Dodgy renter (holiday let)

Gorby_2

Have a holiday cottage with pool in France and let it to a couple.
After getting a reduction in price they paid £580 for 12 dyas and £200 security deposit.

We have a caretaker and they gave it the once over 24hr prior to their arrival.

We had been to the property just 3 weeks earlier for 4 weeks to renew paint, some DIY etc so the house was in good order (was for sale as well)

They arrived at the house and telephoned us to say the house was very dirty, dirty floors, crums, walls needed jet washing! carpets dirty and said nothing less than a full refund was needed and they went on their way

We was amazed and thought the house had been done over so agreed to a refund

We offered to get the cleaner back round to the house but they declined and say they were going to a hotel

after speaking to the caretakers and to an estate agent who had been in the property just a few days before, they say it was perfectly ok, no reason to think the house was untidy or unsuitable to live in and we then declined a refund

Since this happend they phoned and someone putting on a french accent pretending to be from the Maire office but messed the whole thing up they put the phone down

I recieved a letter from them today demanding full refund

We have since had renters in the house and they ended their holiday saying they didnt want to go home which made us feel better about the house etc

Would like to hear your thoughts

refund or no refund

I know they wouldnt have done this had I been there!

G_M

Only hearing one side of this so it's hard to be sure, but from whatr you say, I'd guess they either changed their minds or something happened so that they could not complete the holiday. Maybe work called them home? Maybe they decided the area was not right? Maybe.....

So they decided to try anything they could to get their money back, and are lying through their teeth.

Without know French law (there may be processes/regulations governing this kind of thing?), I'd advise getting statements from everyone possible - the caretaker, the agent, the subsequent renters if possible, describing the condition. If you decide to play hardball with htem (and I would) and if they take it to court (unlikely), you'll need to be ready with evidence of how clean it was.

nollag2006

Equally - you are within your rights to ask them for evidence. Did they take any photos to back up their claims? Do they have any independent witnesses who can verify the condition of the property?

Gorby_2

Cheers for feedback

I know its only one way traffic here but really, we was there in May, the caretakers had been over

and £580 for nearly two weeks in a cottage and swimming pool, cant get a caravan in wales for that

they have not come back to us saying they have photos
as far as we know they stayed in france for the duration, like I said someone pretending to be from the mayors office phoned about a week later, the number they called from turned out to be an english run garden center not far from the cottage, maybe they had a rental also

As it turned out it did rain for the whole time they were there (heavy rain in South France on news), maybe they looked at the forecast

nollag2006

So was the contract made in France, or did you arrange it in the UK? Have you already refunded the monies?

Sounds to me like they are really trying their luck. If you haven't done so already, I wouldn't refund any monies to them. If they really want their money back, then they would need to take you to the Small Claims Court. With no evidence to back their claim, they would have a very weak case.

maninthestreet

Call their bluff - if they contact you again, tell them you have enough witnesses to confirm the condition/cleanliness of the property was not as they have claimed. Were this couple English or French?

G_M

Write back politely advising them you have investigated their complaints and can find no evidence of problems. Refer to the statements made by the agent etc etc. If you have a contract that they signed, refer them to any clause relating to refunds.

Say you will be only too happy to look at their claim again if they provide any evidence to back up their claims eg photos, and would they kindly forward these at their convenience.

But DO check French law!

Jowo_2

Do you live in the UK or in France?

shamac

we also have a holiday let but in the uk. check this website for tons of advice from experienced letters https://www.laymyhat.com

Gorby_2

cheers

we are in the UK, the deal was done here, no contracts signed, never have been
lived in france since 04 until recently, had holiday lets in this time and never had one complaint

They are trying it on 100%

fortunately for them my other half has given them a part refund! in the last couple of hours, could do without the hassle for this much money
we are keeping some, pay caretaker etc

we are in regular contact with a french solicitor and emailed them in this time and they said we are not obliged to give them the money back due to witnesses etc