Booking Terms and Conditions

1. When the following words with capital letters are used in these Terms and Conditions, this is what they will mean:

Arrival Date/Time 

The date on which your Booking will begin and the time the Property will be made available to you.

Balance Due Date   

6 weeks (42 days) before your Arrival Date, except in circumstances where the Booking Confirmation is issued less than 6 weeks (42 days) before the Arrival Date (in which case the balance is due upon Booking).

Booking 

The confirmed reservation of the Property to commence on the Arrival Date and end on the Departure Date.

Booking Confirmation The written acceptance of the Booking Request which may include more information such as details around arrival and departure, directions, Property Rules etc.

Booking Deposit 25% of the total Booking Price, required from you when making the Booking to secure the Property for the duration of the Booking OR any deposit stated as being required that will not exceed 25% of the total Booking Price.

Booking Price

the total price as charged to you for the Booking including any additional charges as set out on the Website or otherwise notified to you when making a Booking.

Booking Reservation

the Guest’s request to book a Property for holiday letting purposes.

Business Day

a day other than a Sunday or public holiday in England when banks in London are open for business.

Business Hours

09:00 to 17:00 on any Business Day.

Cancellation Fee

a fee of £40 payable in the event that you have to cancel your Booking as per clause 9.

Contact Details

the details found on the Contact Us page of our Website for general enquiries.  Property specific contact details will be included in our communications with you by email, included in the digital guide and any guide within the Property.

Departure Date

the date (and time) on which your Booking will end and you must vacate the Property.

EV

Electric Vehicle

Events Outside of the parties Control 

As defined in clause 11.

Guest (you/your)

the individual who makes the Booking Reservation and will attend and make use of the Property (further to Booking Confirmation) with their party.

Property

the property/properties provided for holiday letting purposes, details of which have been made available on the Website.

Property Rules

specific restrictions applicable to a Property as detailed on the Website.

Terms

these terms and conditions on which your Booking is supplied to you.

Oak Tree Cottages (we/our/us)

Oak Tree Cottages whose registered office is at Church Farm, Church Farm Road, East Ruston, NR12 9HJ

Security deposit

a refundable (subject to clause D.5 of these Terms and Conditions) deposit of £100 charged per Booking and held for 7 days prior to your Arrival Date, the duration of the Booking, and for 7 days after the Departure Date, in case damage is caused to the Property.

Website

www.oaktreecottages.co.uk

1. When we use the words "writing" or "written" in these Terms, this will include email and posted letter if no email is available, only.

2. Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

​

1. Please ensure that you read these Terms carefully, and check that the details on the Booking (including the Arrival Date and time, number of guests etc) and within these Terms are complete and accurate before you submit the Booking Reservation. If you think that there is a mistake within these Terms or that these Terms require any changes, please contact us to discuss. We will confirm any changes to these Terms in writing to avoid any confusion between you and us.

2. If you have booked the Property through an online travel agent, the agent may have different terms which will also apply. Please ensure you are familiar with both the online travel agent’s terms and our Terms and Property Rules. Where our Terms and the terms of the online travel agent conflict, the online travel agent’s terms will take priority. Please note that where you have paid an online travel agent, no payment is due under these Terms unless charges for extras are applicable.

3. Once you submit a Booking Reservation to us, you will have 5 days to pay the Booking Fee and Booking Deposit (or the full Booking Price if the Booking Reservation is made within 6 weeks (42 days) of the Arrival Date) in order to secure your Booking. On receipt of payment, we will send you a Booking Confirmation email (or letter in the post, if you do not have or have not provided an email address).

4. These Terms will become binding between us once we issue you with the Booking Confirmation. If you have booked through an online travel agent or via our website, the reservation system may automatically generate a booking summary to be emailed to you. This does not form a contract between us. These Terms become binding once you receive our Booking Confirmation.

5. If any of these Terms conflict with any term contained within the Booking Reservation, the Booking Confirmation, or the Property Rules, these Terms will take priority.

6. We reserve the right to refuse Bookings we no longer wish, or are able, to take within 10 days of issuing the Booking Confirmation. Any Bookings that are refused within this time will be refunded any monies paid to date in full.

7. You confirm that the individual making the Booking Reservation is over the age of 18. There must be at least 1 adult over the age of 18 in the booking party.

