Terms and Conditions

BOOKING INFORMATION & TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2006

ACANTHUS PROPERTY LETTING SERVICES LIMITED

VAT Reg. No. 688 7423 76 Company No.4673079

Properties are offered by us the letting agents on behalf of the owners. The hiring agreement is between the hirer and the owner. Acanthus property Letting Services Limited are the letting agents for the owner. The following information given is correct at the time this website went live and the contents are subject to alteration at any time.

BOOKING PROCEDURE

bookings are not accepted from anyone under 18yrs old.

It is not possible to book a property until you have contacted the office on 01502 724033 to check vailability. Acanthus advises that the description of your chosen property is read in full. You will then need to make

Either a provisional booking: A maximum of one property can be held for you for 5 days only. During which time a payment of the deposit or the balance must be paid or Make a confirmed booking with full or deposit payment by card or cheque securing the property immediately. Please note Short Winter break bookings must be paid for in full.

PAYMENT

A £200 deposit per week will be taken to secure a property. If the holiday is less than 28 days from the time of booking a full balance is required. Payment can be made by Cheque/Debit or Switch card or by Credit card. Cheques made payable to Acanthus PLS. Payment by Credit card (only) will be subject to a 2.5% surcharge payable at the time of booking.

On payment of the full balance all payments of retention fees (applicable to holidays of two weeks or more), any dog/s payments and cancellation scheme payment (optional) need to be made at this time.

We reserve the right to increase prices if there are national increases beyond our control.

Once a booking has been made you will be sent a booking formwhich contains our current terms and conditions, this MUST be signed and returned to us before you visit, you must also state how many adults/children are in your party and if you intend to bring one or more dogs. If you have made payment, you will also receive a receipt which will confirm your booking details and key collection location and times.

THE BOOKING AGREEMENT

The hiring agreement is between the hirer and the property owner. Acanthus Property Letting Services Ltd are Letting Agents for the owner. The Hirer is responsible to the Owner for the full cost of the accommodation booked. All information is given in good faith, and in the absence of negligence on our part, no warranties are made regarding information provided either written or oral. In the absence of any negligence we accept no liability for any loss, damage, injury or accident which the Hirer or any of his/her party may incur or experience. The Hirer undertakes to make good any damage to the property, furnishings, or equipment caused by him/her or any members of the party.

We will ask for a retainer of £100.00 when deposit is paid if the booking is for two weeks or over.

The full amount will be returned after you have vacated the property and one of our staff has checked the property throughout. Properties must be vacated by 10.00am on day of departure and left in a clean and tidy condition-see below. All keys MUST be returned to 9, Trinity Street, Southwold on or before day of departure.

The Hirer is responsible to the Owner for the full cost of the accommodation booked. Acanthus Property Letting Services Limited reserve the right to terminate a booking at any time.

CANCELLATION

Non-subscribers to the Holiday Cancellation Refund Scheme (see below for details) are liable to full payment to the owner of the property/ies booked, Acanthus Property Letting Services Ltd strongly urge customers to insure their holiday against cancellation.

HOLIDAY CANCELLATION REFUND SCHEME.

(optional) £35.00 inc. VAT per week.

If you wish to be part of our Holiday Cancellation refund scheme this must be purchased at the time of booking. The Scheme will assess claims for refund from subscribers resulting from the following:

Death, accident or sickness (all to be certified by a qualified registered Medical practitioner), jury service (in a Court of Law) of yourself or a member of your party booked into the same holiday home. All occurring after acceptance of your booking.

CONDITIONS OF THE SCHEME

1. The scheme comes into effect immediately your booking has been accepted, so no refund of the scheme subscription of £35.00 inc. VAT is possible.

2. All certificates, information and evidence to support a refund shall be provided at your expense or that of your legal personal representative.

3. If any claim is fraudulent all benefits under the scheme shall be forfeited.

EXCLUSIONS

a. Wilfully self-inflicted injury or illness (including the results of alcohol or drug abuse).

b. Holidays booked in spite of and against medical advice.

c. Cancellation which could be foreseen from knowledge in your possession at the time of actual booking.

