GOOD HOUSEKEEPING DEPOSIT

WHAT IS THIS?
Before the rental starts, we will require a Good Housekeeping Deposit (GHD) from you, as a bond, representing your agreement to leave the property as found. The owner may claim for any loss or damage up to the amount of the GHD. They may claim for excessive cleaning costs, smoking in non-smoking properties, over-occupancy etc. They may make a claim for any costs arising from your rental which were not anticipated or charged for.

There may be an enhanced GHD for certain types of booking: weddings, stag/hen parties, film shoots etc.

HOW AND WHEN DO I PAY THIS?
You may pay this in one of two ways:

• By cheque made payable to the owner and banked 7 days prior to arrival. Please contact LHH for account details. It is the owner’s responsibility to refund this to you following your departure. Returning customers may find that their cheque is not banked and is destroyed following their stay.
• By Pre-Authorised Credit Card. If your booking was paid for by Credit Card, you may Pre-Authorise payment of the GHD using the same card details. The funds will be allocated from your card to LHH but will not be taken unless there is a claim.

No Claim
Provided the property is left as found at the end of the rental, no claim will be made. The Pre-Authorisation code will be cancelled and no charge will be made on your card.

Claim Arising
If the property owner claims for loss or damage, and informs us of any such claim, within the 7 days following your departure, the whole of the pre-authorised deposit will be charged to your card. If the claim is for less that the full GHD amount the remaining balance will be re-credited to the same card.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF A CLAIM?
The owner is required to give you a full explanation as to why they are making a claim and be able to back up any such claim with first hand reports from either themselves or their housekeepers. If they have to replace broken items they must do so with the same or similarly priced items. Additional cleaning will be at the rate charged by their cleaners or cleaning company. If a non smoking house has been used for smoking the full amount may be claimed. This is not an exhaustive list and any additional costs incurred as a result of your occupancy may be a cause for claim.

As this bond is a direct and legal agreement between you and the owner, LHH can offer to act in a mediatory capacity but do not have any jurisdiction over the holding or refunding of these deposits. In the event of a dispute, LHH will assist in trying to reach an amicable and fair conclusion for both parties.