Booking terms and conditions

Please read the following booking terms and conditions carefully. Your booking and payment for your short-term holiday rental constitutes acceptance of these. 

Updated: June 2026

Contract

The contract for a short-term holiday rental shall be made between you, the client(s), and Pittenweem Properties Ltd, as agents acting on behalf of the proprietor(s) of the individual properties. The Contract is only effective once the transaction has been approved by us via email or by telephone, the required payment has been received, and confirmation has been sent to you, the client(s).

Bookings and payment

Bookings can be made via our online booking system or by telephone if preferred.

When submitting a booking, you will be provided with details of the total rental costs for your chosen property on your selected dates. This will include a non-refundable booking fee of £25.00. A deposit of 25% of the rental, plus the booking fee, will be required within 48hrs of making the booking.   If no deposit is received within that period, the booking will be automatically processed for cancellation. 

Any remaining balance of the rental, plus any supplement (dog fee, any add-ons etc.), is payable 30 days prior to arrival.  At this time, a £100 Refundable Security Deposit (see conditions below) will also be charged. For bookings made fewer than four weeks in advance, the total amount is payable at the time of booking (or within 48hrs to avoid automatic cancellation).

Payment methods

• Online bookings – We accept most standard credit and debit cards, the use of which incurs no charge.
• Bank Transfers (BACS) – Please call or email us for details if you wish to make a BACS payment.
• By telephone – We can accept card payments by telephone (we don’t accept AMEX)
• Cheques – Cheque payments are also acceptable, payable to Pittenweem Properties Ltd. Please contact us for the postal address to send cheques to. Please include your name, holiday home address and arrival date on the reverse of the cheque.

Please do not send cash in the post.

Cancellation

We strongly advise all guests to ensure that they have adequate holiday/travel insurance in the event that you need to cancel your booking.

Any cancellation made by you, the client(s), for whatever reason, must be in writing or by email.  We will make every effort to re-let the property for the whole period of your cancelled booking. If we are successful in re-letting the property for the whole period, we will refund the rental paid, less the booking fee and an administrative charge of £25 per booking.  If we are able to re-let the property for part of the period booked, we will refund an amount equal to the monies paid less the rental for the period that is not re-let and less the booking fee and an administrative charge of £25 per booking.  If we are unable to re-let the property before the final payment is due, you, the client(s) remain liable for the final payment on the due date as indicated in the Payment section.

If we are successful in re-letting the property for the whole or part of the period of the booking after you, the client(s), has made the final payment, you will be reimbursed in accordance with the refund conditions above.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the accommodation you reserve is suitable for your party.  Please check before booking that the accommodation will be suitable for you (e.g. any medical conditions, disabled access, sleeping arrangements, location etc.). There is a full 360 tour of each property available on our website to assist with this. Any changes or cancellations will be subject to the cancellation policy above.  No changes or refunds will be made on arrival and you will be liable for the full cost of accommodation booked.

Covid

As Covid is a known event and therefore no longer an extenuating circumstance, our booking terms and conditions will be applied to any bookings which require to be cancelled due to coronavirus related reasons.

We strongly advise guests to obtain relevant travel insurance for their party.  Any bookings affected by Government imposed lockdowns which prevent us from hosting guests would be offered alternative dates within a 12 month window (additional costs may apply if re-booked for a different season) or refunded if no suitable alternative can be found.

We strongly advise guests to obtain relevant travel insurance for their party.

Any bookings affected by Government imposed lockdowns which prevent us from hosting guests would be offered alternative dates within a 12 month window (additional costs may apply if re-booked for a different season) or refunded if no suitable alternative can be found.

Rental period

Your booking will commence from 4pm on the booked arrival day, and terminates at 10am on the arranged departure day. We will contact you 48hrs prior to arrival regarding self check-in arrangements.   We also send departure details the day prior to your departure date.

Whilst we do our best to accommodate early check-ins, these are strictly by prior arrangement and cannot be guaranteed.

Unfortunately due to pre-arranged staffing schedules (which includes laundry, housekeeping and maintenance personnel) we are unable to accommodate late-check outs. Our team is permitted to enter the property from 10am to allow preparation for the next booking.

We reserve the right to charge a late checkout fee of £25 per hour for any properties not vacated by the agreed checkout time.

Short-term lets licence

All properties comply with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 passed by the Scottish Government in January 2022.

All property pages will display their short-term lets licence number.

See Fife Council for more details.

Occupancy

The number of guests permitted must not exceed that of the occupancy set out on our website and online listings. Guests are not permitted to bring airbeds or similar and sofas must not be used as a bed unless advertised as a sofa bed. Any child aged two and over counts towards the occupancy; infants under two and sleeping in a travel cot do not count towards the occupancy. Guests found to be exceeding the occupancy limits will have their booking terminated and be required to vacate the property.

Looking after the rental property

We take pride in ensuring that each rental is maintained to a high standard and want every guest to fully enjoy their stay. We appreciate your cooperation in looking after the home that you have rented.

You, the client(s), are responsible for ensuring that the property is left in as close to the condition that it was on your arrival. Used towels and bedding should be placed in the bags provided, or in the bathroom.   We respectfully ask that towels are not used to remove make up.

Any towels/linens requiring replaced due to being unreasonably soiled will be charged for accordingly.

All refuse should be responsibly disposed of in line with the specific instructions which are provided in each property.

All members of your group must enter and leave the property in a way that does not disturb/upset our neighbours and must be respectful of the community in which you are staying.

We often welcome guests who are celebrating a special occasion.  We request that sellotape/nails/pins are not used to secure any decorations/banners/balloons etc, as this can cause damage to walls on removal.  Blue Tak and masking tape is acceptable, however we do ask that you consider carefully what is used to, and where you put up, any decorations, and possible damage/marks that may occur even with blue tak or masking tape.  You will be charged for any damage to decor, whether reported at the time or discovered by our housekeeping team.

