Annex To Terms & Conditions - Security Deposit
This update 20 August 2014


In common with the vast majority of holiday home owners we ask for a Security Deposit so that we have some redress in the unlikely event of damage or loss. Although we have never withheld any part of a client’s Security Deposit there are circumstances in which we reserve the right to do so and, rather than list these in our general Terms & Conditions we have set out those circumstances here. In all cases, if the cost of repair or replacement exceeds the value of your Security Deposit we reserve the right to claim from you the actual costs incurred.

We accept there will be the odd broken glass, etc. so please tell us of accidents at an appropriate time but straight away if they impact upon your holiday so that we can rectify them quickly and without fuss.

In the event of a situation arising where we cannot reach an amicable agreement the following text will apply to section 3.2 of the general Terms & Conditions.


D
 SECURITY DEPOSIT
   
D.1
 Fair wear and tear of all items or normal breakdown of equipment will not be considered by us as damage so long as things have been used in accordance with normal practice and have not been used in a manner proscribed elsewhere.
D.2 You are responsible for any damage or loss caused by all members of your party including children, persons who cannot be held responsible in their own right, persons you invite into the house and all pets whether they belong to you or not.
D.3 Accidental damage should be apparent. If anything is damaged, whatever the situation, please tell us so we can agree an amicable and speedy resolution. We ask that you do not conceal any damage as the house and contents are checked completely after each visit to ensure there are no safety or maintenance issues.
D.4 True accidental damage aside, breakage or soiling of the contents of the house or damage to the building or its decorations caused by inappropriate use, carelessness or loss of control will be charged at the repair or cleaning cost if possible or full replacement value if repair or cleaning is impracticable. Please also see additional conditions applying to pets, if appropriate.
D.5 You must leave the house and all equipment in the same general state of repair and cleanliness as you found it. The house will be prepared and set up to our required high standards prior to arrival but the rental price does not include an end of let clean as such. We reserve the right to charge for any excess cleaning costs.
D.6 Any damage to equipment caused by attaching your own devices, reconfiguring it or relocating it will not be accepted as breakdown. We will charge the cost of repair or replacement.
D.7

Any damage caused by exceeding design parameters will not be accepted as accidental. We will charge the cost of repair or replacement.
D.8 
 In the event of damage or breakdown caused by you, for whatever reason including failure to disconnect the Livebox as advised, we will use our best endeavours to repair or replace the affected item(s) but we offer no guarantees of timescales and no compensation for loss of amenity or service will be paid.
D.9

Mattress protectors are provided so the soiling of the mattresses themselves will be considered avoidable and we will claim the full replacement cost from you as we cannot adequately clean mattresses and do not expect subsequent guests to encounter stained bedding. Soiled duvets and pillows (which have protectors) will be professionally cleaned or, if this is impracticable, replaced and we will deduct the cost from your Security Deposit. We will also deduct the cost of unreasonably soiled bed linen, towels or other household items.


 D.9 ADDITIONAL LIABILITY : BEDDING & TOWELS
   


Although the following will be applicable only to very few people it is, sadly, necessary as we have ourselves suffered significant loss.

We provide high quality and therefore expensive bedding and towels. Some products and processes, particularly sun creams containing Avebenzone and "spray tanning" products, are known to cause permanent staining of fabrics they come into contact with, often only visible after a hot wash. The staining can often, but not always, be avoided by first washing affected items in cold water but unless we know to do so all bed linen will be taken to the laundry and washed at high temperature, so it is too late to take remedial action. Of course, not all products are culpable but it is not possible to single out those that are.

In addition to externally applied cosmetic body products, some medical conditions and/or their medications, internally or externally applied, can cause similar problems, often enzyme based and therefore extremely difficult or impossible to remedy. The most common are acne and cortisone creams and treatments for eczema and insect bites.



D.9a

You agree to remove makeup, tanning, sunscreen or other body products before going to bed and agree not to allow such products to come into conact with any of our furnishings (e.g. towels, sofas, bedspreads, etc). Any staining caused by your use of such products will be considered as damage caused by you.
D.9b
You agree to advise us of and discuss the situation with us at the time of booking if any member of your party has any condition or is taking medication that may result in discolouration or damage to bed linen or other furnishings. With our prior agreement you are welcome to bring your own bed linen, pillows, duvet and mattress protector. You agree to fully reimburse us for replacement of all items damaged, whether or not the condition was notified to us and whether or not the damage is apparent at the time of departure or at a later date, e.g. following washing.
D.9c

All bed linen is professionally laundered and, after it has been inspected for cleanliness or damage, sealed in polythene by the laundry. All bedding, including duvets, protectors and mattresses is inspected for cleanliness or damage at the time of preparation for your visit, normally the day of arrival. We can therefore be confident that it is unmarked and undamaged. In the extremely unlikely event that you find otherwise you must advise us of the issue immediately and it will be rectified immediately. There will be no subsequent acceptance on our part that bedding was stained or damaged upon arrival.


OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Light bulbs

All light bulbs are LED. Please do not throw away “dead” bulbs, just tell us if any die and we will replace them. We must be given back the dead ones as otherwise the cost of any missing will be deducted from your security deposit.

Our property

Occasionally our property has gone missing, maybe lost or taken by children, either packed by accident or they didn’t know better. If you discover after you leave that something has been removed by any member of your party please tell us immediately you find out. It doesn't matter what it is, we must be told.

However well intentioned, please do not replace anything that is broken, damaged or lost without agreeing it with us first. Everything in the property must be accounted for when you leave and anything not exactly "as found" will be considered to be substitution.