8. The maximum number of people who can stay in the Property will be notified to you on the Website. You guarantee that you will not exceed that number. Visitors are welcome during the day with our permission. Overnight visitors are not permitted without prior notice and permission.  Additional camp beds, tents, caravans, and camper vans are not permitted on site.

9. We require the names of all persons staying at the Property as part of the Guest’s party who are over the age of 18. We also require the names of any day visitors to the Property.

10. We do not accept hen or stag parties and we reserve a right to refuse to issue any Booking Confirmation at our discretion.

11. You agree not to arrive at the Property before the Arrival Date and time and to depart from the Property on or before the Departure Date and time. The Property will not be available at any time outside of the times reserved by you. We reserve the right to make an additional charge in the event that you have not left the Property by the agreed Departure Date and time. If you fail to depart by the Departure Date and time, we reserve the right to charge an immediate additional fee of £25, and further £25 per 30 minutes thereafter.

12. Any illustrations, photographs and other imagery displayed are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change and no warranty or other representation is made as to the quality of the Property by us via the Website.

13. The Property shall be used only by you and your party as detailed on the Booking Reservation. You agree that you will not sub-let the Property.

14. The Property is provided for holiday letting purpose only for the specified period as detailed in your Booking Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, these Terms do not create a landlord and tenant relationship between you and us and you will not be entitled to any:

    1. new tenancy; or

    2. assured short hold or tenancy; or

    3. any statutory protection either under the Housing Act 1988 or by way of a statutory security of tenure, now or from the Departure Date of the Booking.

1. We may revise these Terms from time to time in the following circumstances:

   1.  changes in how we accept payment from you.

   2. changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements; or

   3. if we have a valid commercial reason to do so.

2. If we must revise these Terms under clause C.1, we will give you at least 14 days written notice of any changes to these Terms before they take effect. You can choose to cancel the contract in accordance with clause I.

3. If you wish to change the dates of your Booking or amend your Booking in anyway, please contact us in writing via the email address in our Contact Details. We cannot guarantee that your requests will be accommodated and reserve the right to charge for any differences in price and or an administrative fee.

1. We will supply the Property to you for the period set out in the Booking Confirmation.

2. Access to the Property is subject to your adherence to these Terms and the Property Rules.

3. We will make every effort to make the Property available to you on time. However, there may be delays due to an Event Outside of the Parties Control. See clause K for our responsibilities when an Event Outside of the Parties Control happens.

4. If you do not pay us for your Booking when you are due to, access to the Property will not be permitted and the Booking will be cancelled.

5. You shall take proper care of the Property and its contents during your Booking and may lose your Security Deposit and/or receive an invoice for any damage caused or loss suffered if the Property and its contents are not left in the same state in which it is found at your Arrival Date. This includes, but is not limited to, the cost of repairs and additional cleaning.

6. Any Property Rules provided to you via the Website, shall be incorporated into these Terms and breach of any of the Property Rules will be treated as a breach that entitles us to cancel the contract. Any breach of these Terms or the Property Rules will be subject to a minimum charge of £30 per person or the value of any loss of damage, whichever is higher. At our discretion, we may request immediate departure from the Property without refund.

7. We will issue you with access information including any key safe codes by email prior to the Arrival Date. If you lose or damage a set of keys, we will invoice you the cost of the replacement. Failure to return the keys before or on the Departure Date will result in further charges.

8. No smoking or vaping is permitted in the Property. You may discretely smoke or vape outside; however, you must be respectful towards your surroundings and dispose of cigarettes safely in appropriate containers, taking into consideration any fire risks from your disposed cigarettes. If it is evident that smoking or vaping has occurred within the Property during your Booking, you will be asked to vacate the Property immediately and will be liable for any costs incurred deep cleaning, redecorating, and cancelling all or part of any subsequent bookings if the Property has been rendered uninhabitable. If you smoke or vape outside during your stay in a manner which is at our discretion unacceptable, for example by littering, you will be liable for any costs incurred, including but not limited to the cost of any clean-up.

9. No naked flames including candles, bonfires, firepits, fireworks, sparklers or any type of sky lanterns are permitted in or around the Property. You may only use the barbeques provided or agreed upon by us.

10. Internet access is offered on the basis that it is provided for recreational use only. Neither a minimum speed, unrestricted bandwidth nor uninterrupted provision of access is guaranteed, and we will not be liable for any form of compensation or expenses claimed by you in respect of the provision or quality of internet connectivity.

