Booking terms & conditions

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• This is your commercial contract — it sets expectations and protects you. Clear terms on deposits, cancellation, check-in/out and damage are what prevent most guest disputes. Give them to the guest at the point of booking (a link is fine) and make sure paying the deposit is tied to accepting them, so they actually bind.
• You set the commercial terms — we've left those blank on purpose. Deposit size, the cancellation window and your check-in/out times are business decisions that vary by property and season. Fill them in once, consistently, and use the same terms for every booking.
• Consumer law limits what a cancellation clause can do — keep it fair. Because your guests are consumers, the Consumer Rights Act means your terms must be fair and clearly written. A cancellation charge should reflect a genuine estimate of your loss, not a penalty, and you're generally expected to try to re-let cancelled dates. An aggressively one-sided term can be unenforceable — so keep your cancellation scale reasonable.
• You can't sign away liability for injury caused by your negligence — and shouldn't try. UK law (UCTA and the Consumer Rights Act) means any clause purporting to exclude liability for death or personal injury from your negligence is void. Clause 9 is written to reflect that honestly. Rely on good maintenance and proper insurance, not on disclaimers.
• Damage terms work best paired with a clear inventory and photos. If you take a security deposit, be fair and evidenced when you make deductions — a dated inventory and check-out photos are worth more than any wording. Return deposits promptly.
• Cap the numbers for a reason. Your safety provision, insurance and the guest register all assume a set number of guests. A "no extra guests, no parties/events" line (backed up in the house rules) protects the property and your neighbours — unauthorised parties are a common and costly problem.
• This is a solid starting point — set your own figures and check it suits your property. Adapt the blanks and the cancellation scale to how you operate, and if you let at scale or through agents, consider having your terms reviewed. Note the governing-law choice for Scotland and Northern Ireland.