Terms & Conditions

The Boathouse at Maryculter

Operated by Sean Dempsey, trading as The Boathouse at Maryculter

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings made directly with The Boathouse at Maryculter (“the Property”), operated by Sean Dempsey, trading as The Boathouse at Maryculter (“we”, “us” or “our”).

By making a booking, the person making the booking (“the Lead Guest”) confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions on behalf of everyone included in the booking.

The booking becomes a legally binding contract between the Lead Guest and us when the required deposit or payment has been received and the booking has been confirmed by us.

The Lead Guest must be at least 18 years old at the time of booking and must provide accurate booking and contact information.

The Lead Guest is responsible for ensuring that all members of their party are aware of and comply with these Terms and Conditions and any reasonable instructions provided during their stay.

2. Booking and Payment

A booking is made when the Lead Guest completes the booking process and pays the required booking deposit of £350.

Booking Deposit

The £350 booking deposit is separate from the £350 breakage deposit described below.

The booking deposit forms part of the payment towards the total booking price and is subject to the cancellation terms set out in these Terms and Conditions.

Breakage Deposit

In addition to the booking deposit, a £350 breakage deposit is payable in connection with the booking.

The breakage deposit is held as security against damage to the Property, its contents, furnishings, equipment or facilities, excessive cleaning, loss of keys or other items, or other reasonable costs arising from a breach of these Terms and Conditions.

The breakage deposit is not part of the booking price and is not a payment towards the accommodation.

The booking will only be confirmed once the required booking deposit has been successfully received and a booking confirmation has been issued.

The remaining balance must be paid 6 weeks (42 days) before the arrival date. If the balance is not paid by the due date, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by the Lead Guest, subject to the cancellation terms set out in these Terms and Conditions.

All prices are stated in pounds sterling (£) and include the accommodation and facilities specifically stated as being included in the booking. Any optional extras or additional services will be charged separately where applicable.

We reserve the right to correct obvious pricing or booking errors. If an error affects a booking that has already been made, we will contact the Lead Guest as soon as reasonably practicable to agree how to proceed.

3. Cancellation by Guest

If the Lead Guest wishes to cancel a booking, the cancellation must be made in writing by email. The date on which the cancellation request is received will be used to determine the applicable cancellation charge.

Cancellation charges are calculated as a percentage of the total booking price, including any mandatory charges included in the booking.

Where the amount already paid is less than the applicable cancellation charge, the Lead Guest remains responsible for paying the difference.

Where the amount already paid exceeds the applicable cancellation charge, we will refund the difference to the Lead Guest using the original payment method, subject to any applicable payment-processing limitations.

If a booking is cancelled because the remaining balance has not been paid by the due date, the cancellation will be treated in accordance with these cancellation terms.

4. Changes to a Booking by the Guest

Requests to change a confirmed booking, including changes to the arrival date, departure date or number of guests, must be made in writing by email.

We will consider requests to amend a booking subject to availability and operational requirements. We cannot guarantee that requested changes will be possible.

If a change to the dates of a booking is requested and we are able to accommodate the change, the booking will be subject to the price applicable to the new dates. Any increase in the total booking price will be payable by the Lead Guest.

If the revised booking price is lower than the original booking price, we are not obliged to refund the difference unless we agree otherwise.

A request to change a booking does not constitute a cancellation. If the requested change cannot be accommodated and the Lead Guest chooses to cancel the original booking, the cancellation terms in Section 3 will apply.

The number of guests staying at the Property must not exceed the maximum occupancy stated for the booking.

5. Cancellation by Us

We reserve the right to cancel a booking in circumstances where this is reasonably necessary, including where the Property becomes unavailable due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, serious damage to the Property, safety concerns, or circumstances that make the Property unsuitable for occupation.

If we cancel a booking before the guest's arrival, we will notify the Lead Guest as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where we cancel a booking for reasons within our control, we will provide a full refund of all payments made by the Lead Guest for the accommodation booking.

Where cancellation is necessary due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we will refund payments made for the accommodation booking, less any non-recoverable costs that we have already incurred in connection with the booking, where legally permitted.

