Vakantie in de Provence operates in a constantly changing commercial, technological and regulatory environment, and may therefore amend these terms and conditions at any time. Unless otherwise provided, amendments to these terms and conditions shall apply immediately once they are posted on the website. The tenant is therefore responsible for keeping informed of the most recently published terms and conditions. Use of the website and/or the services offered by Vakantie in de Provence implies acceptance of the terms and conditions.
“Vakantie in de Provence” acts as an intermediary in the rental of a holiday home. The “tenant” (the natural or legal person) entering into the rental agreement must be at least 18 years of age. This also applies to the owner as well as to the owner's local representative at departure/arrival.
For bookings of fewer than 7 nights or under 1000 euros, “Vakantie in de Provence” charges a flat fee of €50. In the event of a change of booking, this fee cannot be transferred and will be charged again.
Payments are to be made to the following account number:
Vakantie in de Provence BV, Edestraat 73, 9450 Haaltert, België
VAT: BE1020174140
IBAN BE55 1030 9827 8044
BIC NICABEBB
With the reference: deposit/balance + accommodation + rental dates.
The balance of the rental amount, the security deposit and the costs of energy consumption and final cleaning must be paid in full no later than 6 weeks before arrival (scheduled dates), by bank transfer.
The rental agreement shall be automatically terminated if the balance is not paid in full within this period. Consequently, the deposit paid cannot be refunded by “Vakantie in de Provence”.
For last-minute bookings (less than 6 weeks before arrival), payment of the full rental amount must be made within 5 days of booking and before the start of the rental period.
After full payment, the tenant receives the address, directions and contact details of the owner or the owner's local representative.
When the prospective tenant submits a booking request, "Vakantie in de Provence" contacts the owner or the accommodation provider to confirm that the accommodation is available for the requested period. If it is available, "Vakantie in de Provence" contacts the prospective tenant to confirm both the availability and the total rental price for the requested period. You can secure the booking by completing and submitting the booking form and paying a deposit. Some homes are in very high demand and are booked quickly.
The contract between the tenant and “Vakantie-In-De-Provence” is concluded as follows. The prospective tenant submits a booking request via the Vakantie-In-De-Provence website; this booking request is received by Vakantie-in-de-Provence and then analysed by it. If the application is accepted, the prospective tenant receives a rental agreement. This rental agreement must then be confirmed by the tenant by email. Confirmation by email from the tenant is therefore required for the agreement to be concluded.
This email states the holiday home reference and the duration of the rental period. By making the request, the tenant irrevocably agrees to the Terms and conditions in accordance with article 0. "Vakantie in de Provence" charges a flat administration fee of €45 for each rental agreement it draws up. This fee is not included in the rental price and will be charged separately in the event of cancellation within a certain period, see cancellation.
The deposit of 40% and administration costs of 45 euros must be paid by the “tenant” within 7 days of confirmation of the booking. If the deposit is not received within this period, “Vakantie in de Provence” will send a reminder email. If “Vakantie in de Provence” has not received the deposit within 5 days of the reminder email, the contract will be terminated and “Vakantie in de Provence” shall be entitled to immediately offer the holiday home for rent again for the requested period.
The tenant declares that they have taken note in advance of the required information relating to the rented holiday home, as described on the Vakantie in de Provence website. This information is based on data provided by the owner and is communicated to the tenant subject to any material errors, mistakes and/or minor changes.
All information on the Vakantie in de Provence website is provided in good faith, compiled with the utmost care, and is deemed to be correct at the time of publication. Vakantie in de Provence cannot be held liable for changes that occur beyond its control and that only become known to it after publication. All photos, drone images and descriptions serve only as snapshots; subsequent changes to the situation are possible. Availability is a constantly evolving factor and is updated as quickly as possible.
If damage or loss occurs during the stay, the tenant must report this without delay, and at the latest before returning the key at the end of the rental period, to the owner and/or "Vakantie in de Provence". When the tenant leaves the holiday home, its condition and cleanliness are checked by the owner or contact person in the presence of the tenant. If the tenant has left earlier than planned, without a joint check of the condition and cleanliness with the owner, the owner reserves the right to inspect the rented property after the tenant's departure.
