Can I get a refund of my deposit on holiday cottage?

angep71

Hope someone can help me. We are due to stay at a holiday cottage in Norfolk from 3rd July, but as we live in Wales we are still governed by a 5-mile travel restriction. The cottage company has said they will not refund the deposit as it is non-refundable. They have allowed us to hold off paying the balance until the last minute to see what happens but I really do not want to travel as it is pointless going somewhere if places are not open to visitors. Surely I should be able to demand a refund of the deposit due to the government restriction still in place? They should not be encouraging visitors to come anyway when places are still closed. All they have offered is a 10% discount on a booking in the next 12 months, which I do not want, just want my deposit back!

manetti

According to the BBC:

"Government advice in England still says that businesses providing holiday accommodation - including hotels, campsites, caravan parks and short-term lets - should stay closed for leisure-related trips. No person should stay overnight away from their own home for a holiday or similar purpose, it adds.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he's keen get the tourism sector going as "rapidly as possible" with the government sticking to what it describes as an "ambitious target" to get England's tourism sector back by 4 July - "as long as it is safe to do so"."

If your accomodation is not available for use, as per the above restrictions, then you should be due a full refund including deposit.

However, the cottage company/owner may be hoping that restrictions are lifted in the meantime to a level that would allow them to operate for the date(s) you are due to stay. If this were the case then any refund due would be as per the terms and conditions of the booking.

sharpe106

Still another few weeks yet so it will depend on the advice at the time. You will only be able to get your deposit back if the government state they can't open not that you would rather not go. All though you may be in a difficult position as living in Wales your government might not let you go even if the restrictions in England are lifted. So you may not be able to go even if it is open. So it will be interesting to see how they address that.

sharpe106

manetti said:

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he's keen get the tourism sector going as "rapidly as possible" with the government sticking to what it describes as an "ambitious target" to get England's tourism sector back by 4 July - "as long as it is safe to do so"."

With our government in charge probably end up being like during World War 1 and them saying the War will be over by Christmas, just did not mention which one.

[Deleted User]

Agree, if the country (including Wales) is given the green light for people to travel and to occupy holiday cottages, then you will not be entitled to your deposit back.  Offering you 10% reduction to rebook at a later date is actually pretty fair of them I would say.  But, if you definitely do not want to rebook,  you can only on and wait to see what the situation is at beginning of July.  Only a couple of weeks so not long to wait.   

If advice remains same you should be able to get a refund of your money from whoever you paid it to.    If they refuse you would have the option of instigating a chargeback or Section 75 depending on how you paid.  

sheramber

The Welsh Government have said thee 5 mile restriction will be in place at last until 6 July when it will be reviewed

sharpe106

But if the cottage is open it is not the cottage owner problem that they can't get there. So will have to see what happens. 

Vegastare

sharpe106 said:

But if the cottage is open it is not the cottage owner problem that they can't get there. So will have to see what happens. 

Yes but the suggestion is they arrive on Friday 3rd - restriction are lifted on Saturday 4th July....something tells me these companies will be very relictant to scrap Friday arrivals and move all to Saturdays to accomodate the regs....

greensalad

Can't you claim it through travel insurance? If your policy has pandemic coverage (seems like a lot of them do, but some don't, so worth checking) then the fact that your government won't let you travel should be reason enough to claim the money back from your insurer.

sharpe106

If they can't open till the 4th then they are close for the first night so the booking will be cancelled. They can’t provide what has been booked. The OP will only have a problem if the government announce from the 1st for example,  and the Welsh government are saying you can’t travel still.

angep71

My insurance policy doesn't cover me for coronavirus, and it might be too late to start a chargeback as I booked and paid the deposit in December. Could I get round this somehow? Yes, will have to see what happens in the next week or so. Thanks to all for your advice.