11. If you wish to have a third party to provide services on the Property premises, this will only be allowed where we have provided written approval of such third parties ahead of the Arrival Date. Any third party will be bound by the Property Rules and must carry suitable levels of insurance. Please contact us using the Contact Details to discuss any such third party.

12. If any defects are noted upon your arrival, please notify said defects within the first 24 hours to us. Where a defect has been identified we must be given the opportunity to identify the defect (either by photos or a visit to the Property at a mutually suitable time) and satisfactorily rectify this defect or come to an agreement/resolution with you.  Failure to allow a resolution will negate any future refund claims.  Thereafter you will be deemed to have accepted the condition of the Property.  If damage to the Property occurs during the Booking, you must report it to us immediately. In any event this must be done within 24 hours of the defect or damage occurring.  Reasonable steps will be taken by the us to rectify any defects or damage that is reported.  All defects or damage must be reported to the us, prior to the Departure Date.

13. Please ensure you are familiar with the Property’s location and that the Property is suitable for your needs. You will be deemed to have accepted the suitability of the Property at the time of making your Booking Reservation.

14. Please respect the surrounding area and any neighbouring properties, including our immediate neighbours. You must also comply with any applicable laws and rules throughout your Booking, including but not limited to The Countryside Code.

15. You are encouraged to enjoy the Property and grounds, including making use of the facilities. Your use and enjoyment of the Property and grounds must be solely in accordance with these Terms, the Property Rules and/or any signage or instructions given to you by us. You hereby acknowledge that enjoyment of the Property and grounds is at your own risk.

16. The Guest acknowledges that it is the lead member of the booking party and shall be responsible for ensuring the compliance of the whole booking party with these Terms, the Property Rules and/or our signage or instructions. Children and any pets must be supervised within the Property’s grounds, and we request that dogs are kept on the lead in the car parking area.

17. You acknowledge and accept that no parties are permitted at the Property and any music must be kept at a respectful level. Any outdoor music must be turned off by 10pm and noise limited to a respectful level. Please do be mindful of other guests, our young children and of our neighbours.

18. You are not permitted to use a portable domestic charger (also known as a ‘granny charger’) to charge your vehicle from a socket at the Property. There is an outdoor socket that maybe used for charging, where an agreed price has been discussed. Where there is an electric vehicle charging point at the Property, the Electric Vehicle Policy applies. Charging of electric bikes and wheelchairs is not permitted.

19. We reserve the right to request your immediate departure without refund where you have in our discretion acted unreasonably and in a manner which may impair the enjoyment, comfort, or health of others, including but not limited to breaching this clause D.

20. We, or an authorised representative or agent acting on our behalf (including but not limited to tradespeople) reserve the right to enter the Property at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspection or to carry out any repair deemed necessary to the Property and its contents. We will endeavour to agree times with you where possible.

21. All belongings and vehicles are left at the Property at your own risk. Please ensure all belongings are removed by the Departure Date as the return of any lost property cannot be guaranteed and will incur charges. If the Owners are asked to return items left at the Property, there will be an administrative fee of £25 per parcel sent plus the cost of postage and packaging.

22. Please remember that our properties are in the countryside, surrounded by famers’ fields and do attract mice, flies, spiders and therefore cobwebs. It does not mean that the cottage is dirty or has not been cleaned. Cobwebs can be spun almost as quickly as the have been cleaned away! As we are in a rural location, please be tolerant of the sounds, scents, and any mud on the roads that you may encounter, they are all part of the countryside experience!

23. Unfortunately the hire and use of a hot tub or similar is strictly prohibited.

1. Dogs are permitted at the Property at no additional charge. Please provide details of the dog’s you intend to bring at the time of booking.

2. Details of features provided at the Property for your dogs can be found on the Website, or by contacting us directly.

3. You are responsible for your dogs at all times.

4. You will be liable for any damage caused by dogs including where the Property is not left sufficiently clean and for any pet waste that has not been removed from the Property and the surrounding areas. The cost of any repair, replacement or extra cleaning will be retained from the Security Deposit and any further costs invoiced to you.

5. We are not liable for any allergies that are affected as a result of dogs present in previous occupancy.

6. You are not permitted to leave your dog unsupervised in the Property.

7. Bookings that include dogs are taken on the understanding that all flea and worming treatments are up to date. You will be liable for any damages and or loss of bookings due to an outbreak of fleas or otherwise where Clause E.7 has not been adhered to.

