Brochure

Your holiday home will be included in our full colour brochure. Each holiday home is promoted with a text description of the accommodation and local area with several colour photographs to illustrate the best features. Our brochure features a map locating all cottages and area description. Brochures posted first class on the day of request.

Website

A text description and external/internal photographs will be shown on our website. Potential customers can access detailed information including a map and local tourist attractions. Our website appears in the top 5 for most search engines. We also link to all Dorset Information sites.

Advertising

We will arrange all advertising to generate enquiries. We also advise the local TIC's as to availability on a weekly basis.

Enquiry

We will handle all enquiry's; email, telephone and by mail. Brochures are sent out first class on the day of request in this way we hope to beat the competition. We are open six days a week and until 7 p.m. in the evening for peak booking periods. All staff visit holiday homes to enable them to offer first hand advice to guests.

Security Fee

To take charge of a £50/£100 damages fee. Damage must be reported within 15 days of the guests stay. We will administer any charges and the refund due. Charges will only be deducted as the result of damage and not routine maintenance. It will be the owners responsibility to pursue any amount above £50/£100.

Accounting

We will process all customer payment. Commission is only deducted on the balance payment and we pass all payments onto you calculated to the first of the month payable by the 10th of the month.

Arrival Arrangements

We will mail directions to your guests and will happily mail keys. Otherwise owners can greet guests. Owners will provide the point of contact for guests during their stay and will arrange cleaning and maintenance.

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To fully manage the letting of your holiday home, arranging cleaning, dealing with any problems that may arise during a guests. Read on to compare our comprehensive packages...

Standard Service plus:

Housekeeping and Laundry

We will arrange all housekeeping and laundry for your guests. (Although housekeeping/laundry costs are in addition to the commission). Owners must provide locked storage at the cottage. We spot-check all cottages on full management to ensure cleaning standards are maintained and maintenance issues are dealt with before guests arrive.

Costs will vary depending on the size of your holiday home but start at around £20 for a one bedroom property. Laundry costs are approx £7 king size, £6.50 double, £4.50 single, towel set £3.70 collected and delivered.

Maintenance

We provide guests with a 24 hour emergency number.
We will arrange all emergency maintenance that arises during a guests stay.
We will also arrange all safety checks.
We are happy to be a port of call for tradesmen ref routine maintenance.
We will attempt to contact owners when costs are likely to exceed £50.

What is not Covered

We do not arrange for routine maintenance i.e. redecorating or boiler services.
We do not arrange emergency maintenance during an owners stay.
We are not responsible for safety checks and will only arrange on owners request.
We cannot guarantee that cottages will be checked on a weekly basis. We rely on our cleaners to report any cases of damage.

Terms and Conditions for Management

Download .pdf (26kb)

Advertising

In addition to the large amount of repeat custom, we use targeted, intensive advertising campaigns. That's the secret behind our excellent booking rates.

We advertise in the most recognized and respected publications:

- Swanage and Purbeck Guide
- National Trust Magazine
- The Lady<
- Sainsbury Food Magazine
- Goodtimes
- Waitrose
- Sky Teletext
- The Self Catering Guide
- The Times
- The Independent
- Rural Dorset - Radio Times
- Pets Welcome
- Britain's Best Holidays
- Self Catering Holidays
- The Lifeboat
- Daltons Weekly
- Farm holiday Guide
- ETC Where to Stay Guide
- FHG Guides
- Daltons Online
- Resort Guide

Star Grading

We encourage all owners to be graded by Visit Britain. We can advertise all properties on the Visit Britain website and in the Where to Stay Guide. This will become compulsory in 2006 as the Local Tourism Office moves inline with the rest of Dorset. We only represent cottages that would achieve a three star grading and above.

Local Tourist Information Centres

We ensure that every local TIC are updated with our availability on a weekly basis. Our brochure is available from source points all over Dorset.

Winter Breaks

We encourage owners who wish to let all year round to offer a flexible pricing guide. Short breaks are very popular, the minimum charge would be for a 3 night stay.

Some holiday homes may benefit from a long term (6 months) winter let, which we are happy to assist with. Our charge for this service is 10% of the rental income.

Security Fee

As far as we are aware we are the only local agent to administer a damages fee for owners. This deterrent leads to a very low incidence of damage (0.7%) with 100% cover by monies held. We always hold a minimum £50 security to be held against any accidental damage that may occur. Cleaners will be asked to advise us of any damage immediately.

Pets

Where possible owners should consider accepting pets as this dramatically increases booking rates. We incorporate charges for pets into the cottage rental, firstly to encourage bookings and secondly as we do hold a security fee for any extra cleaning.

Ancillary Services

We offer guests services such as cot or linen hire if you do not wish to include in your package. We do however strongly recommend inclusion of linen and or towels in your package.

Owner Payments

Payment to owners is on a monthly basis calculated on the 1st of the month and paid within 7 working days. A 40% deposit will be forwarded after the booking is received. The balance is due eight weeks prior to a guest's holiday and will be forwarded to you upon receipt less our commission and any deductions.

Child Friendly

Owners can improve their repeat booking rate by encouraging families to return. Consider supplying items such as a travel cot and high chair, stairgates, toys and games. Welcome information packs can be improved by offering information on local facilities for babies, children and families.9

Hello my name is Sue I have been a cleaner for Dorset Cottage Holidays for nearly five years. As a housekeeper I take great pride in my work. Each week I ensure that the cottage is cleaned to the highest possible standard, taking great care to ensure that deep cleaning is also attended too. After I have cleaned the cottage I make sure that it is presented well for that all important first image, towels are folded neatly, a welcome tray is left for guests, I even fold the end of the loo roll, its those small details that are important.

TAXATION AND COUNCIL TAX.

The Inland Revenue and local council regards holiday letting as a business, however the property must be available as a commercial rental for at least 140 days (20 weeks) and let for 70 days (10 weeks) during the year. You may then be liable to pay business rates instead of council tax and should consult your local authority for price bands (which can be cheaper than paying council tax). If you are letting as a business you can usually deduct from the cottage rental received for repairs/renewals of fixtures, fittings and the fabric of the property together with all cleaning and laundry, rates, insurance, electricity/gas/oil/logs, gardening, mortgage interest, TV license etc.

VAT

We charge VAT on the commission we charge to you. You may be liable to pay VAT on any income you receive if you VAT registered this is currently set at 15%. The threshold for VAT earnings is currently approx £60,000.

INSURANCE

All holiday home owners must ensure for public liability cover of £2 million. As a Dorset Cottage Holidays owner you are entitled to a 10% discount with Boshers Insurance on 01237 429444.

STAR GRADING

Star Grading with Dorset Cottage Holidays is compulsory, however we do obtain a discount to a reduced fee of just £90.
The Quality Assurance Standards are great value for money, offering a number of benefits:

- Promotional opportunities at home and overseas - with free independent listing www.visitbritain.com on www.visitengland.com web sites, and in the VB 'enjoyEngland' guides.

- Detailed assessment debrief and report.
- Quality assured ratings assisting consumer choice.
- Internationally recognised Quality Marque.
- Free Business Information Leaflets on a range of subjects.

There is only one tool to monitor quality assurance at a national level - NQAS. Working with you will help us to achieve our aim to improve quality standards in England. This is a standard to help you benefit from being a part of world class tourism product in England.