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

All cancellations must be telephoned to our office and then confirmed in writing followed by a certificate/confirmation letter from relevant source. Claims will only be accepted from subscribers to the Scheme. All claims will attract a non-refundable administration charge of £35.00. Non-subscribers are liable for full payment of accommodation costs to the Owner/s. The terms and conditions of the scheme are also printed on the booking form for your information.

DISABILITY ACCESS AND SPECIAL NEEDS

Acanthus has worked closely with the East of England Tourist Board to provide a wide range of properties to suit most needs. Additional information has been included in most property descriptions regarding the layout, stairs and handrails. Acanthus is not able to give guarantees to the suitability of an individual property, therefore we ask all our customers who may have a special requirement to contact the office and discuss each property in full.

CHILDREN ON HOLIDAY

Southwold is a lovely location for children's holidays, and self catering suits families particularly well, but Acanthus, on behalf of the owners, do ask that parents encourage their children to respect our houses and also be made aware of any hazards in their new surroundings. We also ask parents to provide mattress protection for younger children. Acanthus provides a cot and highchair hire service - prices on request.

DOGS

All Properties list in their description if a dog or dogs are permitted. Any tenants bringing a dog/s to a property that does not allow dog/s may be asked to leave. Dogs are subject to a payment of £25 inc.VAT per dog per week/stay. This payment must be made at the time of booking. Sorry other pets (this includes cats) cannot be accommodated.

NOTICE TO ALL DOGS

Please do not sleep on the beds or furniture, please bring your own bed with you. Ask your owners to take you for walks on the beach (summer restrictions in Southwold apply) and on the common, and remind them to clean up for you when out and about and in your courtyard/garden on holiday. Ask your owners not to leave you alone in a property day or night.

PROVISIONS

Tenants should be aware that not all properties provide basic provisions - it is strongly advised that Tenants bring with them items such as basic cleaning materials, toilet rolls and fuel (for properties advertising open fires). Food and other provisions can be purchased in Southwold or Walberswick.

YOUR PROPERTY

CLEANING

Please leave the property in a clean and tidy condition and ensure both cookers and fridges are clean, charges may be made for properties which are left dirty-if you would like Acanthus offers a cleaning service for you on your vacation please contact us -prices on request. All breakages or damage must be reported to Acanthus within 48hrs.

APPLIANCES

Appliances are not guaranteed in the event of a breakdown, but every effort will be made to remedy faults rapidly.

LINEN AND TOWELS

Please note all properties supply duvets and pillows Linen is not normally supplied (unless stated in the description) but Acanthus offers a linen and towel hire service, which is shown on the booking form, prices on request, please call the office on 01502 724033. Please note linen hire extends to a maximum of one week only. For a two week /or more booking a second change of linen will need to be purchased - linen hire is non-refundable.

LOST PROPERTY

Please check drawers and cupboards etc, for personal items when vacating a property as a minimum charge of £12.00 inc VAT will be made for collection, postage and packing.

KEY COLLECTION TIMES & Late/Sunday & Bank Holiday fees

Keys are only available from the office 9, Trinity Street, Southwold, 1P18 6JH

Keys MUST be returned to the office at 10am on day of departure.

Key collection times are:

Monday-Thursday 12 noon - 3pm and Fridays 12:30pm-1pm & 2:30 pm - 3pm

Saturday 2pm-4pm STRICTLY

If you are unable to collect keys during these times or if you wish to have a Sunday or Bank Holiday collection a local key holder can be arranged, you must contact Acanthus on 01502 724033 to use this service. The fee for late or Sunday or Bank Holiday key collection is £10 payable before arrival.

DISCLAIMER

Acanthus Property Letting Services Limited 'the Agents' and the property owner do not accept any liability for loss, damage, injury or accident incurred by either the tenant or anyone in the tenant's party or accept liability for any disruption or inconvenience, where the failure is not the fault of either the agent or the owner.

Please note the information given in this website is given in good faith but no warranties are given by Acanthus Property Letting Services Ltd as agents or otherwise.

Beach chalets do not form part of a property letting contract.