We will not be responsible for any additional costs, expenses, losses or compensation arising from the cancellation, including travel costs, alternative accommodation or other arrangements, except where required by law.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes any rights or remedies that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

6. Occupancy and Guests

The maximum occupancy of The Boathouse at Maryculter is 9 guests. The number of guests staying at the Property must not exceed the maximum occupancy stated on the booking.

The Lead Guest must provide accurate information about the number of guests staying at the Property when making the booking.

The Property must be used solely for private holiday accommodation unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.

The Property must not be used for parties, events, commercial activities or other gatherings involving additional people without our prior written permission.

The Lead Guest is responsible for ensuring that all members of their party, including children and visitors, comply with these Terms and Conditions and any reasonable instructions provided during their stay.

We reserve the right to refuse access to or require any person to leave the Property where the maximum occupancy is exceeded or where their behaviour presents a serious risk to the Property, other guests, neighbours or the surrounding environment.

No additional overnight guests may stay at the Property without our prior agreement.

7. Check-in and Check-out

Check-in is available from 16:00 on the day of arrival.

Guests must vacate the Property by 10:00 on the day of departure.

Early check-in or late check-out may be available by prior arrangement and may be subject to an additional charge. Such arrangements must be agreed with us in advance.

Guests must not arrive before the agreed check-in time or remain at the Property after the agreed check-out time without our prior permission.

If guests remain at the Property after the agreed check-out time without permission, we reserve the right to charge reasonable additional costs arising from the delay, including costs incurred where cleaners or contractors are unable to access the Property as scheduled.

Guests are responsible for ensuring that the Property is securely locked and that keys, access devices and any other items provided for access are returned or left as instructed on departure.

8. Care of the Property

The Lead Guest and all members of their party must take reasonable care of the Property, its contents, furnishings, equipment, gardens and surrounding areas during their stay.

The Property must be left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition on departure, with rubbish disposed of as instructed and furniture and equipment returned to their appropriate locations.

Guests must promptly notify us of any damage, breakage, loss or defect that occurs during their stay. Reporting an issue promptly may help prevent further damage or additional costs.

Guests must not remove furniture, furnishings, equipment or other items from the Property without our prior permission.

Guests must not carry out repairs, alterations or modifications to the Property or its equipment without our prior permission.

The Lead Guest is responsible for the actions of all members of their party and may be liable for reasonable costs arising from damage, loss or additional cleaning caused during their stay, excluding reasonable wear and tear.

We reserve the right to recover reasonable costs for damage, loss or additional cleaning from the Lead Guest. Where appropriate, such costs may be charged using the payment method used for the booking.

The £350 breakage deposit will normally be returned after departure once the Property has been inspected and any necessary cleaning, repairs or other reasonable costs have been assessed.

Where a deduction is required, we will provide the Lead Guest with details of the relevant costs. If the costs exceed the £350 breakage deposit, the Lead Guest remains responsible for the additional reasonable costs incurred.

9. Noise, Behaviour and Neighbours

The Boathouse at Maryculter is located in a residential and rural setting. Guests are expected to behave considerately and respect the peace, privacy and enjoyment of neighbouring properties and the surrounding area.

Excessive noise, particularly late at night, is not permitted. Guests must keep noise to a reasonable level at all times and must not cause a nuisance or disturbance to neighbours.

Parties, events, celebrations or gatherings involving people who are not included on the booking are not permitted without our prior written agreement.

Guests must not engage in any illegal, dangerous, abusive or threatening behaviour at the Property.

We reserve the right to require guests to leave the Property, without refund, where serious or repeated behaviour causes a significant disturbance, presents a risk to people or property, or breaches these Terms and Conditions.

The Lead Guest is responsible for ensuring that everyone in their party understands and follows these requirements.

10. Smoking, Vaping and Candles

Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside The Boathouse at Maryculter.

Guests must not smoke or vape in bedrooms, bathrooms, communal areas or any other enclosed part of the Property.

Where smoking is permitted outdoors, guests must dispose of cigarette ends safely and must not leave them on the ground, in gardens or near vegetation.

Candles, incense, oil burners and other naked flames are not permitted inside the Property unless specifically provided and approved by us.

Guests must not use fireworks, sky lanterns, barbecues or other sources of naked flame except in designated areas and in accordance with any instructions provided.

Any damage, additional cleaning or other reasonable costs resulting from smoking, vaping, candles or misuse of fire-related equipment may be charged to the Lead Guest.