Vakantie in de Provence transfers the security deposit received to a third-party account, which remains blocked until agreement has been reached with the owner on the refund. The security deposit serves to cover possible costs, such as any damage, replacement of broken or lost items inside and outside the rented property, including furnishings and decoration. All direct and indirect damage to the home and/or its contents not attributable to or resulting from normal use will be recovered from the tenant.
Additional costs after the rental period, such as energy consumption, any final cleaning, etc., will be deducted from the security deposit. If a flat rate has been charged in advance for energy consumption, an additional amount may still be charged in the event of excessive use, for example for charging electric vehicles, using air conditioning with windows/doors open, wasting water, etc.
The security deposit shall under no circumstances be regarded as part of the rental price or as an advance payment on it, and therefore no interest can be claimed on it. The security deposit is refunded within a reasonable period, allowing the final statement to be drawn up. In any event, the refund will take place within a maximum period of 2 weeks after the end of the rental period. The amount of the security deposit is under no circumstances part of the rental price and is charged separately. This amount is stated separately on the website and in the booking summary of the reservation.
In the event of damage and if the security deposit is insufficient, the lessor reserves the right to claim additional compensation from the tenant. However, the fact that the lessor receives the security deposit does not in any way release them from their liability towards the owner for damage caused to the rented property by the tenant.
The stay in the holiday home is scheduled to begin on the first day of the rental period, between 16:00 and 20:00, unless otherwise stated in the property handbook (woninghandboek). The tenant is kindly requested to contact the owner or the owner's representative during the journey, around midday, and to give the estimated time of arrival. Early occupation of the home is only permitted if agreed in advance with the owner, and this arrangement must be confirmed by telephone, not by text message.
If the tenant is unable to arrive on time, they are expected to inform the owner or person in charge by telephone in good time, so that appropriate arrangements can be made for their reception. Early move-in without prior arrangement is not accepted.
Departure from the holiday home is scheduled on the last day of the rental period, at the time stated in the contract. This gives the owner the opportunity to carry out an inspection, together with the tenant, for any damage or loss. Should the tenant wish to leave earlier than originally planned, they are expected to contact the owner to discuss an adjusted arrangement for departure. In the event of early departure, the tenant automatically accepts the inventory and condition report drawn up by the owner.
If the tenant wishes to cancel the booking, the tenant must contact Vakantie in de Provence by telephone as soon as the reason for the cancellation arises. The tenant must also immediately confirm the cancellation in writing by email. The day on which Vakantie in de Provence receives the cancellation email is the date on which your booking is cancelled.
Cancellations 42 days or more before the start of the rental period: 40% of the total rental amount is charged
Cancellations less than 42 days: 100% of the rental amount is charged
A voucher is possible under certain conditions (valid for 1 year)
The lessor is free to re-let their accommodation at a last-minute price.
The tenant acknowledges being responsible for the performance of the agreement. Cancellation insurance may be useful. It is up to the prospective tenant to take out such insurance if necessary.
The tenant may transfer the home to a third party up to a maximum of 2 weeks before departure; this third party must also sign the rental conditions, the transferred tenant must inform “vakantie in de Provence” of this; in the worst case, the transfer may nevertheless be refused. Subletting is not permitted.
If, before departure, Vakantie in de Provence is unable to fulfil an essential aspect of the contract due to an individual fault, whether on the part of Vakantie in de Provence or of the lessor, affecting a specific booking for a house (and therefore not due to a general force majeure situation as described in article 8), for example due to overbooking, the tenant will be informed of this immediately. Vakantie in de Provence will do everything possible to offer the tenant a comparable alternative of equal quality and price. The tenant must communicate their decision on the proposed alternative within 8 days of notification by Vakantie in de Provence. If the proposed alternatives are not satisfactory to the tenant, the tenant has the right to terminate the contract free of charge. In that case, Vakantie in de Provence will refund the price already paid and the security deposit as soon as possible. As a result, the tenant cannot make any further claims against Vakantie in de Provence or the owner.
If, before departure, Vakantie in de Provence is unable to comply with one or more essential elements of the contract as a result of an event beyond its control, it will inform the tenant of this as soon as possible.
Unforeseen circumstances may include, among others, natural disasters, floods, drought, water shortages, pandemics, threat of war, strikes, death, illness and other disruptions or events. In such cases, Vakantie in de Provence is not responsible for the unavailability or early termination of the rental agreement and reserves the right to terminate the agreement free of charge without any obligation to pay compensation to the tenant.
