Terms of Booking & Booking Deposit
Definitions
– Booking Party refers to the person or persons who enquire about or stay at the Property.
– Cleaning Fee is the cost of cleaning, which may not always be included in the price of accommodation.
– Cleared Funds refers to payments that have been approved and processed by the account holder’s bank.
– Deposit refers to the amount paid by the Guest to secure the booking of the Property.
– Guest(s) refers to the person or persons who enquire about the rental of the Property, place a booking, or stay at the Property.
– Lead Guest refers to the person in whose name the booking is made.
– Property refers to the rental property or listing.
– Property Owner refers to the owner or entity acting on behalf of the owner of the Property that is being booked.
– Rental Fees refers to the total amount due from a booking, including the Cleaning Fee, Rental Fee, and any additional charges.
– Agent refers to Ridgestone Collection Ltd. (company number 12668152), acting as the booking agent for the Property Owner.
– Security Deposit refers to the amount held or charged for the booking in relation to potential damage to the Property.
Terms of Booking & Booking Deposit
By placing a booking, the Lead Guest and the Booking Party acknowledge and agree that the agreement is between the Lead Guest and the Property Owner. Ridgestone Collection Ltd. (the “Agent”) acts solely as the facilitator of the booking and not as the contracting party for the rental. All terms of this agreement, including cancellations, fees, and obligations, apply directly to the agreement with the Property Owner.
To secure the booking, a valid credit or debit card must be associated with the reservation at all times. A 30% non-refundable payment is required at booking confirmation. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to arrival, after which the booking is entirely non-refundable. If a booking is made within 30 days of arrival, full payment will be taken at booking confirmation, and the amount is non-refundable.
A damage deposit is charged in addition to the total booking cost, which includes the nightly accommodation rate and the cleaning fee. The damage deposit amount varies per property and is held by the Property Owner via Ridgestone Collection.
All payments must be made in cleared funds before the booking can be confirmed. Payments can be made through the reservation portal facilitated by Ridgestone Collection Ltd. Any bank charges related to dishonoured cheques, transfers, or other payments must be reimbursed by the Lead Guest within seven days of notification.
Cancellation, Returned Deposit & Non-Arrival Conditions
Guests requiring a booking cancellation must contact Ridgestone Collection Ltd. as the agent. Cancellation policies are set by the Property Owner, and the relevant cancellation terms will be outlined for each property.
Non-arrival: Guests who fail to arrive for their booking forfeit their Deposit, and the full amount of the booking remains due.
Cancellation: Cancellations are only refundable in accordance with the Property Owner’s terms. Guests are encouraged to consider holiday or cancellation insurance.
Force Majeure Clause
The Property Owner shall not be liable for cancellations or interruptions to bookings due to unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, government restrictions, pandemics, or other force majeure events. In such cases, the Property Owner may offer an alternative accommodation or a refund. Any accommodation or voucher offered will be subject to the availability of dates, and if force majeure impacts the guest’s ability to travel on their intended dates, the guest will have the option to reschedule based on availability. No refunds or compensation will be provided in such cases.
Right to Refuse or Terminate Booking
The Property Owner and Ridgestone Collection Ltd. reserve the right to refuse any booking if certain conditions are not met. These include, but are not limited to, situations where the guest is underage or if the booking violates property-specific rules (e.g., pet restrictions or maximum number of guests).
The Property Owner reserves the right to terminate any booking before the Guest’s arrival if, in the reasonable opinion of the Property Owner, there has been a misrepresentation, breach of the booking terms, or the booking does not meet the necessary conditions (e.g., age restrictions, failure to provide payment). In such cases, the Property Owner will notify the Lead Guest as soon as possible. Any sums paid will be refunded, except in the event of a breach or misrepresentation, in which case the Property Owner may withhold all or part of the sums paid.
Use of Property
The Property may not be used for commercial purposes (e.g., photoshoots or events) without prior permission from the Property Owner.
Special Requests
Guests may submit special requests, such as early check-in, late check-out, additional bedding, or specific accommodations. All requests must be made in advance and are subject to approval by the Property Owner or Agent. Special requests are not guaranteed and will be accommodated only where possible, based on availability and operational constraints. Some requests may incur additional charges, which will be communicated to the Guest before confirmation. Guests will be notified in advance if their request can be accommodated, and any applicable fees will be added to the booking total.
Guest Responsibilities
Guests agree to respect the privacy and peace of other guests, neighbours, and Property Owners. Failure to adhere to these expectations may result in the immediate cancellation of the booking by the Property Owner, in which case no refund will be provided.
Guests are required to leave the Property in a reasonable condition and dispose of rubbish appropriately. Failure to do so may result in additional charges imposed by the Property Owner.
The Guest may not assign, sublet, or otherwise transfer their booking to any other person without the prior written consent of the Property Owner or the Agent. Any unauthorised transfer or subletting will be considered a breach of these terms, and the Property Owner reserves the right to cancel the booking without refund.
Local Laws and Regulations
Guests must adhere to all local laws and regulations during their stay at the Property, including but not limited to noise regulations, parking restrictions, and any other local ordinances. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in additional charges or the cancellation of the booking at the Property Owner’s discretion.
Occupancy Limits
The Property has a maximum occupancy limit, which includes children. The Lead Guest is responsible for ensuring the number of guests does not exceed this limit. Any violation of this limit may result in additional charges or immediate cancellation of the booking.