11. Pets

A maximum of two dogs are permitted at The Boathouse at Maryculter. No other pets or animals are permitted.

Guests bringing dogs must notify us at the time of booking and comply with any requirements or instructions provided.

Dogs must remain downstairs at all times and are not permitted in bedrooms or on beds, sofas, chairs or other furniture.

Guests are responsible for ensuring that dogs do not cause damage, excessive cleaning requirements, disturbance or nuisance to neighbours or other people.

Dogs must be supervised appropriately and must not be left unattended at the Property where doing so could create a risk to the dog, the Property or surrounding wildlife.

Guests are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs, both inside the Property and in the garden and surrounding areas.

Any damage, loss or additional cleaning caused by dogs may be charged to the Lead Guest, excluding reasonable wear and tear.

12. Children and Infants

Children and infants are welcome at The Boathouse at Maryculter, subject to the maximum occupancy of 9 guests.

The Property is located beside the River Dee and includes access to outdoor areas, gardens and the surrounding river environment. Guests are responsible for supervising children and infants at all times and must take appropriate care around the river, water, outdoor areas, steps and any other potential hazards.

The Property is not a fully childproofed environment. Guests should assess the suitability of the Property for their children and take appropriate precautions during their stay.

Parents or guardians remain responsible for the safety and behaviour of children and infants throughout the stay.

13. River, Water Activities and Outdoor Areas

The Boathouse at Maryculter is situated directly beside the River Dee. The river and surrounding outdoor areas can present natural hazards, including deep or fast-flowing water, slippery surfaces, changing water levels, uneven ground and changing weather conditions.

Guests use the river, riverbank, garden, outdoor areas and any associated equipment entirely at their own risk and must exercise appropriate care at all times.

Children must be supervised closely around the river and must not be permitted to access the river or water independently.

Guests must follow all safety instructions provided by us regarding the river, water activities, outdoor equipment and any access to the water.

Any kayaks, canoes, paddleboards or other water-sports equipment provided or made available to guests must only be used by guests who are suitably competent and must be used in accordance with the relevant safety instructions and equipment requirements.

Guests are responsible for assessing conditions before entering the water and must not use water-sports equipment where conditions are considered unsafe.

We reserve the right to restrict or prohibit access to the river or use of water-sports equipment where we consider conditions to be unsafe, including during periods of high water, strong currents, adverse weather or other hazards.

Guests must not enter restricted areas or attempt to access parts of the riverbank that have been identified as unsafe.

Further information and specific safety requirements may be provided in the River and Water Activity Safety Information, which forms part of the guest information for the Property.

14. Hot Tub

Where a hot tub is available at The Boathouse at Maryculter, guests must use it responsibly and in accordance with the Hot Tub Rules and any instructions provided.

Use of the hot tub is at the guest's own risk. Guests must follow all safety instructions and must not misuse, damage or interfere with the hot tub or its equipment.

Children must be supervised at all times when in or around the hot tub. Children must not use the hot tub without appropriate adult supervision.

Guests must not use the hot tub while under the influence of alcohol or drugs where this could impair their ability to use it safely.

Guests must shower before entering the hot tub and must not use the hot tub with oils, creams, excessive lotions or other substances that could affect the water quality.

Guests must not bring glass, food or other breakable items into the hot tub or surrounding area.

Guests who are pregnant, have a medical condition or have any concerns about whether hot-tub use is suitable for them should seek appropriate medical advice before use.

We reserve the right to restrict or suspend use of the hot tub where we consider this necessary for safety, maintenance, water quality or other operational reasons.

Guests may be responsible for reasonable costs arising from damage, contamination or misuse of the hot tub caused during their stay.

The hot tub may be unavailable temporarily due to maintenance, cleaning, technical problems, adverse weather or circumstances beyond our reasonable control. We will endeavour to restore use as soon as reasonably practicable but cannot guarantee continuous availability.

15. Wi-Fi and Internet

Wi-Fi is provided at The Boathouse at Maryculter for guests' reasonable personal use during their stay.

While we will make reasonable efforts to maintain the internet connection, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability, speed or reliability.

The internet connection may be affected by technical problems, maintenance, weather, network outages or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Guests must use the internet connection lawfully and responsibly and must not use it for any illegal activity or activity that could compromise the security or operation of the network.

