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When
you are renting a holiday home and making arrangements via
a website like
We
suggest you check out very thoroughly the following with the
advertiser of the property.
1)
AVAILABILITY: Property
owners should update their Availability dates on a regular
basis on the jmlvilas.com
web site. If they have not indicated an availability date,
please email them for this information.
2) ACCOMMODATION: Most 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
on 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 most European countries are about the
same, however you might need the appropriate adaptor to use
your domestic plug in some countries. 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 DIRECT 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, 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.
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.
Some properties have satellite systems, but these systems
might not necessarily have programmes in your language. The
BBC made changes to their satellite broadcasting in 2003 and
whereas the signal used to be strong south of the Pyrenees,
apparently this is no longer the case
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. You will
often find in Greece & Turkey that you will have to use
a separate container for toilet paper. 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.
Please note
this guide has been compiled from experience and jml Property
Services takes no responsibility for the accuracy of its content.
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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