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Durness CoastlineThe Cottage at MackaysThe Cottage at MackaysThe Cottage at MackaysBalnakiel, Durness

Terms and Conditions

We appreciate this is the boring part, but we’re obliged to make a few things clear so that no one falls out. We don’t like falling out with people, you see.

Terms and Conditions of Rental Agreement at Cottage a Mackays 2021/22

Your booking should be for holiday purposes only unless otherwise agreed in writing. These properties must not be used for party purposes, weddings or filming without prior written agreement or email confirmation of same is acceptable. Your contract is between you and the Owner of the property and is subject to the following conditions. The properties are as described on our web site www.visitdurness.com. The accommodation is of a high standard and will be returned in the same condition.

YOUR HOLIDAY HOUSE

  • You can arrive at your accommodation after 16.00 hrs on the start date of your holiday and you must have vacated the property by 09.30 hrs on your final day unless agreed otherwise by both parties. If you anticipate being much later than 18.00 hrs, please let Robbie or Fiona know on 01971511202 or 07876350098 it is always helpful to know when to expect you
  • You agree to keep the house clean and tidy and to leave it in a similar condition of cleanliness to when you arrived. Any additional cleaning of the property, following your departure, beyond the normal amount reasonably required. We are very proud of our houses and are delighted to share with you
  • The numbers in your party must never exceed the stated house capacity of 6 persons

Methods of payment

Payment is to be made by bank transfer- credit card Information requested upon booking is securely stored and for booking purposes only.

BACS TRANSFER ONLINE

When making a Bank transfer payment please ref your payment as directed by the owner so that we can cross reference your payment for you for example Smith 14/07/21” e.g name, date and rental begins. We would ask that you email us once your BACS transaction has been instructed by you, so that we can check for its deposit arriving with our account and email confirmation of this and your booking to you. For our International guests we can recommend payment via;

https://transferwise.com/  it’s secure, economical and easy to use

Cleaning Materials Provided

We provide most of the consumables you will require for your stay, this includes toilet/kitchen rolls and all cleaning sprays sanitisers as well as laundry powder etc. Refillable Ecover Cleaning Materials are provided for guest use and used during changeover.  We do NOT provide any food stuff or dry goods at all as the houses are cleared down completely each week. A filled salt & pepper mill are provided

Sustainable Tourism

We at Mackay’s are increasingly aware of our impact on the environment and try to mitigate this where possible. We ask all our guests to live responsibly whilst staying with us. Please consider your energy usage, light pollution, food and general waste as carefully as you can – this really matters to us and to our guests also we hope. We want to have as low an impact on our amazing surroundings as possible.

Reduce -Reuse- Recycle

Smoking

Smoking is completely prohibited inside all property. If guests insist of smoking then we ask them to dispose of all evidence responsibly and sympathetically. There will be a £150.00 additional cleaning charge if the house smells of smoke or if evidence of smoking is left behind

Damages

Please report any breakages or damage during your stay so that they can be rectified at the time and before the next guests arrive. All damages and losses will be paid for in full and you are asked to notify the owners directly before vacating the house. Glasses break and the unexpected can happen, accidental damage happens to everyone and we are very understanding but it is easier to let us know and we can rectify this quickly and hassle free.

Dogs

We are dog friendly at the Cottage – no other animals allowed I am afraid.  We can accommodate a maximum of 2 dogs in the house and there is an additional £50.00 dog charge per dog.  However dogs are only as good as there owners- any damage caused by dogs will need to be settled in full by owner and all evidence of dogs in and around the property must be dealt with by the owners before their departure. This is a crofting community so responsible dog ownership is a strict requirement not a request where livestock is concerned. The penalties are great otherwise!

Your booking

You must be 21 years or over when you book the accommodation.

The Owner has the right to refuse any booking prior to the issuing of any confirmation in writing. When you receive your confirmation you must check all the details carefully for accuracy and contact the Owner immediately if you find any discrepancy.

Rentals and charges 

Bookings placed from January 2021 onwards are not cancellation protected, meaning that if your booking is subject to our original terms and conditions.

Cancellation – Please ensure you are protected by your own insurance provider from the time of making your booking. We can not stress the importance of this enough!

If you have to cancel your reservation you must telephone the Owner on the number shown on your booking confirmation 01971511202 as soon as the reason for the cancellation occurs. You must also confirm your cancellation in writing, email is acceptable so long as confirmed back by owner to you. The day on which the Owner receives the telephone cancellation / confirms receipt of your email cancellation is the day on which your reservation is cancelled. This applies to cancellation through ill health, death, inability to travel due to weather disruptions, or close family health matters that may be a reason for being unable to take up your holiday with us.

