Terms and Condition
If you would like to book one of our properties, please contact us either by filling in the enquiry form or call us on. We can then check availability and arrange payments.
On receipt of your payment, which must be a single payment from the Party Leader, we will send you confirmation of the booking showing the remaining balance owing, and a receipt for your deposit.
The balance is due ten weeks prior to the date of arrival and the security deposit 1-2 weeks before the date of arrival.
If the booking is taken within ten weeks of arrival, then full payment must be made at the time of booking.
Please carefully read through our Booking Terms and Conditions, detailed below. These Booking Conditions apply to any booking, and booking a stay with us means that you are accepting that these Booking Terms and Conditions apply.
It is the responsibility of the Party Leader to make sure that all guests staying at the relevant property comply with these Booking Terms and Conditions.
For peace of mind, we strongly advise you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellations. If you choose not to, then you accept responsibility for any loss that you may incur due to your cancellation.
1. Your Booking
Your booking is made as a consumer, and you acknowledge that no liability can be accepted for any business losses howsoever suffered or incurred by you.
Bookings cannot be accepted from persons under 18 years of age.
On request we will accept hen parties so long as our Bookings Terms and Conditions are complied with and in some cases a larger security deposit may be requested.
Stag parties are not permitted except within a very limited number of properties. Please enquire for more details.
If a group is discovered to be a stag party without prior consent, we reserve the right to cancel and refund the booking at any stage.
When we issue our written confirmation to you, we enter into a contract with you, the Party Leader, which is subject to these Booking Terms and Conditions.
Any dispute or queries will be between the Party Leader and Ideal Homes and Cottage acting as agent to the owner of the relevant property.
We have the right to refuse any booking prior to the issue of our written confirmation, and if we do this, we will tell you in writing and promptly refund any money you have paid. Subject to a minimum admin fee of £50.00 + VAT.
When your confirmation is received, the details must be checked carefully. If anything is not correct you should tell us immediately.
You may not add to the party size stated on your booking form without prior consent from Ideal Homes and Cottage.
If you or any member of your party have specific personal requirements (including but not limited to any personal requirements that you might have in respect of the services, utilities and facilities at the relevant property) please discuss these with Ideal Homes and Cottage before making your booking. We will do our best to accommodate you, but we will not be responsible for any specific personal requirements that you have which have not been brought to our attention before the booking was made.
2. Paying for your Accommodation
If a booking is made up to 1 week before your holiday is due to start a deposit of 50% of the booking price is payable at the time of booking.
At this point your booking becomes binding and we will confirm your holiday.
Payment of the deposit signifies your acceptance of these Booking Terms and Conditions. The deposit payment is non-refundable or transferable.
The balance of the booking cost (+ any additional pre-agreed charges) must be received by us no later than 5 weeks before your arrival date and once this is paid it is non-refundable. Ideal Homes and Cottage reserve the right to cancel any booking where payments have not been received at the appointed times.
For all bookings made within 1 week of the date your holiday starts, the full rent, plus any pre-agreed additional charges, must be paid at the time of booking. All payments made to Ideal Homes and Cottage within 1 week of arrival are non-refundable or transferable.
Payments (including the security deposit) can only be made by the party leader and in one transaction for the deposit or balance, either by card or BACS.
For any booking payments made direct through Ideal Homes and Cottage website including deposits & booking fees; the security deposit will be pre-authorised. Pre- authorisation (also “pre-auth” or “authorisation hold”) is a temporary hold on a customer’s original credit or debit card that typically lasts around 14 days, or less if there is no claim.
Depending on the nature of the bank, the security deposit pre-authorization can be shown in a variety of ways. For clarification, please contact your bank directly.
We strongly recommend you take out Holiday Cancellation Insurance.
3. Damage deposit and damage to property
A security deposit will be required which is payable 1-2 weeks before your holiday is due to start. If during the hire period there are any breakages, damage or extra cleaning caused to the property or its contents by the Party Leader or any member of your party (including a pet) then the Party Leader should report this to Ideal Homes and Cottage as soon as possible.
