1. Contract - The contract is for the hire of the property for short term holiday letting, and will be entered into when the required deposit payment has been received (see next point).

2. Payment - A deposit of 25% (or whatever amount has been agreed between owner and hirer) of the total cost will secure the booking. The balance of the total will be due for payment six weeks before the start of the holiday. If the booking is made within six weeks of the start of the holiday the full amount must be made when booking.

Failure to make full payment at the appropriate time may result in the cancellation of the booking and the deposit to be forfeited.

For The Old Forge, The Old Piggery and Red Roofs - cheques payable please to S Allen and posted to Gothic Cottage, Mill Lane, East Ruston, Norfolk, NR12 9HS or by bank transfer if you prefer - details on request.

For The Garden Room - please contact Fiona Black for details - enquiries@oldrectory.northnorfolk.co.uk Cheques payable to Mrs P Black and sent to The Old Rectory, Ridlington, Norfolk NR28 9NZ

3. Damage Deposit - A fully refundable damage deposit of £100 is also to be paid six weeks before the booking.

Should any damage, beyond reasonable wear and tear, be incurred by the Hirer the cost of this will be agreed with the Hirer before being taken from the deposit. Otherwise the full deposit will be returned within one week (usually sooner) of the end of the hire term.

4. Cancellation - The Hirer should notify the cottage owner/manager as soon as possible should the booking need to be cancelled.

For any cancellation within 6 weeks of the start date where the booked cannot be re-let, the deposit will be forfeited. If the remainder of the balance has been paid at the time of the cancellation and the owner/manager is able to re-let, then the remainder of the balance will be returned. If the booking cannot be re-let then 50% of the balance will be retained. Guests are strongly encouraged to have holiday insurance to cover this eventuality.

The owner/manager undertakes to make every effort to fill cancelled bookings by promoting the cancelled period through the website and making contact with other potential guests.

5. Hirer's Responsibilities - The Hirer is responsible for the property and is expected to take care of it. Please leave all equipment and utensils etc, and the property itself, clean and tidy at the end of your stay. All damages/breakages should be reported as soon as they occur. The owner/manager reserves the right to charge for any serious damage/breakages/extra cleaning which is deemed outside the normal wear and tear. See damage deposit above.

6. Owner's/Manager's Responsibilities - The owner/manager is responsible for ensuring the property is supplied to the Hirer clean, warm and with all appliances/devices/furniture in proper working order. A full, thorough clean takes place before each new letting.

7. Arrival and Departure - The arrival and departure day is usually a Saturday for week long lets, unless otherwise agreed with the owner/manager. The cottages will be ready for your arrival after 4pm, and we would ask that you vacate by 10am on your day of departure, unless otherwise agreed with the owner/manager. Where possible we can arrange earlier arrivals and later departures but this will depend on adjacent bookings.

8. Numbers of people occupying a property - Under no circumstances may more people stay at each property than there are beds. This is an important insurance requirement.

9. Keys and Directions - Directions and key arrangements will be made once full payment has been received.

10. Fuel and Electricity - Electricity charges are included in the cost of renting the property. During winter (November - March) a starter pack of coal/wood and kindling will be provided free of charge at The Old Forge for full week lets. A basket of logs will be provided free of charge at The Old Piggery with further baskets available at a cost of £1/basket (to be donated to East Ruston Village Hall funds). Logs are provided free of charge at The Garden Room.

11. Complaints - Any complaints must be made immediately to the owner/manager, who will endeavour to rectify the problem as soon as possible, to ensure the continued enjoyment of your holiday. Any other complaints must be confirmed in writing within seven days of the end date of the Hirer's holiday.