An Alphabetical CHECK LIST for
when you are renting a Holiday Home in Scotland
1) AVAILABILITY:
We do advise
property owners to update their Availability dates on a regular
basis on the jmlvilas.com self catering holiday homes web site. If they have not
indicated an availability date, please email them for this
information.
2) ACCOMMODATION: Most of our advertisers provide excellent
accommodation details, occasionally they might have omitted some
details, so if you require additional information contact the
owner. In many cases Property owners have their own web site that
shows additional details and if they do have a site you can access
this from the featured property page.
Many advertisers are registered or listed with their
country/region’s Tourist Office and have to comply with the
guidelines on standards of accommodation and facilities &
equipment provided.
3) BABYSITTING: If you require a baby sitter you must ask
the Property owner if they have contacts.
4)BREAKAGES: (see also Inventory & Deposit sections
below) Small accidents can happen when you are on holiday.
Normally if a renter breaks glasses, crockery etc they will often
find replacements at the local supermarket and should always
advise the owner or agent. If there is a serious breakage - window
- chair etc, the renter should immediately report this to the
owner or their agent.
5)BICYCLE HIRE: If you need to hire a bike, it might be
advisable to contact the owner when you make your booking as to
availability in the property's area.
6)BOOKING FLEXIBILITY: See No 9 Changeover Day below as
many property owners can accommodate for longer or shorter periods
depending on seasonal demand.
6)CAR HIRE: If you need to hire a car, sometimes if you
book well in advance you can secure a rental at a more favourable
price. Rental prices tend to vary from country to country and from
experience car hire in Spain is a lot cheaper than Ireland. If you
want a quote Click
here to go to our CAR HIRE PAGE
7) CHILDREN: Some property owners do not accept children
under a certain age bracket.
8)CLEANING: Many holiday properties provide a cleaning
service and state this on their page on jmlvillas.com. Sometimes
they offer daily, weekly or just end of stay cleaning. In other
cases you either have to clean it yourself or pay additional
charges. It is advisable to check when booking.
9) CHANGEOVER DAYS: The property advertiser will usually
advise on our site the changeover days. In the peak periods
these days cannot usually be changed, however at other times
of the year many property owners will be agreeable to changing
the booking period. i.e. Instead of Saturday-to-Saturday - Tuesday
to Tuesday.
You will also
come across some property owners who will be happy to let
the property for a very long weekend. If this information
is not stated you can always email the owner.
10) CHECKING IN & OUT: Please make sure you have
the owner or agent's contact details with you - mobile phone/office
phone etc and provide them with your mobile number as well.
Sometimes flights are delayed for example and you should let
the key holder know the situation. You should also agree a
check in time with them. With many properties you cannot arrive
till after 12 noon, but check the situation out when you make
the booking. If you are likely to arrive out an "unsocial
hour" then you might find that you are charged a fee
if there is an agent handling the check in.
When you leave the property, quite often you have to be out
by 10.00 in the morning to allow cleaners in and normally
times will be agreed between yourself and the owner in their
Rental Agreement or correspondence.
11) DEPOSITS: - Initial Deposit & Damage Deposit:
You will normally be asked to put down a deposit at the time
of booking. Sometimes this is non-refundable so please check
the details with the property owner. It is worth well considering
taking out Travel Insurance when you make a booking in case
you have to cancel your visit.
Many property owners now require a damage deposit to be held
throughout your visit. see section 4 above on Breakages
12) ELECTRICITY, GAS & WATER: These utilities are
expensive in most countries and are usually metered (except
with butane gas). You will usually find that these services
are included in the rent, although sometimes the electricity
is on meter and you sometimes have to pay additional charges
for heating or heating a swimming pool.
Electric voltages in Scotland are 240v Square 3 pin plug.
Visitors from overseas will need to purchase an adaptor that
will work in many countries including the UK, Ireland, Malta
and parts of Africa. You should find out when you arrive at
a property where the trip switch/fuse board is and also if
butane gas is being provided how to change the bottle and
where to purchase a replacement.
13) INSURANCE:
You should take out adequate travel insurance when you
make your booking in case you have to cancel the holiday.
In many cases if you have an accident at a property, although
the Property owner's insurance company will initially entertain
the claim they may also want to pursue your insurance company.
A property owner's
insurance will probably not cover your personal must make
sure that your property is properly covered for holiday lettings.
You should advise the insurance company that it is being let
for this purpose. If you want some further information on
quotes follow this link Click
here to go to TRAVEL INSURANCE
14) INVENTORY: It is normal procedure to have an inventory
of the contents that will be checked in by the local agent
or owner. A damage deposit is often held and then will not
normally be returned till after the property has been vacated
and will either be paid back locally or sent to the renter’s
home address. You will often find reference to this and the
amount to be paid in the rental agreement.
You should check with
the owner as to when you can expect to receive the deposit
back. If can be checked in with your guests. Either
the owner or local agent should politely point out that if
the visitors break equipment, if they are glasses for example
then they should replace, if it is more serious - bed, window
etc, then immediately report it.