The Party Leader undertakes and agrees to reimburse the Owner via Ideal Homes and Cottage for all reasonable costs it incurs for repairing the damage or if applicable replacing the item(s) damaged or broken. Each item will be charged individually. Please note if the charges are taken from the security deposit card pre-authorization, there will be a 3% administration fee to do this.
The Party Leader shall be deemed to have forfeited the security deposit if:
During the hire period if there are any breakages or damage caused to the property or any furniture (including moving), equipment, or utensils, either within or outside the property (including without limitations).
The property being left in an unreasonable state,loss or non-return of keys.
Please note there will be a charge for a lock smith for any keys lost if necessary.
excessive or long-distance telephone charges,neglect or damage to the property,the hirer has vacated the property and the property requires any additional cleaning beyond what would be reasonably and normally expected.
If there is no damage to the property or items within or around the property, then the security deposit or pre-authorisation will be repaid or released within 2 weeks of departure.
4. Changes to a booking
If you need to cancel your booking, you must contact us as soon as possible in writing at least 10 days before your arrival. The booking deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. Balances paid are non-refundable within 10 weeks of your arrival date.
We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you take out suitable travel/holiday insurance to cover every eventuality where you are forced to cancel as the above Booking Terms and Conditions are non-negotiable.
Once made, the date of your booking may not normally be changed, except at the discretion of the Owner via Ideal Homes and Cottage. If you wish to change the booking date you will have to cancel the original booking and the normal cancellation policy will prevail regardless of any subsequent booking made.
Ideal Homes and Cottage reserves the right to amend prices on the website due to errors or omissions, but such changes shall be notified to the guest as soon as possible and the guest shall be able to change the booking with a refund if the amended price is significantly higher than the original price quoted.
Payments may be made by cheque or electronic bank transfer. Cheques should be made to Ideal Homes and Cottage and can only be accepted up to 10 weeks prior to the holiday. Post-dated cheques are not acceptable. Any charges raised against Ideal Homes and Cottage by their bank for handling dishonoured cheques, bank transfers or any other payments will be passed onto the Party Leader who is liable to reimburse. International payments made by the Party Leader that incur banking fees must be paid by the Party Leader.
5. Cancellation of booking by us
If we have to cancel your booking in advance for any reason you will be offered a suitable alternative or be refunded the full amount of the booking if you prefer. If we must terminate your holiday early due to unforeseen circumstances out of our control, you will be refunded for the remaining part of your stay. No additional compensation will be payable. As advised above, for peace of mind we strongly advise you to purchase Holiday Cancellation Insurance.
If your booking is affected by a COVID national or international lockdown, or any other government restrictions, then we will offer you a full refund or change of dates. If you or a member of your party need to isolate or test positive for COVID, our usual cancellation policy above applies.
6. General – Please pay particular attention to this section.
Ideal Homes and Cottage does not hold any proprietary interest in the properties but merely acts as agent for the Owner of the property.
The rental arrangements are made by Ideal Homes and Cottage on behalf of the Owner and the contractual relationship is directly between The Owner of the property and the Party Leader.
If for any reason beyond the Owners’ control the property is not available on the date booked (owing, for example, to fire damage) or the property becomes unsuitable for holiday letting, all rent, and charges paid in advance by the Party Leader will be refunded.
The contract to occupy the property is made on the basis that the property is to be occupied by a holiday maker for a holiday (as mentioned in the Housing Act 1988 Schedule no 1 paragraph 9 or similar legislation in other jurisdictions) or contractors the same areas.
When making a booking you acknowledge on behalf of all Holidaymakers/contractors that the tenancy granted by these Terms and Conditions is not an assured tenancy and that no statutory periodic tenancy will arise when it ends.