8. Unfortunately our insurance company will not insure us to accommodate any banned breeds, so with a heavy heart, we are unable to accept any dogs on the UK banned list. Our friends over at www.eastrustoncottages.co.uk do have some properties that can welcome you and your lovely dogs.

1. The Booking Price will be set out on the Website, at the time of submitting your Booking Reservation and as detailed in your Booking Confirmation.

2. All Payments may be made by BACS transfer (please use your surname and booking number as the reference on all BACS payments), debit card or credit card. We do not accept payments by cheque or cash.

3. Where VAT is chargeable, it is included in the sums given and charged at 20%

4. Where your Booking Reservation is more than 6 weeks (42 days) from the Arrival Date, you must pay a minimum Booking Deposit as notified to you upon submitting the Booking Reservation. The remaining balance of the Booking Price must be paid by the Balance Due Date.

5. Where your Booking Reservation is made with less than 6 weeks (42 days) before the Arrival Date, you must pay the full balance of the Booking Price at the time of making a Booking Reservation.

6. We will notify you before the Balance Due Date that payment is due. If payment is not received, we will try and contact you. If we cannot contact you or you do not make any payment due to us by the Balance Due Date for payment, we will treat the non-payment as your cancellation of the Booking and therefore termination of this contract. In these circumstances, your rights to a refund are set out in clause I.

1. As a consumer, you have legal rights in relation to your Booking where it is not offered to you with reasonable skill and care, or if the service provided to you is faulty or not as described. Advice about your legal rights is available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office. Nothing in these Terms will affect these legal rights. However, we ask that you contact us in the first instance using our Contact Details. Please refer to D.12 for any defects or complaints about the property.

1. No party can exclude or limit in any way their liability where it is illegal to do so, and this contract does not seek to exclude or limit any liability which cannot be excluded or limited by law.

2. If we fail to comply with these Terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of the Terms or our negligence. We are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if they were an obvious consequence of our breach or if it had been brought to our attention by you before the loss or damage occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, we are not responsible for any transport and/or alternative accommodation costs.

3. We only supply the Property for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the Property for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose, and we have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.

4. We do not have any responsibility or liability to you (other than as outlined above) for loss of or damage to any of your items, belongings, pets or vehicles, howsoever caused.

1. We strongly recommend that you take out an appropriate travel insurance policy or booking cover before placing your Booking Reservation.

2. You may cancel a Booking before the Arrival Date by contacting us using the Contact Details. All cancellations without appropriate travel insurance or booking cover will be subject to the following refund:

   1. A refund will only be given in the event that a replacement booking is obtained. If we are able to re-let the Property, we will refund money paid less a £50 admin fee and subject to any difference in price between the Booking Price and the re-let price.

      1. For example, if you make your Booking on 1st April with the Arrival Date of 1st August at a total cost of £1,000 and you cancel your Booking, we would not be able to refund you until/or if we were able re-let the property. In the event we are able to re-let the property, and achieved a re-let price of £850, you would receive a refund of £800.

3. We will confirm your cancellation with you in writing/email and notify you of our Terms and process of refund at that time.

4. Please note that if you need to cancel because you are ill, including where you are showing symptoms of illness (for the avoidance of doubt this includes Covid19 and/or self-isolating due to Covid19, and any other endemic disease), this will be treated as a cancellation by you and not an Event Outside the Parties Control (Clause K). We strongly recommend you consider insurance for this potential eventuality.

5. If you depart voluntarily from the Property before the Departure Date, no refund shall be given. Similarly, if you fail to show for your Booking this will be regarded as a cancellation and will not be refundable.

6. Where you have cancelled a Booking because of our failure to comply with these Terms or if we change these Terms under clause C.1 and you elect to cancel the contract (except where we have been affected by an Event Outside of the Parties Control), you do not have to make any payment to us and we will refund any monies paid in full.

1. We may have to cancel a Booking before the Arrival Date of your Booking due to an Event Outside of the Parties Control. We will promptly contact you if this happens

2. If we have to cancel a Booking under clause L.1 and you have made any payment in advance for your Booking that have not been provided to you, we will refund these amounts to you in full.

3. We may cancel the contract for your Booking at any time with immediate effect by giving you written notice if you:

   1. do not pay us when you are supposed to; or

   2. break the contract in any other material way.