Any damages must be reported as soon as possible. We appreciate that accidents happen but in order to make sure everything is ready for future guests we require your support in reporting any breakages. Should you be able to replace a broken item, please do let us know for our records. Any damages not reported will be replaced with the cost deducted from your security deposit.

If you find anything not to be working as it should during your stay, please do let us know as soon as possible.   We will aim to have repairs carried out within 48 hours or a replacement provided.  We cannot be held liable for breakdown of any facility beyond our reasonable control nor for misuse or negligence by you, the client’s, use of equipment.

Keys must be returned to the keybox on departure as requested. A fee of £35 will be retained from the security deposit for keys which are not returned. If keys have been lost, you, the client(s), must advise us immediately. If the locks require to be changed, you, the client(s) will be liable for the costs.

Refundable security deposit

A Refundable Security Deposit is applicable to all bookings and is held in case of breakages, loss or damage to items, or any excess cleaning or refuse disposal required at the end of occupancy. This, minus any costs incurred, will be refunded to the card you used to make the balance payment, or via BACS payment (as applicable), within 7 working days of departure.   If you are able to replace any broken items, please let us know before you leave.

Recycling and refuse disposal

Please use the bins provided at the property and follow the instructions given in the Touchstay Guide provided to you, and the House Information Pack within the property.

We appreciate guests’ support in recycling where possible.   All bins within the property must be emptied before departure.   Should there be excess refuse, you, the client(s), are responsible for disposing of this at the nearest recycling facility (location details provided within the property).

Bins which do not close will not be collected by the council.   A £10 fee will be charged for removal of excess waste.

There is no glass collection within Fife Council. You, the client(s), must remove all glass bottles/jars etc to the nearest glass recycling point at the end of your stay.  Any glass not removed will be charged a £10 fee.

Pets

Many of our properties are pet friendly and this will be clearly indicated on the property description. If you intend to bring a pet, this must be advised prior to your arrival day.

A £20 fee per pet per stay will be charged (maximum two pets unless otherwise agreed).  Pets must have their own crate/bed, and are not to be left unattended within the property.  Please ensure that you have your own blankets/throws if your pet is used to being on furniture. For the comfort of all guests, pets are strictly not permitted on or in beds. Where we have reason to believe pets have been on or in beds (stains, excessive hair etc.) there will be a charge applied.

All outdoor areas must be foul free on departure.

The pet fee covers any additional cleaning required, but we reserve the right to retain an additional fee from the security deposit if we have reason to believe the above conditions have not been adhered to.

Infant equipment

Where a travel cot and high chair has been listed as an amenity on the property listing, we are able to provide one high chair and one travel cot per property for no additional charge but these must be requested in advance.  We are unable to provide any bedding for cots, so please ensure you pack these for your stay. Travel cots have a padded base but not a separate mattress. Due to there being several different types of travel cot in use across the properties, we are unable to specify exact measurements other than it is a standard travel cot with padded base.

Smoking

All of our properties are STRICTLY NO SMOKING and STRICTLY NO VAPING and should we have reason to believe there has been any smoking/vaping within the property, an additional cleaning charge will be retained from the security deposit.

Any guests smoking in the outdoor areas must remove all traces of smoking in a responsible way.

Fuel

Your rental includes the provision of heating and hot water.  Where properties have wood burning stoves and open fires, a starter pack of logs/kindling/matches will be provided (Start of October to End March only) but clients are expected to purchase more as required.   This can be ordered in advance through our website or we can advise on local places to source logs/kindling.

We respectfully ask that you do not waste electricity/heating by switching appliances off when not required.  Most properties have smart meters now and fuel consumption can be monitored.

Charging of electric vehicles is strictly prohibited. There is not a vehicle charging point at the property and use of extension cables from the property for external charging is not permitted for insurance purposes. Details of the nearest charging points is provided within pre-arrival documentation.

Wi-Fi internet access

Where Wi-Fi/broadband is provided, this is for recreational purposes, and is not meant for business use. This service cannot be guaranteed at all times (subject to third party service providers) and the speed may vary depending on the package obtained by the owner.

Neither the owner nor Pittenweem Properties Ltd will be held responsible, nor will compensation be given, as a consequence of loss of service or slow speed.

Use of internet must be in line with family / parental protocols and all online activity and downloads will be the responsibility of you, the client(s).

Personal injury and loss of client(s) property

You, the client(s), or members of your party, cannot hold the proprietor(s) or Pittenweem Properties Ltd responsible for injury sustained, or the loss or damage to any belongings, during your stay. The proprietor(s) accept no liability for accident, injury, loss or damage sustained by any client(s), their family, visitors, animals, vehicles or personal effects, however caused.

Circumstances beyond our control

If, for any reason beyond our reasonable control, a property is not available or has been rendered unsuitable for holiday letting on the date booked, we will endeavour to offer alternate accommodation of an equal standard and size or offer alternate dates. If this is not possible, we will offer a refund of all monies paid by the client. There shall be no further claim against the proprietor(s) or Pittenweem Properties Ltd.

Should you have cause for complaint during your stay, please advise us immediately, and we will endeavour to rectify this. It is difficult to investigate complaints of any nature once you, the client(s), have returned home. Regrettably, therefore, it is unlikely that complaints can be accepted and investigated at the end of the rental period, or after you have departed.

Additional terms and conditions

In addition to the terms and conditions stated here, there may be specific terms and conditions which apply to the individual properties we manage. These will be prominently displayed in the Property Information Folders (or equivalent) within the properties, and constitute part of these general terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions supersede any terms and conditions applied by any third party booking sites.