Cleaning and Maintenance Services at Holiday Parks

Wallace_Archibald

Hi

A holiday park company where you own holiday lodges are forcing you to use their own maintenance company for window cleaning, deck cleaning etc. They originally said an external contractor could be used (which was far better priced) but they have retracted this and say we must now use theirs. Is this allowed? I am not sure whether the consumer rights act kicks in here and if they are charging higher than what is deemed reasonable vs the external market, then they have to either reflect this in their prices, or allow external contractors? Any guidance, appreciated. 

TheSpectator

Do you rent the lodge out? If so this may be a B2B issue rather than Consumer Rights.

What does the contract say feom when you bought the lodge? Do you have evidence they said a 3rd party could be used?

Aylesbury_Duck

You'll need to read your contract.  As advised above, if you earn income from bookings then you're not a consumer and it's down to the business contract you hold.

If you are a consumer, then you need to dig out the contract and see if they're contravening it.

Wallace_Archibald

Thank you. We rent it out so you are right in that this is B2B not consumer. They originally emailed saying we could use an external contractor and then decided to remove this right (informally) citing that it makes it too difficult to organise cleaning whilst managing visitor stays although we know the norm is that parks do this and it is not a problem elsewhere.  

The contract just says in regards to window cleaning etc - 'we can assist with this work on a chargeable basis'

Aylesbury_Duck

Wallace_Archibald said:

Thank you. We rent it out so you are right in that this is B2B not consumer. They originally emailed saying we could use an external contractor and then decided to remove this right (informally) citing that it makes it too difficult to organise cleaning whilst managing visitor stays although we know the norm is that parks do this and it is not a problem elsewhere.  

The contract just says in regards to window cleaning etc - 'we can assist with this work on a chargeable basis'

You should get some legal advice, to see if the change to the contract represents a breach.