Terms and conditions
These terms and Conditions may be changed at any time. We cannot be held responsible for changes or matters outside our control. All information is given in good faith but no warranties are made regarding information provided, either written or oral. A full and current copy is available in our welcome pack. Terms used. In these terms and conditions ‘you/yours’ refers to the hirer and his/her party and ‘we/us’ means Les Poiriers, Norman & Pauline Brown. The term ‘gite’ refers to the gite building, the contents of the gite, grounds, the swimming pool, loungers, BBQ, and any services provided by us.
Booking and Deposit. When booking direct with us, a non-refundable deposit of 20% (of the total booking amount) is required at the time of booking. Full payment for late bookings (ie less than 8 weeks before the date of arrival) is required when booking. Any balance needs to be received 8 weeks prior to your arrival. For direct bookings we accept direct bank transfer as deposit/payment. Your booking is secured once we have received a completed booking form and a deposit or full payment for late bookings, cleared through our bank. No reservation will be made until the completed booking form and deposit has been received. The deposit is non-refundable. As a result, we strongly advise you to take out holiday cancellation insurance. Non Payment of the Outstanding Balance. Failure to pay the outstanding balance within 5 working days of the due date, 8 weeks prior to your rental start date will result in your rental being suspended and the gite will be put back up for rental until payment is received. Should the gite be re-let and your balance subsequently received, your payment, minus the deposit will be refunded. We therefore recommend that you contact us as soon as possible if you have a problem getting the payment to us in time.
Cancellation by You. If you cancel more than 8 weeks prior to your rental start date, after making full payment we will return your payment less the non-refundable deposit. If you cancel less than 8 weeks prior to your rental start date, we will retain the full payment.
Cancellation by Us. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel your stay then we will do the following: • Attempt to make alternative arrangements for you in similar accommodation near-by. In this case you will be refunded in full. • Attempt to arrange an alternative date for your stay. Should this be in a higher priced time period there will be no additional charge and should it be in a lower priced time period, we will refund the difference. • If no alternative can be made, we will refund your payment and deposit in full.
Our rights include, but are not limited to • Refusing to accept any booking at our sole discretion. • Entering the accommodation at any reasonable time and for any reasonable cause. We will try to let you know if we need to do this. • Refusing entry to your friends/visitors (please also see ‘Your Responsibilities’ below). • Charging for non-trivial damage howsoever caused. • Claiming from you for any loss of future business as a result of damage resulting from your stay here, by you or your guests/visitors, howsoever this is caused. Terminating the rental agreement immediately and without compensation or refund if: • You damage the accommodation, are excessively noisy or disturb others; • We reasonably suspect you are breaking the law; • You allow anyone extra to stay in the gite without our permission; • You do not comply with these full terms and conditions.
Our Liability. We shall not be liable for any death or injury or for damage to or loss of your personal property occurring whilst you rent at Les Poiriers. Please ensure all your valuables are covered under your household or travel insurance. Your vehicles and contents are left at your own risk. In the event of circumstances beyond our reasonable control e.g. (but not limited to) fire, flood, exceptional weather conditions, loss of electricity/internet connection, disease outbreaks, industrial disputes etc. we shall not be liable for any resulting costs, losses or damages suffered by you (including the cost of securing alternative accommodation), nor for our failure to undertake our obligations to you. However, in appropriate cases, we will refund your payments to you. You use our grounds and facilities at your own risk. You should expect to encounter some potential minor hazards such as uneven ground, mud, etc. We expect you to exercise caution around the swimming pool and to supervise any children using the swimming pool or grounds. We cannot be held responsible for any injury to you.
Security. During your stay you are responsible for the keys to the gite and therefore you are responsible for ensuring all doors and windows are closed and locked when you are not in residence. We do not accept any responsibility for damage or loss to your possessions or property during your stay.
