Terms & Conditions

Part 1: General Terms

These terms apply to all users of the site.

1. Who We Are

We are GITES.CO.UK LIMITED, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 10256342). Our registered office is 57 Spyvee Street, Hull, E. Yorks, England, HU8 7JJ.

Throughout these terms, "we", "us", "our" and "Gites.co.uk" refer to GITES.CO.UK LIMITED. "You" and "your" refer to you, the user of our website.

By using our website at www.gites.co.uk (the "Site"), you agree to these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

2. Our Service

We are a marketplace, not a rental agent. We provide a platform that connects:

• Property owners who want to advertise their French holiday rentals
• Guests who are looking for holiday accommodation in France

This means:

• We cannot guarantee the accuracy of any listing
• We cannot guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any property
• We are not responsible for any disputes between owners and guests
• We are not responsible for cancelled bookings, refunds, or compensation

3. Accounts & Security

Some features require you to create an account. When you do:

• You must provide accurate, complete information
• You must keep your login details secure and confidential
• You are responsible for all activity on your account
• You must notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or appear to be compromised.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose
• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent content
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Use automated tools to scrape or copy our content
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Site
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Send spam or unsolicited communications
• Use another user's information for any purpose other than completing a legitimate enquiry or booking

5. AI Features

Our Site includes AI-powered features, including:

• An AI chat assistant to help you find properties
• AI-generated property descriptions (where indicated)
• AI-generated travel guides and content

6. Intellectual Property

The Site and its original content (excluding user-submitted content) are owned by us and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may:

• View and print pages for personal, non-commercial use
• Share links to our pages

You may NOT:

• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute our content without permission
• Use our trademarks or logos without written consent
• Frame or embed our pages on other websites (except using official widgets we provide to property owners for embedding on their own websites)

7. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• We provide the Site "as is" without warranties of any kind
• We do not guarantee the Site will be error-free, secure, or continuously available
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Our total liability is limited to the fees you have paid us in the 12 months before the claim arose

Nothing in these terms excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

8. General Provisions

Governing Law: These terms are governed by English law. Disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts.

Changes: We may update these terms at any time. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance. For property owners with active subscriptions, significant changes will be notified in advance.

Severability: If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

Contact: Questions about these terms should be sent to [email protected].

Part 2: Terms for Guests

Additional terms that apply when you use the Site to find holiday accommodation.

9. Using the Site

As a guest, you can:

• Browse property listings without creating an account
• Save properties to a shortlist
• Use our AI assistant to help find suitable properties
• Contact property owners through our enquiry system

Property information, including descriptions, photos, availability, and prices, is provided by property owners. We do not verify this information and cannot guarantee its accuracy.

10. Making Enquiries

When you submit an enquiry:

• Your contact details will be shared with the property owner
• The owner may contact you directly by email or phone
• We may send you related communications about your enquiry

You agree to:

• Provide accurate contact information
• Make genuine enquiries only
• Not use enquiries to send spam or promotional content to owners

11. Bookings & Payments

Payment Processing: Some owners use our secure payment system (powered by Stripe) to collect deposits and balances. When you pay through our platform:

• Your payment goes directly to the property owner
• There are no booking fees or service charges added to your payment
• You will receive email confirmation of each payment
• You can view your booking and payment status via a secure guest link

Refunds and Cancellations: Refund and cancellation policies are set by each property owner. If you need a refund, contact the property owner directly. Any refund is at the owner's discretion and will be processed via the same method used for the original payment.

We strongly recommend:

• Verifying all property details before booking
• Getting written confirmation of your booking
• Using secure payment methods (preferably through our platform where available)
• Never sending cash or using instant wire transfers (like Western Union)
• Taking out appropriate travel insurance

If you have a dispute with a property owner about a booking, you must resolve it directly with them. We may assist where possible but are not obligated to do so.

12. Reviews & User Content

If you leave a review or other content on our Site:

• It must be genuine and based on your actual experience
• It must not contain false, defamatory, or offensive content
• It must not violate anyone's privacy or intellectual property rights
• You grant us a licence to display, edit, and use your content

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these terms or our content guidelines.

