appropriate remedial action. On occasions it may be necessary for the Agent to contact the Owner, regarding some problems, but this will be done as soon as possible so that the problem identified by the Tenant can be resolved. Contact details for the Agent (both during and outside office hours) will be included in the Welcome Letter at the property. Any complaints made after the end of the tenancy cannot be dealt with by the Agent, unless the Tenants have notified the Agent of the problem during the tenancy and given the Agent the opportunity to investigate and take appropriate action.
12. PETS
Pets are only permitted with the prior consent of the Agent or Owners and when permitted are to be kept under control and exercised off the premises.
13. GROCERIES
An order form will be sent to you with your receipt of booking. This service is given by the contractor, not the Agent.
14. LINEN
Unless otherwise stated in the property description linen and towels are supplied. A Linen Hire Service is available which includes hire of cots and high chairs. If you require this service please request a booking form when you send your deposit, or print a form from our website www.scillyhols.com where there is a link to Scilly Linen Supplies. Please DO NOT include payments for linen in your rental payment.
15. VAT
The majority of the Owners of properties in our brochure are not registered for VAT, in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable the tax is included in the weekly rent.
16. BREACH OF CONTRACT
If there shall be a breach of any of these conditions the Owners or the Agents may
re-enter the property and terminate the tenancy without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of the Owner. The contract is deemed to have been made at the Agent’s Isles of Scilly office and the proper law of the contract is English.
17. AUTHORITY TO SIGN
The person who signs the booking form certifies that he/she is authorised to agree to the conditions of booking on behalf of all persons included on the booking form including those substituted or added at a later date. The signatory must be a member of the party occupying the property. If several properties are being booked by one person that person must ensure that the relevant booking form is signed by a member of the party occupying the property concerned or the booking will be deemed void.
18. DISCREPANCIES
In case of any discrepancies between these booking conditions and other contents of the brochure, these conditions shall prevail.
19. PREVIOUS BROCHURES
The current brochure and these booking conditions cancel all previous issues, and bookings will only be accepted on this booking form and under these conditions.