Terms & Conditions
Definitions
The terms ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ mean ‘Northumberland Beach Cottages’. The terms ‘you’ and ‘your’ mean any and all persons using the website or making a booking with Northumberland Beach Cottages. ‘The property’ means the property you are making a booking for from Northumberland Beach Cottages. ‘Short Break’ means a stay at a property of three nights or less from Friday to Monday or four nights from Monday to Friday. ‘Long Break’ means a stay at a property of five nights or more.
The Contract & Liability
Contracts become binding upon the cleared payment of the required deposit or full balance and with the issue of a booking confirmation from Northumberland Beach Cottages. Northumberland Beach Cottages is not and will not at any time be party to any contract made between you and the owner of the property you rent.
Northumberland Beach Cottages and any owners associated will not accept any form of abuse from guests, verbal or otherwise. Any foul language, threats, or abuse of any kind will not be tolerated and we reserve the right to cancel your booking/ask you to leave the holiday rental without notice and no refund will be given for any sums paid to date.
Payment
A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the rental cost is payable at the time of booking and the full balance plus a security deposit of £100 must be paid at least 6 weeks before the start of the rental period. If immediate payment is not received at the time of booking, your booking will be cancelled by us and reopened for booking. In the event of non-payment of the outstanding balance on the stated due date then the following cancellation charges will apply.
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We encourage all guests to obtain suitable holiday or travel insurance to cover cancellation charges. If you cancel, we will provide written evidence to your insurance company to help compensate you for any loss: that is the extent of our involvement should you cancel for any reason. We will not reimburse guests should there be strike action, adverse weather conditions, war, global pandemic, terrorism, nuclear fallout, or any other act of god/nature/man out of our control.
Cancellation Charges
Please note: cancellations of confirmed bookings must be in writing and cancellation charges will apply as listed here.
42 days or more before the start date – 25% deposit will be retained by us.
41 to 28 days before the start date – 50% of the total cost will be retained by us.
27 - 15 days before the start date – 75% of the total cost will be retained by us.
14 days or less before the start date – 100% of the total cost will be retained by us.
The security deposit is refundable to you within 7-10 days (dependent on the payment method/your bank's processing time) after you leave the cottage as long as no damage has been found after your stay. If damage has been found, we will detract the necessary amount to make the repairs/replacements from the deposit and refund the difference to you within the 7-10 day period. If large repairs or extra in-depth cleaning is required which impacts on the following guests after your stay we may retain up to the full amount of the security deposit.
Date Change Policy
Holiday dates for bookings accepted by Northumberland Beach Cottages may be changed at a charge of £25 upon the observance of the following conditions: Date changes may only be made up to two calendar months before the start of the original holiday dates if the cottage in question is still available. You must inform us of the new desired dates of your break when you initially contact us or the break will be cancelled and the cancellation charges listed above will apply. The decision on date changes rests with the owner of each property not with Northumberland Beach Cottages and as such the owner’s decision is final.
Booking Changes
In the event that Northumberland Beach Cottages has to make any changes to your booking (for example if a cottage needs to be removed from the site by its owner or if the cottage is damaged and needs urgent repair) then Northumberland Beach Cottages will try to provide you with a suitable alternative booking. If this is not possible Northumberland Beach Cottages will refund all sums paid by you. This will be the only obligation or liability of Northumberland Beach Cottages to you in such circumstances.
Hire Period
Your rental period starts at 5pm on the day of your arrival and ends at 10am on the day of your departure. Please keep to these times in order that we may maintain our full standards of service both for you and for our future guests. Your co-operation is appreciated.
Pets & Animals
Pets are not allowed in Bank Top Cottage. If you book this cottage and bring pets with you, we reserve the right to not allow access to the property and we will retain the full rental price.
Smoking / Candles / Fire Safety
Smoking is not allowed in Bank Top Cottage. Please take care to dispose of your cigarette ends in a responsible manner if you smoke outside your holiday cottage.
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No candles (open flame or covered) are allowed on the property under any circumstances.
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Guests are not permitted to use BBQs or portable heaters within the property or on the balcony. No deep-fat fryers or food preparation appliances are to be brought or used on the premises.
Occupancy
The number of persons occupying the property must not exceed the maximum number stated in the brochure, website or on the booking form. Northumberland Beach Cottages reserves the right to refuse entry to the entire party if this condition is not observed. The same rule applies if more than the stated number of guests arrive during any time of the hire period to stay overnight: owners reserve the right to ask all guests to vacate the premises without refund.
No persons under 12 years of age are permitted to stay.
Property Care
By booking a holiday at Northumberland Beach Cottages you agree that you and your party will: Take all reasonable and proper care of the property and its furniture, pictures, fittings and effects both inside and outside. You will leave the cottage and its contents in the same state of repair at the end of your rental period as you found it at the start of your stay. You will be liable for the cost of any damages, breakages, losses and any extra cleaning or repair costs incurred due to non-compliance with these conditions. You will not cause inconvenience or be a nuisance to your neighbours.
Left Behind/Lost Property
Northumberland Beach Cottages are not responsible for any lost items or items left after your stay. It is your responsibility to make sure you take home all personal belongings and we are not liable should these things go missing. Any items left behind can be sent back to you at your own cost. Only when postage is paid to us by you will your items be sent back to you.
Access Rights
Northumberland Beach Cottages and the property owner are to be allowed the right of entry to your holiday cottage at all reasonable times and upon reasonable notice for the purposes of inspection, repair or maintenance.
Safety
Guests must accept responsibility for their own safety. Please be vigilant in our period cottages as they may have low beamed ceilings, steep staircases, sash windows, open fires and wood burning stoves. Please take extra care in properties with bi-folding or patio doors, raised patio areas, balconies, barbecue equipment and outside furniture. Glass doors and windows can be difficult to see in bright light so please be careful. Wooden and tiled floors can be very slippery when wet and feet should be dried before walking upon them. We would ask you to be aware of the risks posed by the sea and to pay special attention to the changing weather conditions and tides, especially when rock pooling. If you have any special requirements please let us know and we will try to accommodate you.
Warranties
Northumberland Beach Cottages do not guarantee and are not responsible for the accuracy of any verbal information given or statements made by its staff or service team. Northumberland Beach Cottages take care to ensure the accuracy, both written and verbal, of the property, village and local amenity details at the time of writing or going to press but we do not take responsibility for any changes that occur after being written/published. All information given on the Northumberland Beach Cottages website, on third-party websites, in printed materials and provided in an email or by verbal communication is given in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of writing, going to press or however otherwise communicated. Northumberland Beach Cottages will not be held responsible for any changes beyond its control or by inaccuracies.
Complaints
If you have any cause for complaint during your stay please notify the property owner as quickly as possible for them to rectify the cause. We would ask that you notify the owner of any serious problems in writing. Any complaint received after guest departure without communicating the issue to the property owner at the time the issue first arises will not be taken into consideration.