Insurance
The Lead Guest and Booking Party are strongly encouraged to obtain travel insurance or trip protection to cover cancellations, medical emergencies, or other unforeseen events. The Property Owner is not responsible for any injury, illness, or damage to the guest’s personal property during the stay at the Property.
Smoking & Vaping Policy
Smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated areas of the Property. Guests are strictly prohibited from smoking or vaping inside the Property. Failure to comply with this policy may result in additional cleaning charges.
Unforeseen Circumstances/Unavailable Property
In the rare event that the Property becomes unavailable (e.g., due to damage, flooding, or other unforeseen events), the Property Owner may offer alternative accommodation or a refund, subject to availability. If an alternative for the same dates is declined by the guest, no refund shall be provided. Where possible, a voucher may be issued by Ridgestone Collection, which the guest may choose to accept instead of a refund.
Equipment and Amenities
The Property is equipped with amenities and appliances for the comfort and convenience of Guests, including but not limited to Wi-Fi, heating, kitchen appliances, and entertainment systems. While every effort is made to ensure these amenities are in working order, the Property Owner and Agent cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability due to unforeseen circumstances, maintenance, or technical issues.
Guests are responsible for using all equipment and amenities in a safe and proper manner. Any faults, damage, or malfunctions should be reported to the Agent as soon as possible. Reasonable efforts will be made to resolve reported issues in a timely manner; however, compensation will not be provided for temporary outages or disruptions.
Access to Property for Maintenance or Emergency Situations
The Property Owner or the Agent reserves the right to enter the Property if access is required for maintenance, emergency repairs, or inspections.
Notice for Access: Where possible, guests will be given reasonable notice before entry. Access will typically be scheduled at a convenient time to minimise disruption.
Emergency Situations: In the case of an emergency—such as urgent repairs, safety concerns, or suspected breaches of these terms—access may be required immediately and without prior notice.
Guest Cooperation: Guests are expected to allow access as required to ensure the safety, security, and proper maintenance of the Property.
Third-party Bookings
When booking via third-party platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com, etc.), the booking terms outlined here apply regardless of the platform used. Any platform-specific cancellation policies or service fees will be in addition to the terms set by the Property Owner.
Responsibility for Personal Belongings
The Property Owner and Ridgestone Collection Ltd. are not responsible for any loss or damage to the Guest’s personal property during their stay at the Property. Guests should ensure that their belongings are secure and report any loss or damage to Ridgestone Collection Ltd. as soon as possible.
Damage Deposit Release
The damage deposit for all bookings is automatically released three days post check-out. As the charge was made as a pre-authorisation, the money was not removed from your account but rather held by your bank. The time for the release to reflect in your account depends on your bank’s processing timeline.
Check-in & Check-out
Guests will receive check-in and check-out instructions via email from Ridgestone Collection Ltd. prior to the check-in date. It is the Guest’s responsibility to review the check-in instructions and pre-arrival information prior to arrival.
Overstay Policy
Late check-out or overstaying may result in financial charges, including a penalty fee and potential security call-out costs, which are the responsibility of the Guest.
Damages & Lost Property
The Lead Guest is responsible for any damages caused during the stay by any member of the Booking Party, including damage to furniture or fixtures. Accidental damages should be reported immediately to Ridgestone Collection Ltd. on behalf of the Property Owner.
Lost items should be reported promptly to Ridgestone Collection Ltd. Lost items will be held for 28 days before disposal, with an admin fee of £40 for retrieval. Additional courier fees will apply for sending lost items.
Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
The booking agreement is governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where the Property Owner is located. Any disputes arising will be handled in the appropriate legal jurisdiction.
Liability & Indemnity
The Property Owner and the Agent shall not be liable for any injury, accident, loss, or damage to the Guest, their Booking Party, or their personal belongings during their stay at the Property, except in cases of proven negligence. Guests agree to use the Property and its facilities at their own risk. The Property Owner and the Agent accept no responsibility for the actions or omissions of third parties that may affect the Guest’s stay.
Guests shall indemnify and hold harmless the Property Owner and the Agent from any claims, liabilities, damages, or expenses arising from their stay, except where such claims result from the proven negligence of the Property Owner or the Agent.
Privacy & Data Protection
Ridgestone Collection Ltd. handles Guest data as part of the booking process on behalf of the Property Owner. Guest personal information is used only for the purposes of managing the booking and is not shared without consent, in compliance with data protection laws.
Wi-Fi Fair Usage Policy
Where Wi-Fi is provided, Guests must use the internet appropriately. The network may be monitored to ensure fair usage. Excessive use (e.g., heavy media streaming, gaming, or large downloads/uploads) is prohibited. Illegal activity will be reported to authorities.
Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
The booking agreement is governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where the Property Owner is located. Any disputes arising will be handled in the appropriate legal jurisdiction.
Booking & Payment Summary
– A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking.
– The remaining balance is due 30 days before arrival. Bookings made within 30 days of arrival require full payment at the time of booking.
– A damage deposit is required and will be held as a pre-authorisation on your payment method. This is charged within 48 hours of the booking arrival date and automatically released within 3 days after check-out, subject to no damages or policy violations.
– Travel insurance is strongly recommended.