In situations of force majeure, Vakantie in de Provence shall not be obliged to refund rent or administration costs already paid. In cases where certain contractual provisions cannot be complied with due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the unavailability of the swimming pool due to drought and water shortages, including the resulting government measures such as a ban on filling swimming pools, Vakantie in de Provence cannot be held liable. Nor does this give rise to the payment of compensation, and it cannot lead to the (early) termination of a rental agreement.
The tenant agrees to strictly comply with the measures imposed by both the French authorities and the authorities of their home country in the event of force majeure, such as in epidemics and similar situations.
Travellers using an electric car must notify Vakantie in de Provence of this in advance when submitting their booking request. The tenant may under no circumstances charge their car on site on their own initiative and without informing the owner. Any form of damage resulting from plugging in the car battery is the responsibility of the tenant. If a tenant wishes to charge their electric car at the rented home, and the electrical installation allows this, an additional flat fee will be charged, unless otherwise stated in the description of the home itself. This fee is settled via the security deposit.
For rentals where electricity consumption is settled according to meter readings, no additional flat fee applies, as the consumption for charging is included in the settlement. In that case, the owner or contact person records the meter readings on arrival and departure.
The use of the holiday home and the associated equipment is entirely the responsibility of the tenant. The tenant bears responsibility for both the holiday home and its contents, and is expected to treat them as a careful homeowner would, in accordance with the agreed purpose. It is essential that the tenant strictly follows all instructions communicated to them both in writing and orally by Vakantie in de Provence or the owner, as well as those set out in the house rules. This responsibility applies throughout the entire stay, from moving into the home until departure.
The tenant agrees to adequately secure the holiday home against burglary, to use the security system and the swimming pool as a responsible homeowner, and to handle the barbecue in a responsible manner, etc.
The tenant is liable for any damage resulting from their own faults or negligence, as well as for damage resulting from failure to comply with their contractual obligations. The tenant is also liable for damage caused by fellow travellers and persons whom the tenant admits to the holiday home. The signatory undertakes to inform other tenants/travel companions of the content of the terms and conditions. The tenant is also responsible for accidents in or around the house and the swimming pool, and must take all necessary measures to prevent accidents, including supervision.
Neither Vakantie in de Provence nor the owner accepts any liability for loss, abandonment, theft, damage, injury, accidents, etc., suffered by or caused to the tenant, third parties, animals and/or goods during or as a result of the stay in and use of the home and all its facilities.
By entering into the rental agreement, the tenant declares that they have appropriate insurance with an insurance company on which they can rely to cover rental risks such as fire, water and other damage. However, in the event of conduct attributable to the tenant, the tenant is liable for all forms of damage, including fire, that they cause. This means that insurance against fire damage is at the tenant's expense. In this respect, the tenant declares that they are insured against civil liability.
If the damage is not covered by the tenant's own insurance, the tenant is personally responsible for compensating the damage. Vakantie in de Provence and the owner retain the right at all times to terminate the agreement and to deny the tenants (further) access to the holiday home if a tenant, travel companion or visitor has caused the damage to the holiday home. In such a case, Vakantie in de Provence is not obliged to refund any part of the rent for the remaining rental period.
In accordance with the legislation in force in France regarding the use of the swimming pool, the lessor has an approved installation. The tenant undertakes to use these safety measures throughout the entire stay, even during temporary absence during the stay, including at night. Any problems with the operation of the installation must be reported immediately to the owner/person in charge. In all cases, the tenant remains responsible for supervising those accompanying them and must take all necessary measures to prevent any incident in and around the swimming pool.
Children and/or adults without a swimming certificate may only use the swimming pool wearing a life jacket and under the supervision of adults with a swimming certificate. The lessor and/or owner cannot be held liable in the event of an accident. The tenant indemnifies the lessor against any claim, including the tenant's own, that could be brought against the lessor.
The swimming pool is regularly cleaned and maintained by a competent person. The tenant agrees to follow the instructions and to grant this person access to the property. Before entering the swimming pool, the user must shower to prevent deposits of sun oil or sun cream in the water and on the edges. The use of sharp objects in the swimming pool is strictly prohibited. As soon as the tenant notices that the pool water is becoming cloudy or slightly discoloured, they must immediately inform the person in charge, so that further clouding or discolouration can be limited or avoided. This is not only to preserve their own swimming enjoyment, but also for the benefit of those who will use the swimming pool after them.
