Terms & Conditions

RENTAL AGREEMENT

The customer, by booking the property on 'Essential Tuscany' web site or signing the Booking Form, agrees to abide by the following Rental Agreement:

1) LETTING AND PRICES

It is understood that 'Essential Tuscany' serves as an agent for the owner or local property management company. Letting prices indicated in the price list which accompanies the property information of 'Essential Tuscany'. Prices are quoted in the Euro currency per property (not per person) within the price period shown, and include the use of the property as described, by the maximum of persons given. Prices are based on market conditions. 'EssentialTuscany' therefore reserves the right to modify prices in the case of considerable fluctuation of the market prices and exchang rate.

For every property there are applicable rate notes that explain any charges to be paid at the property. The customer should carefully read these Rate Notes prior to booking the property. The minimum letting period is generally one week, from Saturday to Saturday. In particular cases 'EssentialTuscany' reserves the right to accept only bookings of minimum two weeks in the months of July and August. An administration fee of € 30 per destination will be debited in addition to the rent.

2) WHERE AND HOW TO BOOK

Bookings can be made through 'EssentialTuscany', or calling the telephone numbers indicated on the web site. Bookings made online are instantly confirmed by email. The booking confirmation and invoice will also be emailed to you.

3) PAYMENTS AND RENTAL VOUCHER

A payment is required to secure the reservation. As soon as the holiday-maker receives the booking confirmation by email, he/she must pay a deposit of 25% of the total letting price. The remaining balance has to be paid in full at least 60 days before the beginning of the letting period. Upon receipt of the final payment a RENTAL VOUCHER with directions to the property will be sent to the customer. For bookings made less than 60 days before arrival the client must pay immediately the whole amount. The contract between the client and 'EssentialTuscany' will come into existence once the deposit has been paid. The client should carefully check that the information in the booking confirmation and invoice is correct. Should there be differences between that information and details previously given, the price list or on our Web site, payment of the deposit constitutes an acceptance of these differences. Should the deposit or the balance of the payment not have been received by the due date, 'EssentialTuscany' reserves the right to cancel the booking without further notice.

4) ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Arrival: between 4.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. unless a different agreement has been made in writing.

At the time of booking the customer must advise 'EssentialTuscany' of their arrival time. Sundays, holidays, and late night arrivals are usually not possible. Every change of arrival date and arrival time must be communicated to 'EssentialTuscany' and be approved by us at least 7 days in advance. In case of unavoidable delay of the arrival on Saturday, the holiday-maker must call the 'EssentialTuscany' Customer Service between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. In the event that the owner cannot be found or if the client fails to arrive within the time period stipulated and has not communicated his delay, the owner, his representative, 'EssentialTuscany' decline all responsibility.

On arrival at the airport follow the instructions you will find on your voucher under "At your arrival" and follow directions for key pick up or key delivery. In case of any problem (delay of plane, loss of luggage, etc.) please call our agent, either at the office or mobile phone. On arrival to the estate the customer must show the rental voucher and passport or identity card to the key holder to enable him to proceed with the necessary registrations requested by Italian law. An agreement will be signed directly between the owner and the client.

Departure: The holiday home/keys are normally returned on the day of departure at 10.00 a.m. at the latest, at some destinations as early as 09.00 a.m. Should the guests leave at another time, they should settle with the key holder, as soon as they arrive, about the return of the keys and the deposit.

The tenant should do the washing-up and take out the garbage before vacating the premises, as this is NOT included in the final cleaning.

5) SECURITY DEPOSIT

All independent accommodations require a deposit, which is specified on your bill. Upon arrival at the property the deposit as stipulated in the property description must be paid directly in cash, in Euros or in traveler's cheques to the owner or his/her representative. THE OWNER OR HIS/HER REPRESENTATIVE MAY REFUSE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY IF THE DEPOSIT IS NOT PAID. This deposit will be refunded at the end of the rental period, less any additional expenses (i.e. utilities and telephone, if applicable) and any damage the property may have incurred. Should the client decide to leave the property prematurely, the owner or his representative is authorized to refund the deposit to the client by post (less any eventual deduction for damages) only after having checked the inventory and the property in question. 'EssentialTuscany' rejects all responsibility in the case of dispute between the holiday-maker and the owner regarding the deposit.