Please note that should you cancel your booking prior to the balance due date your deposit is forfeited in full and the balance is no longer required. Should you need to cancel your booking after the balance has been paid BOTH the deposit and the balance are forfeited. We can of course assist with providing letters to confirm cancellation for insurance purposes. Please ensure adequate regular travel insurance is in place at time of booking thank you.

In order to secure a booking you need to make a 30% payment on the total rental cost as your deposit payment which is VAT inclusive, payable by bank transfer. On receipt of your deposit the Owner will confirm your booking by email and kindly acknowledge receipt of your deposit, with an account for the balance due 8 weeks before your booked arrival.  Deposits and balances are non refundable in the event of cancellation. Failure to complete the balance payment when it is due, will result in automatic forfeiture of your booking. 

We will do our very best to relet the property if we successfully manage to rebook your cancelled stay then you will be offered and alternative date or a refund of money paid (there is a £75.00 charge deducted from refunds)

Booking enquiries made through our booking system are provisional until confirmed by us and deposits have been safely received and confirmed.

If you have to cancel your reservation you must telephone the Owner on the number shown on your booking confirmation 01971511202 as soon as the reason for the cancellation occurs. You must also confirm your cancellation in writing, email is acceptable so long as confirmed back by owner to you. The day on which the Owner receives the telephone cancellation / confirms receipt of your email cancellation is the day on which your reservation is cancelled. This applies to cancellation through ill health, death, inability to travel due to weather disruptions, or close family health matters that may be a reason for being unable to take up your holiday with us.

Please note that should you cancel your booking prior to the balance due date your deposit is forfeited in full and the balance is no longer required. Should you need to cancel your booking after the balance has been paid BOTH the deposit and the balance are forfeited. We can of course assist with providing letters to confirm cancellation for insurance purposes. Please ensure adequate regular travel insurance is in place at time of booking thank you.

Repairs to Property

Occasionally in rental properties damage due to possible wear and tear, an item of equipment may for some reason not be working (in the unlikely event of this) we would do our utmost to repair it as quickly as possible and we are here to ensure your holiday runs as smoothly and enjoyable as possible. Due to the remoteness of our location sometimes things may take a little bit longer than would normally be expected- this is part of living in the wilds but your enjoyment and comfort are our priority at all times.

To improve the facilities the owners reserve the right to alter or amend the facilities made available at the house.

Restriction on rental

We reserve the right to remove person or persons from the property due to unreasonable behaviour, damage to the property or who exceeds the stated occupancy (unless occupancy has been agreed by both parties owner and customer direct and in advance of the let). In this case a refund of rental rate is at the entire discretion of the owner.

Complaints

The Owner hopes that you will not have any cause for complaint but in the event of a problem arising, you must in the first instance contact the Owner immediately so that any problem may be speedily resolved, as the Owner must be given the opportunity to rectify the problem. Some problems are very easily rectified if notified.

Right of Entry

The owner of the property reserves the right to enter the property at an agreed time with the hirer to carry out any repairs or maintenance. The owner reserves the right to ask guests to vacate the property if their behaviour is deemed to be unreasonable or damage is caused to the property. An agreed entry time will be arranged for lets of over one week to provide a fresh linen change and general clean for your comfort.

Liability

The Owner will have no liability for death, personal injury, or loss of, or damage to, personal property including motor vehicles. In the absence of any negligence or other breach of duty by The Owner, the use by Tenants of any house or its facilities is entirely at their own risk.

Adverse Travel Conditions

In the event of travel disruptions due to bad weather conditions, Government or FCO Travel guidelines or any form of industrial action we cannot be held responsible for non-arrival or inability to arrive or depart at the House and strictly no refunds will be given. Should these exceptional circumstances arise we would do everything in or capability to assist you to arrange alternative overnight accommodation with local accommodation providers where possible and you will be solely responsible for paying any alternative accommodation costs arising from this. We request all guests to have normal travel insurance in place at time of booking to cover any eventuality, thank you.

Cancellation by Owner

Each booking is made in good faith in the belief that the house will be available to the client on the date stated on the booking form.  If for any reason due to circumstances out-with our control eg flood or fire of the property rendering the house not available we are unable to guarantee provision of alternative accommodation however a full refund of your original rental fee paid to us would be made. For the avoidance of doubt extreme cases such as terrorism,  pandemic and global health crisis, adverse weather conditions which may prevent travel for any reason, fog, delayed flights, ferry disruption, Government or Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel advice such  or road closures are not deemed a circumstance outwith our control for this clause which would give rise to a refund. We will not be held responsible! Normal holiday insurance is recommended at the time of booking as we cannot be held responsible for weather interruption to your travel arrangements.

Law 

The contract between you and the Owner is subject to Scots Law

Please ensure you have read and understand the terms and conditions of agreement for the rental of The Cottage at Mackay’s prior to paying your deposit.

Thank-you for taking the time to read through the above, it is for your protection as much as it is for ours and we appreciate your time.

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