Dear Owner,

A comprehensive management cover that can achieve 45 lets a year with no registration fee - does your agent offer this?  We are looking for holiday homes that will meet a three star grading.

Apply for inclusion in our brochure and our Owner Guide email enq@dhcottages.co.uk 

If you are looking to purchase a new holiday home please visit Wilcox & Cook at www.wilcoxandcook.co.uk

A Personal Service

Dorset Cottage Holidays is a small family business, we believe we offer a service second to none, achieving excellent booking rates for quality holiday homes.  Choosing a highly personal organisation like ours will help you realise the maximum potential from your holiday home.  We are based locally and therefore always on hand to help and offer a flexible approach in all circumstances. 

Peace of Mind

We offer a comprehensive range of services.  We can arrange all aspects of the holiday letting process, offering a flexible approach - ensuring peace of mind for you and your guests.  We supply a 24 hour emergency number with cover for any maintenance issues.  We will arrange your safety inspections and grading. 

Quality Holiday Homes

We offer holiday homes of the highest quality.  We therefore attract customers who appreciate holiday homes of real character and quality.  From traditional cottages to seaside apartments we offer guests a wide range of accommodation.  Guests return year after year because of our partnership—quality accommodation and a superior service.

Standards Guide

Property Type

We will inspect all potential holiday homes prior to letting.  Guests look for comfort, facilities, location, history and appearance.

Cleanliness

All units must be thoroughly cleaned and checked before every letting.   

Facilities

Every property must be equipped with a minimum of a cooker, refrigerator, adequate heating, duvets and pillows for the maximum number of guests.  If for example a washing machine is not supplied information for appropriate local services must be left for visitors.  All facilities detailed in the brochure must be provided.

Maintenance

Each owner must maintain the appearance and safety of the property by regular maintenance.

Gardens and Exterior

The garden must be maintained in good order.  Lawn areas should be mown, garden sheds should be locked at all times.  Exterior paintwork should be maintained in good condition.

Service

Owners should remember that this may be a guests only holiday, therefore we ask owners to make every effort to ensure that guests enjoy a carefree holiday.

Star Grading

Owners should grade their accommodation (approximate cost £115).  All local guides insist that advertised accommodation is graded.  We will only represent holiday homes that reach a three star grade.

Reference

I have had my Seaside property Seawall with DCH for three years now and I would recommend them without hesitation.

They have provided me with sufficient bookings throughout the year with decent tenants who appreciated the cheerful service provided.

Leanne and Anne provide a personal point of contact for both tenant and Landlord at a reasonable fee.

They have always paid promptly and respond to my telephone calls or emails immediately. It’s a local service too.

The Website is well presented and also comes up early (in the first 1-10) via search engines such as Google and AOL, Jeeves etc.

They also produce after consultation with the Landlord an annual Brochure clearly outlining each properties facilities.

Ian Johnston

Seawall 

Safety & The Law

All Dorset & Hants Cottage Holidays properties must comply with the laws as set out below.  We will check that these laws are complied with on a regular basis.  These notes are for guidance only and should not be taken as an authoritative statement of the law.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 Affecting Second Hand Furniture.

This law applies to the following that contain upholstery, all furniture, beds, headboards, mattresses, futons, cushions, garden furniture suitable for indoor use, pillows, loose covers for furniture and similar items. 

These regulations do not cover sleeping bags, duvets, pillowcases, curtains, carpets etc, anything made before 1950 is not covered by these rules.

They can only be legally supplied if they meet the same fire resistance requirements that are applicable to new furniture.  If an item complies with this law it should have a label attached (please see diagram).  However mattresses and bed bases do not have a permanent label, the only way to be sure they comply is if they were manufactured after 1989.  If in doubt do not supply this item.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Requires that all goods and appliances are safe.  Almost all goods are included but the act does not cover fixtures and fittings.  The General Product (Safety) Regulations 1994 says that all goods have to satisfy general safety provisions. 

Trading Standards strongly advise that Owners do not place the following items in their holiday home:

Paraffin heaters, portable LPG gas heaters, oil lamps, ornamental lamps containing chemicals, furniture containing glass and any goods you have purchased second-hand.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994.

Intended to ensure that gas appliances are properly installed and maintained in a safe condition in order to avoid risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.  All ‘gas appliances’ and ‘gas installation pipe work’ should be checked annually by a CORGI registered gas installer or British Gas.  Accurate records of the inspection and any maintenance work carried out should be kept.  (approx £50 for three app)

Faulty equipment can lead to fatalities and a landlord can be convicted of unlawful killing.  Penalty for non-compliance can mean a prison term or fines up to £5000.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994.

All electrical appliances should be checked by a qualified electrician on an annual basis for earthing, insulation and leakage.  Cabling, fuses and plugs should also be checked and replaced as necessary to the correct rating for that particular appliance.  There is additional legislation covering electrical installations and it is advisable to check electrical appliances for signs of damage on a regular basis. (£3 per appliance plus vat)

Failure to comply may lead to prosecutions with penalties of imprisonment or fines up to £5000.

The Building Regulations 1991 – Smoke Alarms

These regulations require that all properties built after June 1992 must be fitted with mains operated smoke alarms on each floor.  These regulations do not apply to older properties.  However Dorset & Hants Cottage Holidays require that all of its cottages be fitted with a smoke alarm on each floor, preferably situated in the hallway.

Bunk Beds (Entrapment Hazards) (Safety) Regulations 1987.

These regulations have been made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.  They are designed to prevent the possibility of a child under six becoming trapped in any part of the bed, causing risk of injury or death.  A bunk bed is defined as being a bed, which has a sleeping area of 800 mm or more above the ground.  For more details please contact us.

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995.

A toy is defined as any product or material that has been designed or clearly intended for use in play by children under 14.  All toys must comply with BS EN 71 and the Essential Safety Requirements as set out.  Trading Standards can give more in-depth information.

Fireguards.

Oil heaters and fires, which use gas, electricity etc must be guarded.  However, appliances where the flame is enclosed, non residential heating appliances, electric fires for use on a ceiling and gas fires designed for installation in a fireplace or recess do not require a guard.  Guards must comply with BS 1945.  Please check with Trading Standards providing the dimensions of your fire to ensure that the guard is appropriately sized.

Age Restrictions.

In partnership with the owner age restrictions will be imposed on any property that has a questionable feature such as a open staircase.

Garden

Where no age restrictions on children apply a garden should be fully secure.  The latch on the gate should be out of reach of very young children.  All ponds should be covered.  All garden sheds should be locked and secure.  Any poisonous plants should be removed.

Fire Extinguisher/Blanket

We strongly suggest that a fire extinguisher/fire blanket should be provided.

If any of the above laws and regulations or any compulsory safety rules are broken Dorset & Hants Cottage Holidays will terminate their contract with said Owner effective immediately and will not forward bookings to that Owner.