Need Advice on Vacation Rental

[dairyou]

Trying to keep a long story short, here is the situation.

My family was going to rent a cabin in Tahoe. The woman who is the owner kept putting new stipulations each time she encountered a problem with a previous renter. The last one stated that we could not burn a fire unless we paid a 30.00 fee. Due to the last renters using too much wood and messing up her neatly stacked pile. She said if it was a problem that she would refund our deposit and cancel our reservation. I told her no problem, well when DH read her email on Saturday he said forget it. He was tired of her adding new stipulations all the time. He said she would refund the deposit so tell her to forget it and we'll go somewhere else. We were suppose to leave Saturday.

I emailed the owner and now she doesn't want to give the deposit back. She said due to the contract we had 30days prior to cancel. We think with her new email that would nullify the 30day cancellation policy.

What do you think?

Deb

 

[allyphoe]

I think that all of those tacked-on-after-the-fact stipulations aren't part of the contract. Pointing that out might get you the deposit back - alternatively, go and enjoy the place stipulation-free!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My family owns a vacation rental in Tahoe. You can't just tack on stipulations after the contract is signed and then try to withhold a deposit. It's especially ridiculous to tell a renter that it costs extra to burn a fire. There's snow up there and it's cold and having a fire is part of the experience of being there. It's like telling someone they can't use the toilet because they might mess it up!

I would explain that her new stipulations were not in the contract you signed and that you'd like your money back. If she refuses, point out again that the new stipulations were not in the contract you signed so you don't have to abide by them. If she still refuses, go on your trip, burn a fire, mess up her wood pile and don't give her another cent if she tries to bill you afterward. Just tell her a bear must have messed it up!