What is included in the Price • Rental at Les Poiriers for the time specified and for the number of people specified on the booking form. • Electricity and gas bottles (for gas hobs) are provided. • Bed linen and towels for the number of people occupying each gite. But does not include towels for use outside the cottage or around the pool. Please bring your own pool towels otherwise a charge will be made. • Electric fans in each bedroom. • Free Wifi – You may surf the net and use the internet to keep in touch with friends and family. Please do NOT use the internet for business purposes or excessive downloading. Internet speed and access are subject to provider availability and are offered as a free extra. We cannot be held responsible for the speed of the internet or if no internet is available during your stay. This is rural France and weather conditions mean that we have internet interruptions here. Do not attach or connect equipment to our internet or TV satellite system, nor any cables or data sockets, whether hardwired or wireless without our explicit prior permission.
Arriving & Leaving. Our accommodation is available from 4:30pm on your rental start date. Please vacate the gite by 09:30am on the final day.
The gite is for holiday use only. Neither you, nor any person allowed into the property by you, has the right to remain in the accommodation beyond the agreed departure date. You will be liable for any losses incurred as a result of delayed departure.
Your responsibilities. Your general responsibilities include, but are not limited to:- • Ensuring only the number of people for whom the booking is made, stay in the gite. • Informing us if you have any friends/visitors coming to the gite. You are responsible for your friends/visitors at all times when at the gite or in the grounds. • Les Poiriers cannot be used as a base for a party or event, unless specifically discussed with us prior to your stay. • Friends/visitors are not permitted to use the gite facilities/grounds in any form whatsoever, unless by prior arrangement with us. • If agreed, you must ensure your friends/visitors comply fully with these terms and conditions • Reporting to us any breakages or missing items (you will not normally be charged for minor accidental damage or breakages). • Keeping all furniture, fittings and effects in the same good condition as they were found. • Observing our instructions (located in each bathroom) on the disposal of items into the drains, • Ensuring the BBQ is safely extinguished at the end of the evening and cleaned. • You are responsible for any children at all times.
Smoking. The gite, grounds and swimming pool area are strict non-smoking areas. However an ashtray is provided on the terrace, for outside use only. As with the BBQ you are responsible for safely extinguishing all smoking materials and cleaning of the ashtray provided.
Swimming Pool. Pool towels not supplied - please bring your own pool towels. No swimming between 19.00 hours and 09.00 hours. No diving as the pool is only 1.5m deep. No drinking glasses or bottles to be used around the pool (plastic only please) or food (crisps etc). Children to be under parent's supervision at all times as the owners cannot be responsible for their safety as there is no lifeguard on duty.
Household rubbish must be disposed of correctly in the bins provided by us. • Re-cycling is a priority in rural France and boxes/bags are provided for your use. Please observe the recycle symbols on your food packaging. We ask that you dispose of this at the nearby bins or on your way out of the village. Directions can be provided by us. Glass bottles and jars are collected separately. Please give broken glass/crockery to us for safe disposal.
Care and Cleaning of the Gite. We ask for a security deposit to be paid in cash on your arrival. All security deposits are returned by bank transfer within one week and following a positive inspection of the gite. On departure, the gite should be left clean and tidy, in the same condition as on arrival. Everything should be put away and the washing up done. We reserve the right to retain all or some of the security deposit should the gite be left excessively dirty or damaged. This includes deep cleaning of the swimming pool due to excessive use of sun cream. We reserve the right to charge an extra cleaning cost if we deem the gite to have been damaged by smoke fumes. This damage may include, but is not restricted to, smells and odours, stains, marks or cigarette burns to floors, walls, ceilings or furniture and fittings.
Complaints. Should you have any complaints with regard to your stay at Les Poiriers you must inform us at the time of the complaint and without fail before you leave. This includes, although is not limited to, dissatisfaction with the gite and accidents suffered by you or anyone in your party whilst at Les Poiriers. If you encounter any problems with the gite or swimming pool please let us know as soon as possible and allow us suitable time to rectify the problem. We cannot consider any complaint brought to our notice after your stay at Les Poiriers