For swimming pools fitted with a roller shutter cover, the tenant must strictly follow the instructions for its use and operation. The tenant is liable for damage resulting from incorrect handling or improper use. It is strictly forbidden to walk on or over the pool roller shutter cover.
Most swimming pools are heated to a temperature between 24 and 27°C. Maintaining higher temperatures can lead to rapid algae growth or reduced water quality. During very hot summers or heatwaves, the heating system is usually switched off. In addition, most heating systems are switched off during the low season and winter due to irresponsible energy consumption.
When a tenant rents a holiday home with a heated swimming pool, neither Vakantie in de Provence nor the owner can be held responsible for maintaining a specific water temperature, as this depends on factors such as the ambient temperature, the way in which the pool is or is not covered, and other circumstances.
The tenant must leave the home tidy. Everything must be returned to its original place. If the home is not left clean (washing-up, cigarette butts, waste, etc.) and additional cleaning is required, this will be deducted from the security deposit. The tenant shall not leave the home open in such a way that a burglary could occur.
Pets are only permitted in accommodation where this is stated, together with the number allowed. For bookings with pets, a supplement may be charged and this will be stated in the booking contract.
The tenant declares that they are insured against civil liability with regard to pets. In some homes, an additional fee may be requested for each pet per week. Pets may under no circumstances enter the swimming pool, for several reasons. First of all, for reasons of hygiene. In addition, the coarse hair of pets has the potential to clog or jam the filter system, with all the consequences that entails. Another reason is that many swimming pools are finished with a liner (a watertight PVC shell), and pets can damage this finish with their claws, leading to tears and leaks, resulting in water loss and costly repairs. In the event of non-compliance with these rules, the security deposit will be withheld without any dispute.
In the event of any complaints upon entering the rental home, please report them within 24 hours to Vakantie in de Provence, by telephone or email, and an attempt will be made, as far as possible, to find a solution together with the owner. “Vakantie in de Provence” owes the tenant or owner no compensation if rectification of the problem during the stay has been prevented. Compensation can never exceed the rental amount.
Handymen, gardeners, cleaning staff or those responsible for the maintenance of the home, garden and swimming pool,… must always be admitted to the property by the tenant.
The maximum permitted number of persons may not be exceeded, unless otherwise stated in the rental agreement.
The use of the grounds of the holiday home is exclusively reserved for the tenants staying in the rented holiday home. It is not permitted to place additional accommodation, such as tents, caravans or campervans, on the grounds.
Cleaning costs are communicated to the tenant in advance; they are paid on site to the owner or the owner's representative or are offset against the refund of the security deposit.
Internet problems, such as outages, temporary interruptions or slow performance, cannot give rise to any form of compensation from Vakantie in de Provence or the owner. Internet in France is characterised by lower stability and speed compared to Belgium and the Netherlands. Understanding and accepting these limitations is important, as they are inherent to the local infrastructure and beyond the direct control of the lessor.
In the event of absence, even of a temporary nature, the tenant must always close the awnings and parasols to prevent damage from unexpected gusts of wind, especially given the possibility of unannounced mistral winds. In addition, the shutters must be closed and, where present, the alarm system, including the pool alarm, must be switched on. This helps to protect the rented property and promotes safety in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Smoking is never permitted in the home; it is permitted outside, but cigarette butts must be removed at the end of the rental period.
Under French law, tenants of a holiday home are required to pay tourist tax (taxe de séjours). The official rates are set by the local authorities and vary by region. They apply per person (over 18 years of age) and per night.
As these rates may change annually, it is possible that an adjustment will take place between the conclusion of the rental agreement and the end of the stay. In that case, Vakantie in de Provence will pass on the difference in tourist tax to the tenant.
Vakantie-In-De-Provence is not responsible for the payment of the tourist tax.
If an option is taken on a holiday home before the new prices and availability for the following season have been set, a deposit of 5% is charged. This amount is calculated on the basis of the rental price of the current season. As soon as the prices for the new season are known and the requested period can be confirmed, the customer will receive a request for payment of the remaining part of the deposit. If the chosen dates ultimately turn out not to be available, or if the conditions or the home change in a way that makes the booking impossible, the booking will be cancelled free of charge and the deposit already paid will be refunded in full.