The Contract
The Contract for a short-term holiday rental will be between Westhope Country Retreats and the person making the booking and all members of the holiday party in the following terms and conditions. UK Law will govern the contract. The contract of hire is not effective until we have processed the 25% deposit. The contract will be subject to these booking conditions, and must be complied with. The party leader must be at least 18 years of age at the time of booking, all members of the holiday party must be aware of the terms and conditions of this contract. All members of the party are jointly and severally liable under it. Guests must agree that all communication and amendments are made through the lead name.
Deposit
A 25% deposit is required to confirm any bookings. When you submit a booking via our online reservation system you will receive an automatically generated booking summary by email to the email address you provide in the booking form. This does not form a contract between us. A contract shall only arise when your booking is subsequently confirmed in writing via a letter of confirmation sent by email and deposit funds have been received. A 3% booking fee will be charged, payable of the deposit.
Final Payment
The balance is due from you six weeks before the arrival date or at once if the booking is made at shorter notice. If the balance is not paid on time, we reserve the right to cancel the holiday booking, in which case the deposit will be forfeited. No entry to the properties will be allowed without payment, in full, being cleared beforehand.
Security Holding Deposit
A security holding deposit is held seven days before arrival date. These funds will be held by our secure online booking system secured by HRP Holiday Rent Payment. All security holding deposits that are made by credit/debit card will be stored safely in line with data protection act and will be pre-authorised at point of payment. The security deposit will cover any losses, damage breakages or losses to buildings, fixtures, fittings and articles belonging to Westhope Country Retreats and/or additional cleaning charges if the property is left in an unsatisfactory condition. Seven days after your departure date we will retain or return any monies depending on damages after the guest’s stay. Westhope Country Retreats have the right to retain all or part of the deposit in the event of damage, breakages or other loss to us by breaches of this agreement.
Security deposit amount per cottage:
The Cowshed £200
The Wain House £250
The Turnip House £250
The Milking Parlour £350
Troopers Barn £350
The Farm House £400
Cancellation
- Westhope Country Retreats is put under government restrictions.
- If the traveller postcode falls into a restricted tier.
- If Westhope Country Retreats falls into a restricted tier.
B. Customer inability (or the inability of any, some or all of Your intended party) or disinclination to travel and stay at Westhope Country Retreats for any reason.
- Illness (including Covid).
- A requirement or recommendation to self-isolate or quarantine.
- Shielding.
- A call to jury duty.
- Military service.
- Incarceration.
- Change in personal or work circumstances.
- Family emergencies.
- Travel delays.
- Vehicle breakdown and delays with public transport.
- Adverse weather conditions.
These remain at YOUR risk and do not give rise to a right to cancel or to receive a refund unless Westhope Country Retreats management re-let the property, other than according to the sliding scale below. You are strongly recommended to take out UK travel insurance to cover these eventualities. If you choose not to take out Uk travel insurance, then you accept responsibility for any loss that you may incur due to your cancellation.
C. Cancellations must be notified to Westhope Country Retreats by phone and email and once received in writing we will confirm the cancellation request.
D. All booking cancellations will be liable to pay a £35 administration fee.
E. Westhope Country Retreats will apply the scale shown in the table below to bookings to determine the amount of charge, which shall be a percentage of the total cost of the holiday.
| Number of days before start of holiday that notification of cancellation is received* | The percentage of total booking value payable by the Customer |
| More than 60 days | 5% of the booking cost |
| 30 – 59 days | 50% of the booking cost |
| 15-29 days | 75% of the booking cost |
| 3-14 days | 90% of the booking cost |
| 0-2 days | 100% of the booking cost |
* In order to ensure speedy receipt, and thereby processing, of cancellations, Westhope Country Retreats recommends that the Customer sends written notification of cancellation by email and phone requesting confirmed receipt. The effective date of cancellation is when written notification is received by Westhope Country Retreats. Any amounts due for refunding will be made within 14 days.
F. It is the responsibility of the customer to acquire suitable travel insurance for themselves and their party to cover the booking. Westhope Country Retreats strongly recommends the the Customer acquires suitable insurance to cover circumstances beyond the Customers’ control. There are several options which include cover for Covid related cancellations available online.
We retain the right to cancel your holiday in advance for any reason which seems to us sufficient, we will refund any money paid to us for your visit minus expenses. In circumstances beyond our control for example fire, flood, exceptional weather conditions, epidemics, destruction/damage to the property (“force majeure“), we will refund any money paid to us for your visit minus expenses. No additional compensation, expenses or costs will be payable.
Force Majeure
No liability can be accepted by Westhope Country Retreats and no compensation will be paid where you or your personal property suffer any loss, damage, injury, disappointment, inconvenience or otherwise due to natural disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions.