1. Neither party shall be in breach of this agreement nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under this agreement if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control. In such circumstances the time for performance shall be extended by a period equivalent to the period during which performance of the obligation has been delayed or failed to be performed. If the period of delay or non-performance continues for one month, the party not affected may terminate this agreement by giving 5 Business Days written notice to the affected party.

2. An Event Outside our Control includes, but is not limited to: strike, civil unrest, civil emergencies, government prohibition or restriction on all or part of the economy or trade including local lockdowns, pandemic, epidemic, environmental disaster, domestic appliance failure, temporary invasion of pests or utilities failure or interruption.

3. Weather will only be included as an Event Outside of the Parties Control where a red weather warning in respect of snow, ice and/or wind has been issued by the Met Office for the Property area.

4. In the event of a pandemic, epidemic or restriction of the movement of peoples as dictated by the government or public authority, we reserve the right to issue specific terms at such a time via the Website and will communicate this to you via the contact details provided us.

5. For the avoidance of doubt, illness and/or self-isolation due to Covid19 and/or showing symptoms of Covid19 and/or any other endemic disease will be treated as a cancellation by you and not an Event Outside the Parties Control.

6. Should any event or circumstance beyond our reasonable control occur which means the Property cannot be provided to you, we will let you know as soon as possible so alternative accommodation and/or a refund can be arranged for you

1. We will use the personal information you provide to us to:

   1. provide your Booking;

   2. process your payment for your Booking;

   3. process identity checks where necessary; and

   4. inform you about similar products or services that we provide, where you have permitted us to. You may stop receiving these at any time by contacting us.

2. All data you provide to us will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available to view www.oaktreecottages.co.uk

1.  In Oct 2023 the government updated Fire regulations for self-catering accommodation. You will be pleased that all measures have been added to improve your safety. However, there are now additional rules that you as guests must adhere to during your stay:

   1. As in Clause D.8 No smoking, vaping or equivalent devices are to be used in the property at any time.

   2. As in Clause D.9 No use of naked flames to be used on the premises at any time, with the exception of the barbecues provided by us.

   3. As in Clause B.8 Only guests booked to stay are permitted to sleep overnight in the property and the maximum occupancy cannot be exceeded.

   4. The use of chargers for rechargeable devices/appliances are only permitted during the daytime and whilst you are present. Please do not charge any devices or appliances overnight.

   5. We recommend that you keep internal doors shut at night-time to prevent the spread of potential fires.

   6. The use of your own heating or cooling appliance is NOT permitted during your stay. E.g.: Portable heaters, Fans, Hair dryers or hair straighteners unless they have undergone the recommended Portable Appliance Testing.

1. We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to another individual or business, but this will not affect your rights or our obligations under these Terms.

2. Except for you (the Guest) and us, no other person shall have any rights to enforce any of these Terms.

3. Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.

4. If we fail to insist that you perform any of your obligations under these Terms, or if we do not enforce our rights against you (or if we delay in doing so) that will not mean that we have waived our rights against you and will not mean that you do not have to comply with those obligations. If we do waive a default by you, we will only do so in writing, and that will not mean that we will automatically waive any later default by you.

​

These Terms are governed by English law. All parties agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland, and if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland

Specifically, this privacy policy provides you with details about the personal information we collect and hold about you, how we use your personal information, and your rights regarding the personal information we hold about you. Please read this privacy policy carefully – by continuing to access or browse our websites, or by requesting the provision of services from us, you confirm that you have read and understood this privacy policy in its entirety.  We collect, store and use your personal details as outlined above for our legitimate business interests, so that we can fulfil both your immediate and any potential future holiday booking or enquiry needs. This storage and use of your personal information allows you to be contacted about both your current booking or enquiry, and also allows us to update you with offers, opportunities and developments which could be both interesting and beneficial in the future. We do not believe that this storage and use will unduly prejudice your rights or freedoms. We retain information (including personal information) for the minimum reasonable time period to allow us to provide our services and will delete it after that time. The only exceptions are in cases where we need to keep limited personal information to comply with our legal obligations, resolve ongoing disputes, or enforce our agreements. Should you require more detail about our retention timescales for a specific category of data or information please contact us at bookings@oaktreecottages.co.uk You have certain rights in relation to your personal information. If you would like further information in relation to these or would like to exercise any of them, please contact us at bookings@oaktreebookings.co.uk at any time.