Being let down - big time!

[Jane and Ian]

I need to vent my frustration and anger out - so apologies! In 2003 we booked a villa on the Gulf Coast, one we had stayed at before at a very reasonable rate. About 5 weeks ago the English owner called to tell me he had sold the villa to an American, who was contract bound to honour all existing bookings so not to worry. RIGHT! Got an email last night finally after a couple of weeks trying to ctc the new owner, to tell us that we would be very welcome to the villa but at a much higher price!!! And on top of it all they want to charge for a clean afterwards. I feel as though my whole holiday planning is falling down around my ears! I know we had a very good rate, but for one week they really could have just honoured the booking.

 

[Pop Daddy]

sorry, but the original owner should have made that part of the deal, he is the problem not the new "American owner"

 

[Jane and Ian]

It was apparantley in the contract, that all existing bookings were to be honoured.

 

[Serena]

Either the american found a loop hole, or he's hoping no one fights the prices.
Would seeing a lawyer about it be an option?

 

[frustrated]

Vacations can be so stressful even without this kind of stuff! Sorry for the difficulties. Hope everything gets figured out soon.

Tess

 

[jel0511]

It truly depends on how the sales contract was written between the two parties. If existing bookings being honored at the already contracted rate WAS NOT included in the sales contract, the new owners have no legal right to honor those contracts. You should read your contract with the old owner, if you had one. If you do, see if there is a clause about potential sale of the property. If it was just an oral agreement, you might be out of luck. Your contract, either oral or written, was with the previous owner, and the new owner does not have to honor that agreement, unless he specifically agreed to in writing. Now, usually when vacation rental properties change hands, the new owners usually honor all previous agreements based on goodwill, but they don't have to. Especially if they plan on occupying the residence. If you dealt with a rental agent, contact them and see what they can do to help. If you dealt directly with the old owner, and the new owner is refusing to honor that agreement, your only options are to refuse his price and try to recover any deposits paid, or pay what he is asking.

Edited to add: I see that you noted it was apparently included in the contract. Then I'd contact the previous owner and tell him of the difficulties you're having with the new owner and ask for a copy of the sales contract. Tell him, he's free to black out any personal information, ie sales price, home addresses, etc. This way, you'll have a copy that states that he should honor all bookings and confront him with this. If you have a copy of the sales agreement stating he should honor all previous bookings, you shouldn't have a problem. You might have to hire a lawyer to get him to honor your previous price though, if he's a stickler. And in the end, might cost you more than agreeing to his higher price.

 

[jel0511]

I just re-re-read your first reply. It is apparently true that the contract might have been worded that the owner had to honor all previous stays, but there might not been any word about not charging more. If is possible that this loophole exists, regardless of what the contract states. If it is, you're unforunately going to be stuck. The only way you'll find out for sure, is to get a copy of the sales agreement yourself and see what it says.

 

[Jane and Ian]

I think what we are going to do, once we have spoken to the old owner, is just accept it!! We don't have the resources to hire a lawyer and when it's all said and done it's only a couple hundred $. We really like the villa and it's just where we want to be, so maybe having calmed down a bit, we should just bite the bullet and accept the new terms and go with the flow. We shall certainly be taking it up with the old owner, who is out of the UK at the moment. Thanks for your comments.