The properties featured on this site are offered for self catering holidays on a weekly basis, usually Saturday to Saturday (4 p.m. on the day of arrival to 10 a.m. on the day of departure) unless otherwise stated, subject to the following hiring terms and conditions.
1. Cottages & Castles Ltd act only as agents for the owners of properties featured on this web site. The hiring contract is between the hirer and the owner.
2. The receipt of a signed booking form and/or payment of the deposit is deemed to be a firm booking and it is assumed that the tenant has read and agrees to abide by the hiring terms and conditions which can be found on our website www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk and in our brochure. If accepted, the Hirer becomes liable for the full balance of charges which are payable six weeks prior to the commencement of the holiday and eight weeks in the case of overseas bookings. Non-payment of the balance of the hire charges by the due date will result in the agency treating the property as being available for re-booking.
3. If the hirer cancels a confirmed booking they remain liable for payment of the full cost of the holiday. Upon receipt of written confirmation of the cancellation from the hirer, the agency will endeavour to re-let the property and if successful will make a full refund to the hirer less an administration fee of GBP 60 (inclusive of VAT) and any other expenses incurred in re-letting.
4. The number of persons occupying a property must not exceed the maximum occupancy level stated in the brochure without prior consent of the owner. Owners reserve the right to terminate the occupancy of the property without notice or refund in the case of a breach of this condition.
5. The hirer is responsible for the condition of the property and its entire contents during the hire period, fair wear and tear excepted. The hirer will make good any damage or loss and leave the property and contents in clean and tidy condition. The person held to be responsible for the hiring party will be the person who made the booking.
6. Owners reserve the right to refuse to hand over properties to any person or persons who in their opinion is not suitable to take charge. In such cases hire charges shall be refunded in full and the liability of the owner shall cease. If an owner is prevented, because of circumstances outside their control (eg fire damage, drought or the interruption of utility supplies) from putting the property at the disposal of the hirer, the hire charges shall be refunded in full but the hirer will have no further claim against the owner.
7. Specific conditions and restrictions applying to certain properties (eg damage surety deposits, restrictions on pets, young children etc) will be mentioned in individual property descriptions, and will be deemed to form part of these Terms and Conditions.
8. The contract effected between the hirer and the owner of the property is in terms of Schedule 4 Section 8 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 and confers on the hirer the right to occupy the property for the period agreed for holiday purposes only.
9. Cottages & Castles Ltd have taken every care to ensure the accuracy of property descriptions and all information is given in good faith and believed correct at the time of publication, but they cannot be held responsible for changes beyond their control or be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the owner resulting in any loss, injury or accident caused to the hirer.