6) NUMBER OF PERSONS/SUBSTITUTIONS

The number of persons present at the property at all times (adults and children) may not exceed the maximum number of sleeping places indicated in the property description except in the case of infants (less than 2 years old) for whom the client brings a travel cot and the necessary linen. Exceptions are stated in the property description. A spare bed and cot must be reserved in advance when the booking is made.

The premises shall not be occupied or left in the care of anyone not listed as a guest. Any substitution of guests during the letting period is forbidden if not previously agreed upon. The key holder has the right to refuse entrance to extra persons if not previously agreed on, or charge a supplement for them.

7) ORDER - CLEANING - MAINTENANCE - HEATING

The properties will be handed over clean and tidy and in good working order. The tenant and his party are responsible for any damages to the property. The key holder must be notified immediately of any damages. Damages may be deducted from the deposit.

The guest shall reside in the premises only as a temporary residence and shall not engage in any commercial, illegal, nuisance, dangerous or other activity that could embarrass the agency or cause agency to receive complaints from neighbors.

Possible locally payable extra costs (such as tourist tax or heating charges) are always mentioned in the price list and on the invoice. Any other extra services required should be paid on site.

The final cleaning fee, if applicable, and as specified per property, will be subtracted from the security deposit. If there is no final cleaning fee, and the property is not left in the same general condition in which it was found, the property owner or property manager may withhold a minimum of €30.00 (or its equivalent) from the security deposit to cover the cost of the final cleaning. The cleaning of the kitchen corner/the kitchen/the kitchenette with regard to dirty dishes, etc., and the removal of rubbish are the customer's responsibility. If this has not been done, the owner or his representative is obliged to charge additional expense in addition to the amount due.

Linen (sheets and towels) are usually available in the holiday home, either included in the rent or to be hired at extra cost on site. Costs for linen have to be paid to the owner according with the price written in the property description.

Heating costs are always extra and are not included in the rental price, unless specifically noted. At some destinations, energy costs (gas, heating and electricity) are paid on site according to consumption. Heating costs (including firewood) are to be paid directly to the property owner prior to departure. Be aware that energy costs are much higher in Europe than in the U.S.

In Italy, costs vary regionally and are considerably higher than in other countries. Given the situation regarding energy supply and the laws currently in force in Italy, the use of heating (when it can be switched on and off, temperature, etc.) is controlled by regulations that vary from region to region. For example, heating may be turned on from November until April.

Detergents, toilet rolls, firewood etc. are not included in the rent, but the tenant will buy such things for his own use.

8) EXTERNAL MAINTENANCE

The owner or his/her representative have, if necessary, free access to the property for essential maintenance purposes (garden, swimming pool, etc.).

9) RESERVATION CHANGES BY CLIENT

Changes to destination and letting periods are made subject to an additional €30 administration fee. Changes to destination and rental period made less than 60 days prior to scheduled arrival are always treated as cancellations.

In the event of cancellation of a booking, even if it is substituted by another booking, the following penalties must be paid:

• if the cancellation is made after the payment of the deposit of 25% of the letting price, this amount will not be returned (forfeit of deposit);
• if the cancellation is made from the day of payment of balance until 90 days before the start of letting period, the penalty is 25% of the letting price;
• if the cancellation is made between 89 and 61 days before the start of the letting period, the penalty is 50% of the letting price;
• if the cancellation is made less than 60 days before the start of the letting period, the penalty is 100% of the letting price.

We will refund other monies paid, with the exception of an administration fee and a possible cancellation guarantee. If the client does not check into the holiday home, or the check-in is delayed, the client has no right to a refund of the rent.