We Ideal Homes and Cottage and the Owner accept no liability for any matters over which we Ideal Homes and Cottage or the Owner have no control.
Force Majeure applies to these Booking Conditions, which means that in the event of an act of God, flood, or other natural occurrence, epidemic or pandemic, terrorist attack, war or civil commotion, labour or trade dispute or non-performance of any of our suppliers or the interruption of services that we reserve the right to cancel your booking before or during your stay. If we cancel your booking due to Force Majeure you will be offered alternative dates or accommodation or a full refund if this happens before your stay. If Force Majeure occurs during your stay, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Any dispute, claim or other matter which may arise in relation to your booking will be governed by English Law and you agree that any dispute will be dealt with exclusively the courts of England and Wales
7. Pets
Some properties on the website are designated as pet friendly which indicates that those properties can accommodate pets. Pets must not be taken to any property that is not marked as pet friendly.
Pets are usually subject to an additional charge which we will inform you of on enquiring. Please note some properties may apply a different one-off charge per pet. Once paid, the supplement for pets is non-refundable in all circumstances.
Where pets are permitted in the property:
They must not be left unattended in the property at any time.
They must not be allowed in any of the bedrooms or on any of the furniture within the property.
They must be kept under strict control at all times.
The guest(s) must bring baskets and bedding for the pets.
Any damage (which must be reported immediately) or excessive cleaning caused by pets may incur additional charges to be requested at Ideal Homes and Cottage discretion.
If the garden is described as enclosed, it does not mean that it is ‘escape-proof’ for pets. The hirer must clean up any fouling of gardens or grounds without delay.
8. Accidents, Injury and Personal Property Ideal Homes and Cottage shall have no liability for the death or personal injury to you the party leader or any member of your party.
You must take all the necessary steps to safeguard your personal property.
No liability, to you, is accepted by Ideal Homes and Cottage or the Owner in respect of damage to or loss of such property.
9. Website and Advertisements
Ideal Homes and Cottage aim to ensure that the information and descriptions provided are accurately conveyed on the official website (www.idealhomesandcottage.com) and in any authorised third-party websites or advertisements. There may be small differences between the actual accommodation and its description as we are always seeking to improve services and facilities. Should any facilities or services become unavailable we will tell you as soon as possible after we have been made aware of the situation. Similarly, we cannot accept responsibility for any changes or closures to local area amenities or attractions mentioned on the website or advertised elsewhere.
10. During your stay
You can arrive at your accommodation between 3-4pm depending on the property, on the start date of your holiday and you must leave by 10am on the day of departure.
Ideal Homes and Cottage is entitled to refuse to hand over to you, or to repossess, the property if we reasonably believe that any damage is likely to be caused by you or your party. We can also repossess the property if damage has already been caused.
You cannot allow more people than you have booked to stay in the property. You may not carry out any form of trade or business from the property, nor may you sub-let any part of the buildings.
The Properties are entirely NON-SMOKING, and you agree not to smoke in any part of them. Smoking outside is of course permitted, but you must provide a suitable container and dispose of cigarette butts and not discard cigarette butts in the garden or grounds of any property.
You must allow Ideal Homes and Cottage or any representative of Ideal Homes and Cottage access to the property at any time during your stay however forewarning will be given.
11. The Guest’s Obligations
The Party Leader agrees and is responsible for the following:
To take good care of the property and leave it in a clean and tidy condition at the end of the holiday. A cleaning service is not provided during the holiday unless otherwise specified, agreed and paid for in advance. Should the Owner be dissatisfied with the condition of the property once it has been vacated, they may refuse to take a booking from any member of the party again.
To permit the Owner and Ideal Homes and Cottage reasonable access to the property and not to part with possession of the property, or share it, except with members of the party shown on the Booking Schedule.
Not to sell or transfer the booking to another party without Ideal Homes and Cottage agreement.
The number of guests staying must be declared upon booking and any changes must be notified before arrival.