Part 3: Terms for Property Owners

Additional terms that apply when you list a property on our Site.

13. Eligibility & Registration

To list a property, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be the legal owner of the property, or be authorised to list it on behalf of the owner
• Have the legal right to rent the property
• Provide accurate registration information
• Complete identity verification if requested

If registering on behalf of a company, you confirm you have authority to bind that company to these terms.

14. Your Listing

Each listing must:

• Represent a single, specific property
• Contain accurate, up-to-date information
• Include truthful descriptions, photos, and pricing
• Show genuine availability

You are solely responsible for:

• The accuracy of your listing content
• Keeping availability and pricing up to date
• Responding to guest enquiries promptly
• Honouring bookings made through the Site

You must NOT:

• List the same property multiple times
• Substitute a different property after listing
• Include misleading information or photos
• Use your listing to advertise other services

15. Content Licence

By uploading photos, descriptions, or other content to your listing, you confirm that you own or have the right to use that content, and you grant Gîtes.co.uk a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, adapt, and distribute that content:

• On your property listing page
• Across the Site, including on landing pages, region pages, travel guides, homepage features, and promotional sections
• On social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, and any future platforms
• In paid advertising including Google Ads, Meta Ads, and other advertising networks
• In email newsletters and marketing communications
• In press and PR materials promoting the Site

This licence is granted for the purpose of promoting the Site, holiday rentals in France, and your property. We will not sell your content to third parties or use it in ways unrelated to these purposes.

This licence continues for the duration of your active listing. When your property is deactivated or removed from the Site, we will remove your content from active promotional use within a reasonable period (typically 30 days). Cached versions may persist temporarily in search engines and social media platforms beyond our control.

You may request immediate removal of specific images at any time by contacting us.

16. Subscriptions & Payments

Subscription Model: Property listings require a paid subscription. Unlike other platforms, we charge a simple annual fee - we do not take commission on your bookings.

Payment Processing: Payments are processed securely through Stripe. By subscribing, you agree to Stripe's terms of service. We do not store your full payment card details.

Automatic Renewal: Subscriptions may automatically renew at the end of each period. We will notify you before renewal, including:

• 14 days notice before renewal
• 28 days notice if the price is increasing

You can cancel automatic renewal at any time through your account dashboard or by contacting us at least 24 hours before the renewal date.

Refunds: Subscriptions are generally non-refundable. If you sell your property or wish to remove your listing, we can deactivate it, but no refund will be given for the remaining subscription period.

Price Changes: Subscription prices may change at renewal. Current subscribers will be notified in advance of any price increases.

16. Content & Photos

By uploading content to your listing, you:

• Confirm you own or have rights to use that content
• Grant us a licence to display, reproduce, and promote your content across our Site and marketing channels
• Agree that photos must accurately represent your property
• Confirm any people shown have given consent

We reserve the right to:

• Edit content for formatting or to comply with guidelines
• Remove content that violates our terms
• Use your content in promotional materials

17. Social Media & Promotion

Properties listed on our Site may be featured and promoted on our social media accounts, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Pinterest.

By listing your property, you consent to this promotional use. If you wish to opt out of social media promotion, please contact us.

18. Legal Compliance

You are solely responsible for:

• Complying with all applicable laws and regulations in your property's location
• Obtaining necessary licences, permits, and insurance
• Paying applicable taxes on rental income
• Meeting health and safety requirements
• Complying with local planning and zoning laws

We may be required to share your information with authorities if legally obligated to do so.

19. Termination & Account Closure

Your Right to Cancel: You may cancel your subscription at any time. Your listing will remain active until the end of the paid period.

Our Right to Terminate: We may suspend or terminate your listing immediately, without refund, if you:

• Breach these terms
• Provide false or misleading information
• Receive serious complaints from guests
• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• Are abusive to our staff or other users
• Fail to maintain accurate listing information

Transfer: Listings cannot be transferred to another person, except to a new owner if you sell your property. A transfer fee may apply.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Post: GITES.CO.UK LIMITED, 57 Spyvee Street, Hull, E. Yorks, HU8 7JJ