15)
KITCHENS: We encourage
advertisers on jmlvillas.com to give a description
of their kitchen. They should include an oven (conventional
or microwave) They should include an oven (conventional or
microwave), Does it have a dishwasher, washing machine, iron
etc?
16) LINEN HIRE/TOWELS/COTS:
Before setting
off on your holiday check out the linen hire situation. Many
property owners provide linen & bath towels (but not beach
towels) and many of the properties advertised do not have
linen or towels. They would provide pillows, duvets or blankets
usually. You can often hire linen locally, which is a good
idea if you are flying. Check with the property owner when
you make your booking. If you require a cot you should find
out if the owner provides these, or if you can hire one or
if you have to bring your own.
17) LOCAL FACILITIES: If the owner has not provided
a Property Handbook (see 21 below) please ask for information.
Do not forget to buy a guide book and buy local area maps.
18) LOCAL AGENT:Many
property owners will employ a local agent to check you into
the property. This person (or agency) would most likely be
your point of contact if you have problems at the property.
The local agent can sometime arrange linen hire and if the
owner has not left you a Property Information book, the agent
can normally tell you about local shops, restaurants, pubs,
bars and attractions.
19) PRICES / RATES: At jmlvillas.com we encourage
our clients to keep their prices updated. Unfortunately not
all advertisers do this and in some cases do not submit their
prices. If you are not certain about the information shown,
email the owner for confirmation. You will probably find that
you are paying more over bank holiday periods and in the main
summer season.
20) PROPERTY CAPACITY: Although a property might stipulate
it sleeps 6, there is often the possibility that it can sleep
an addition 2 on a sofa bed. Alternatively a property stating
it sleeps 6 might only have 2 bedrooms - the other sleeping
capacity being on the sofa bed. Check the description carefully
and if in doubt email the owner for clarification.
21) PROPERTY HANDBOOK:
We advise owners
to leave a ring bound folder with some notes about the property
- how the hot water system works, where the rubbish should
be put, information on local shops, restaurants and attractions
etc.
22) RENTAL AGREEMENT: It is normal procedure to have
a rental agreement. In some countries it is the law. It will
set out the terms of the rental - prices, length of let, damage
deposit and other conditions.
23) SWIMMING POOLS:
Take great care
if you are renting a property with a swimming pool. In France
it is now the law to have these fenced as well as to supervise
young children. You will quite often pay an additional charge
for the heating of the pool. Take great care with pools they
are not always lined with tiles and concrete and the lining
can easily be damaged by a sharp object. They are expensive
to replace and you could be responsible for paying this if
a member of your party has caused the damage.
24) TELEPHONES: Some property owners provide telephones
for incoming calls; some have a pay phone system. If you are
taking your mobile on holiday, make sure that you have contacted
the mobile phone provider to allow calls to be made to and
from it when you are not in your home country. Generally you
will pay the cost of the call coming from your home country
to where the mobile is being used. Remember that not 100%
of the UK is covered by the mobile phone networks and if you
live in the UK the phone you have might not always work in
parts of Scotland.
If you do not have
a mobile and there is no telephone at the property and you
want friends or family to contact you in an emergency let
them have the owner or agent’s number
25) TELEVISIONS:
Many properties
provide a television. Quite often it will only be the local
country’s networks. (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 / 5 etc). In some
areas in Scotland TV reception is not 100% Some
properties have satellite systems in addition.
26) WASHING/IRONS:
If the property you are
going to rent does not have a washing machine, you should
find out from the owner or agent the location of the nearest
laundry or laundrette. You should also check to see if the
property has ironing facilities. If you need to take an iron,
there are very neat travel irons on the market.
27) WCs:
Many properties have a septic
tank rather than mains drainage and have narrow gauge pipework.
Nothing other than toilet paper should be put down any WC.
Blockages are inconvenient and expensive to clear and you
could be charged if a specialist is called in.
28) WELCOME PACKS:
A lot of properties provide
a welcome pack. Quite often a local agent can arrange for
this if required, especially if you are going to arrive late
at night. (Bread, milk, coffee tea etc). In some case these
are included in the prices of your stay, in others it will
be an additional cost. Do not expect to have a welcome pack,
as many property owners do not provide these.
29)
COMPLAINTS: If you are not happy about the letting — Let
the owner or agent know. They might not be able to do anything
about it, but often they can. Please note that the descriptions
on the jmlvillas.com web site are put on by the owners themselves.
If you are in doubt about accommodation details always check
with them before you book. jml Property Services takes no
responsibilty for any bookings or agreements made between
an advertiser and holiday home renter.
Please
note this guide has been compiled from experience and jml
Property Services takes no responsibility for the accuracy
of its content. jml Property Services takes no resonsibility
for any agreements / transactions or arrangements made for
any property advertised on this website and all dealings must
be carried out between advertiser and applicant
If you have any further tips for people renting holiday
properties that could be added here, please
email them to us.
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in the UK and British Chamber of Commerce Cote d'Azur - France
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