The booking will be considered cancelled when notice of the cancellation reaches our office. A cancellation sent by email outside office hours will be considered to have come into effect the following working day. It is strongly recommended that customers purchase our cancellation guarantee or other trip cancellation insurance.

10) CHANGES TO CONTRACT BY 'ESSENTIALTUSCANY'

Should the rental property not be in accordance with the contract, 'EssentialTuscany' will make every effort to rectify the situation without delay, or to make an equivalent substitute property available to the client.

Changes in the destination characteristics after the booking has been made are unlikely, but cannot be completely avoided. If there is a major change to the contract, the client has five days, after being informed of the change, to cancel the contract at no cost, and a refund will be made of monies paid. If 'EssentialTuscany' should, for any reason beyond their control, including force majeure, be unable to provide the customer with the property he/she has booked, the company reserves the right to transfer the customer, upon agreement, to a similar property. If the price of the substituted property is less, the difference will be reimbursed to the customer. If the price of the substituted property is higher, the difference will be charged to the customer. If, however, no agreement can be reached, both contractual parties are authorized to cancel the contract. 'EssentialTuscany' will refund to the customer all monies paid, any other kind of refund is excluded.

'Essential Tuscany' also reserves the right to cancel the contract during the rental period if unforeseen circumstances prevent the use of the property. In such cases, efforts will be made to find the client a substitute property of the same standard. If this is not possible, or the client declines, for objectively valid reasons, to accept it, 'EssentialTuscany' will refund the differences in value that may arise.

11) RESPONSIBILITY

The descriptions of locations and accommodations are provided in good faith and in the belief that they are accurate based on the latest information received. However, 'EssentialTuscany' declines all responsibility for any modifications made by the owners without our knowledge.

A holiday with 'Essential Tuscany' offers a chance to enter right into the culture of the area, living for a few weeks in the same surroundings as someone from the area. The properties 'EssentialTuscany' offers are not official tourist structures or hotels. Rather, they are private homes. Being such, they do not have standards or categories recognized internationally, but instead reflect in their architecture and furnishings the local traditions and personal taste of the owners. Customers must accept differences in the properties, be them architectural or cultural, relative to their own homes. 'EssentialTuscany' cannot exclude, however, the possibility that these differences may result in those minor inconveniences that - being connected with the particular characteristics of the architecture and of the traditions of the area - cannot be accepted as complaints.

Any real deficiencies or problems in the property must be communicated directly to the property owner or his/her representative prior to the customer's departure from the property, as 'EssentialTuscany' is only an agent for the property owner or his/her representative and has no authority to make settlements. Telephone and fax numbers of the property owner or his/her representative are located in the Property Voucher, provided after the final payment has been received. In the event of problems, the client undertakes to do his best to solve or minimize them in order to avoid the prejudice that may result. If this is impossible for the client, he must immediately get in touch with 'EssentialTuscany' by telephone or by telegram no later than the first working day following arrival at the property, confirming the complaints in writing within 24 hours. The holiday-maker is obliged to give 'EssentialTuscany' the necessary time to resolve the problem. The agency, in case of a major problem can change the accommodation to a similar standing apartment. No complaint presented upon the return of the holiday will be taken into consideration, nor will give rise to any indemnity. No request for indemnity presented on the day of departure or thereafter will be taken into consideration.

Guests must immediately notify the agency if locks or doors or windows are not functioning properly.

The agency shall not be responsible for any injury, loss or damage to guest or guest's property or friends other than as a result of agency's gross negligence. The use of swimming pools, children's play areas and sports facilities is at your own risk. It is, therefore, highly recommended that the customers purchase comprehensive travel insurance prior to their trip.

12) JURISDICTION

In the event of controversy arising from the booking and the letting, only the Courts of Law in Florence (Italy) and the provisions of Italian Civil Law can deal with the matter and only Italian law applies. Making the booking implies that 'Essential Tuscany' General Terms and Conditions have been understood and have thereby been accepted without reserve and without exception. If any of the conditions of this contract have become invalid or were invalid or if in this contract there should be a gap, the other conditions cannot be contested.