terms and conditions at Elms Farm Cottages

These Terms and Conditions are published on our website at www.elmsfarmcottages.co.uk and are provided as part of your booking at Elms Farm Cottages to the cottages known as The Stables, Oak, Elm, Yew, Ash, Beech, Holly, Walnut and Willow cottages. Within these Terms and Conditions the term "Cottages" applies to whichever of the Cottages you occupy.

1. By submitting the booking form you are completing an agreement with us that is subject to these Terms and Conditions for holiday rental of the Cottage(s).
2. We are permitting you to occupy the Cottage for the period shown in the confirmation invoice together with the use of its contents.
3. You will be responsible for all the payments and for any damage whether caused by you or any other person making use of the Cottage during the rental period and shall make such other persons fully aware of these Terms and Conditions.
4. You must be aged 18 years or over.
5. We reserve the right to refuse any booking.
6. Payment is only accepted by sterling cheque, credit card, or by direct credit to our bank account (bank details will be supplied on request).
7. If a booking is confirmed by us, you become liable for the balance of the rental charge for the full period of the holiday. Non payment of the balance monies, when they become due, will constitute cancellation of the holiday and forfeiture of the confirmation deposit paid and the provisions of clause 11 will apply.
8. If your booking is less than 8 weeks before your stay, you should pay the total amount due and send a completed Booking Form for all types of Let (Weekly, Mid-week or Weekend).
9. If your booking is more than 8 weeks in advance of your stay, you should pay:
   a. Weekly or longer Lets - 50% deposit with a completed Booking Form. The remaining balance must be received no later than 8 weeks before your booking starts.
   b. Mid-week or Weekend Lets - Full payment with a completed Booking Form.
10. Occasionally problems occur and we may have to make alterations to your booking. If we have to alter or cancel the booking due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control we will contact you as soon as possible and inform you of any cancellation or change. If such alternative arrangements are not satisfactory to you a full refund will be made for any payments made by you to secure the booking but we will not otherwise be liable for any loss caused by such alteration or cancellation.
11. Cancellation of a booking must be notified by you to us as soon as possible either by telephone or email. The effective date of the cancellation will be the date notification is received by us.
    a. If the cancellation date is more than 8 weeks prior to commencement of the holiday, then an administration fee of £25 will be deducted from the deposit and the remainder will be refunded to you.
    b. If the cancellation date is less than 8 weeks prior to commencement of the holiday, the full rental charge will be incurred, unless we are able to re-let the Cottage for the whole rental period. If we are successful in re-letting the Cottage, then 75% of the rental charge received from you will be refunded.
12. You are advised to take out your own holiday cancellation insurance cover before booking.
13. We aim to ensure that the information provided is accurately conveyed in the brochure/website or advertisements. There may be small differences between the actual property and its description as we are always seeking to improve our services and facilities.
14. You shall be liable to us for any loss, costs, expenses or claims arising from any damage caused to the Cottage and/or its contents by the deliberate or negligent act or omission or any other person making use of the Cottage during the period of rental. If, as a result of such damage, the Cottage or any of its contents need to be repaired or any of the contents need to be replaced then you will be responsible for paying the reasonable costs of doing so if we decide that such costs require payment.
15. You can arrive at your holiday Cottage between 3.00pm and 6.00pm on the start day of the booking, and you must leave by 10.00am on the last day. If your arrival is delayed you should advise us as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made.
16. We may at our own discretion charge reasonable costs to take account of, for example, lost keys, accidental damage, failure to leave the Cottage clean and tidy etc.
17. We are entitled to refuse to hand over to you, or repossess the Cottage if we reasonably believe that any damage is likely to be caused by you or your party or can repossess the Cottage if damage has already been caused. You must not use the Cottage or allow its use for any dangerous, offensive, noisy, illegal or immoral activities or carry out any act that may be a nuisance or annoyance to us or to any neighbours. Circumstances such as these will be treated as a cancellation by you.
18. The Cottage is occupied strictly on the basis that it is for holiday or business use only and that no right to remain after the end of an agreed rental period booked exists for you or any other person making use of the Cottage during the period of rental. You warrant that all persons will vacate the Cottage at the conclusion of the renatl period.
19. You cannot allow more people than has been entered on the Booking Form to stay in the Cottage, nor can you take your dog into a Cottage unless you have booked this and paid the charge of £25 (except where the dog is a guide dog). If you do, we can refuse to hand over the Cottage to you, or we can repossess the Cottage. Either circumstance will be treated by us, as a cancellation by you and there will be no refund of any payments made.
20. Dogs are not allowed on furniture, beds or chairs and any damage caused will have to be paid for. They must not be left unattended in the Cottage, and must always be kept on a lead. Failure to meet this condition will be treated by us as a cancellation by you.
21. You must allow us access to your Cottage at any reasonable time during your stay.
22. Sub-letting of the Cottage is strictly prohibited.
23. Smoking is not permitted in any part of the Cottage.
24. We cannot accept responsibility for breakdown in public or local supplies, including water or electricity, nor any claims against inconvenience caused by building works that may be deemed as necessary by us. In the case of any breakdown you are asked to notify us immediately.
25. Any complaints must be made to us in writing as soon as possible during the rental period or within 7 days of the end of the rental period.
26. The copyright of the material contained in this Web Site belongs to Elms Farm Cottages. Images and text on this web site are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or appropriated in any manner without our written permission.
27. These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with its subject matter or formation (including non-contractural claims or disputes) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.