Booking Amendments – Request a change of dates
If your booking falls into the government restriction period, the dates can be amended, there will be no amendment fee and any payment received for Your booking will go towards a future date.
Third party suppliers
If you want to use the services of a third-party supplier whilst staying at Westhope Country Retreats you must ask for permission, the third party supplier’s public liability insurance must be up to date including any other required certification.
Arrival & Departure
All properties will be available from 5pm on the day of your arrival and should must be vacated by 9.30am on the day of your departure. Failure to depart by 9.30am may result in you being charged further costs.
Number of persons using the property
Under no circumstances may more than the maximum number of persons stated on the web site occupy the property. Where permitted, day guests may visit upon permission by management.
Liability
No liability is accepted by Westhope Country Retreats in respect of any death, personal injury, accident, damage, loss or inconvenience. You must take all necessary steps to safeguard and protect your personal property on Westhope Country Retreats site.
Care of property
You are responsible for the property and are expected to take all reasonable care of its furniture, pictures, fittings and effects, in or on the property. You must leave them in the same state of repair, and in a reasonable clean and tidy condition at the end of the rental period. You must not use the properties for any dangerous, offensive, noxious, noisy, illegal or immoral activities or carry on there any act that may be a nuisance or annoyance to the owner or other neighbouring properties. Smoking is not allowed in any of the properties. Any damages will have to be paid for in full within seven days of notification. We recommend that you have insurance in place to cover this.
Loss of Property
We have a lost property box which holds left items for up to 3 months. After this time if the items have not been claimed by the owner they will given to charity or destroyed. Return of loss property must be paid for, minimum return costs are charged at £25.00 to include postage, packaging and time. Please be aware that larger items may be charged at a higher rate. Lost property is returned 2nd class with proof of postage.
Loss of Keys
Loss of keys will be charged at £25 per key.
WIFI
Wi-Fi is provided for the guest’s reasonable use. The guest agrees to reasonable and lawful usage of this service. Please be aware that as we are located in a rural area, at times, the service can be intermittent and Westhope Country Retreats accepts no liability for this occurrence.
Right of entry
We shall be allowed the right of entry to the property at all reasonable times for purposes of inspection or to carry out any necessary repairs or maintenance.
Complaints
Every effort has been made to ensure that you have an enjoyable stay. However, if you have any problem or cause for complaint, it is essential that you contact us immediately to give us the chance to resolve it. We value your custom and want you to return.
Drones, night lanterns and fireworks
The use of drones, fireworks, night lanterns, bonfires, filled helium balloons are all expressly forbidden.
Smoking and Fire Safety
Smoking is forbidden inside the property and all other buildings. Tea lights, candles, and fireworks and indoor fireworks are prohibited.
Pets
Well-trained dogs (maximum of two) are accepted on the condition that they are not allowed on the furniture and especially the beds nor left unattended in the property. A charge of £25.00 per pet per visit above the allocated two up to four is charged. The holiday maker is liable for all damage caused by his / her pets. The holiday maker should remove all traces (inside and out) from the property and gardens of pet occupation before final departure. The property owner reserves all / part of the deposit in the event of damage, breakages levy an additional charge for any extra cleaning required after the holidaymaker’s occupancy.
When you take your dog into the outdoors at Westhope Country Retreats, always ensure it does not disturb wildlife, farm animals or other people by keeping it under effective control. This means that you:
– Keep your dog on a lead, or
– Keep it in sight at all times, be aware of what it’s doing and be confident it will return to you promptly on command.
– Ensure it does not stray off the path or area where you have a right of access.
More information on: – www.ramblers.org.uk
Please clean up any doggy mess that your pooch has left behind in a public place and private patio space.
Behaviour and Conduct
Consideration and respect for any neighbours or other persons or parties that have a connection with the Property. This includes refraining from abusing your stewardship of the Property or dangerous, offensive, violent or anti-social behaviour towards such persons or parties. Keep the Property and all furniture, utensils, equipment, fixtures and fittings in or on the Property in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the Holiday Period and to ensure that at the end of that period the Property is left in the same state of order and cleanliness in which it was found. Westhope Country retreats may make an additional, reasonable charge for professional cleaning after your and your Guests’ occupancy as may be required to return the Property to its original state of cleanliness and tidiness.
Noise Nuisance
There is 10pm curfew with the use of hot tubs. Music outside the cottages is not permitted. Music indoors must be turned down with windows and doors closed by 10pm.
Fireworks are prohibited.
Cancellation policy – Bookings placed after 1 June 2020 and before the 8th January 2021
All Sykes bookings refer to Sykes website – https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/terms/booking