Not to exceed the total number of people stipulated in the property description – a cot may only be occupied by a child aged 24 months or less.
If you would like to hire any external suppliers or caterers at any property, please enquire with Ideal Homes and Cottage as prior consent is needed due to insurance restrictions. Please note no other external suppliers will be permitted at the property without prior consent.
No weddings, parties, or events unless pre-arranged with Ideal Homes and Cottage.
Not to cause an annoyance or become a nuisance to occupants of adjoining premises and not to smoke inside any Ideal Homes and Cottage property.
By signing our Terms and Conditions, you agree to acknowledge and adhere to the following house rules during your stay:
GARDENERS – we do need to keep on top of the property and garden during the summer months so you may see a gardener/staff during your stay.
TIME KEEPING – You can request to arrive later or depart earlier than the allocated times. However, we cannot confirm early arrivals or late departures unless there are extenuating circumstances. We expect only the highest standards for our guests, which mean that the housekeepers need the entire allocated time to clean the property for your stay. There will be a charge for any delay in departure resulting in the cleaners not being able to access the property at departure time, they have a short amount to change over for the next guests and charge us from when they arrive at the property.
DÉCOR – No glitter, confetti, balloon water bombs, paper lanterns or fireworks. No sticking of decorations on walls, doors or windows. Please do not move any furniture.
NOISE LEVELS- Please be respectful of loud noise and music while staying in our property. All music must be turned off by 11pm.
OUR INSURANCE – No suppliers unless pre agreed with Ideal Homes and Cottage. No weddings, parties or events. The number of guests staying must be declared upon booking and any changes must be notified before arrival. Any guests over the legal capacity of the house will be asked to leave.
DELIVERIES – Please do not arrange grocery deliveries before your arrival time as we cannot be available to receive them.
LOST & FOUND – Should you leave items behind there will be an admin and postage charge for any returns.
PETS – For our properties that allow pets, you must supply your own pet bedding/towels. Pets are not allowed on furniture, should not be left unattended and must stay on the ground floor. You must ensure that all trace of the pet’s occupation at the property has been removed and clear up after them. Please ensure pets are on leads outside of the properties garden. There will be a deduction on guest’s damage deposit for dog mess that it not cleared away. Please close all gates to ensure any nearby livestock are secure. There is a £40 charge per dog which must be paid before arrival.
CAR or VEHICLE CHARGING- Due to insurance purposes, it is very important that guests must never charge their car using a standard outdoor plug or an extension cable linking to a domestic plug. This is not permitted because of regulations regarding wiring, earthing rods and voltage restrictions; it poses a serious fire risk to standard 13-amp sockets and there is a real danger that the body of the vehicle could become live. This forms part of our Terms & Conditions and by booking a holiday via Ideal Homes and Cottage all guests agree to these rules.
Under no circumstances can any guest charge an Electric Vehicle (EV) via a domestic socket at any property. For the limited number of properties that have an external EV charger, this will be advertised.
KEYS – There will be a charge for any lost keys.
12. General
Ideal Homes and Cottage will not be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the Owner or any other person not within their employ or otherwise under their control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the Guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental. In addition, the Owner and Ideal Homes and Cottage accept no liability for loss of or damage to the Guest’s possessions on the Owners’ property or land.
Nothing in these clauses excludes or limits the liability of Ideal Homes and Cottage or the Owner for death or personal injury caused by Ideal Homes and Cottage or the Owners’ negligence; for any matter which it would be illegal for Ideal Homes and Cottage or the Owner to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.
We use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that all information that you provide to us is kept private and to comply with all necessary data protection regulations and legislation. Any information that you provide us with is not disclosed to any other party other than the Owner, unless we are legally obliged to provide any other party with any information that you have given us.
For the avoidance of doubt, any correspondence or communication whether be via WhatsApp, text or any social media message platforms from Ideal Homes & Cottage is always subject to contract and our Booking Terms and Conditions.