Guests are responsible for their own devices and for ensuring that appropriate security measures are in place when using the internet connection.

We are not responsible for loss, damage or security issues affecting guests' devices or data arising from use of the Property's internet connection, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

16. Maintenance, Repairs and Access

We will make reasonable efforts to ensure that The Boathouse at Maryculter, its facilities and equipment are maintained in good working order.

From time to time, maintenance, repairs, inspections or other works may be necessary during a guest's stay. We will endeavour to give reasonable notice where practicable.

In circumstances requiring urgent attention, including emergencies, safety issues or situations that could result in damage to the Property, we may need to access the Property without prior notice where reasonably necessary.

We may also arrange access by contractors, maintenance personnel or other authorised persons where reasonably required to carry out essential maintenance, repairs or safety checks. We will endeavour to minimise disruption to guests.

Guests must not interfere with, disable or attempt to repair electrical, heating, plumbing, security, hot-tub or other equipment at the Property unless specifically instructed to do so.

If a facility or item becomes unavailable or stops working during a stay, we will make reasonable efforts to repair or replace it where practicable. We cannot guarantee that every facility will always be available.

17. Security and Personal Belongings

Guests are responsible for taking reasonable steps to secure the Property during their stay, including locking doors and windows when leaving the Property or when otherwise appropriate.

Guests must not provide keys, access codes or other security information to people who are not part of their booking without our prior permission.

Guests are responsible for their personal belongings and valuables throughout their stay.

We are not responsible for loss, theft or damage to guests' personal belongings unless caused by our negligence or where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Any lost property found at the Property after departure will be retained for a reasonable period. Where practical, we will contact the guest to arrange its return. The guest may be responsible for reasonable postage or delivery costs.

Guests must notify us as soon as reasonably practicable if keys, access devices or other security items are lost or compromised. Reasonable costs arising from replacement or securing the Property may be charged to the Lead Guest where appropriate.

18. Complaints and Problems During Your Stay

We want guests to have an enjoyable stay. If you experience a problem with the Property or any of its facilities, please contact us as soon as reasonably practicable so that we have an opportunity to resolve the issue.

Where a problem is reported during the stay, we will make reasonable efforts to investigate and, where practicable, rectify the issue as soon as reasonably possible.

Guests should not wait until after departure to report an issue if it could reasonably have been brought to our attention during the stay.

If a guest leaves the Property early because of an issue that has not first been reported to us, we may be unable to provide a refund or other remedy where we could reasonably have addressed the issue had we been given the opportunity.

Any complaint that remains unresolved after the stay should be submitted in writing within 14 days of departure, setting out the nature of the complaint and the outcome sought.

We will consider complaints fairly and respond within a reasonable period.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects any statutory rights available to guests under applicable law.

19. Liability

Guests use The Boathouse at Maryculter, its facilities, garden, river access and any equipment provided at the Property at their own risk, subject to our responsibilities under applicable law.

We will take reasonable care to ensure that the Property is maintained and that facilities provided for guests are reasonably safe for their intended use.

We are not responsible for loss, injury, damage, expense or inconvenience arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, or from a guest's failure to follow safety instructions, use facilities appropriately or take reasonable care.

We are not responsible for loss, theft or damage to guests' personal belongings, vehicles or other property brought to the Property, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Where permitted by law, our liability for losses arising from a booking will be limited to the total amount paid by the Lead Guest for that booking, except where a different limitation is required by law.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects any statutory rights that guests may have.

20. Events Beyond Our Control

We will not be responsible for failure or delay in performing our obligations where this is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, severe weather, flooding, fire, natural disasters, power or utility failures, significant transport disruption, government restrictions, public health emergencies, industrial action, security incidents, or other events that could not reasonably have been anticipated or prevented.

Where such circumstances affect a booking or the availability or safe use of the Property, we will notify the Lead Guest as soon as reasonably practicable and will take reasonable steps to minimise the impact.

If circumstances beyond our reasonable control make the Property unsafe or unavailable, we may need to cancel or modify a booking in accordance with Section 5 of these Terms and Conditions.

21. Privacy and Personal Information

We collect and process personal information provided by guests when making an enquiry, booking or communicating with us about their stay.

Personal information will be used for purposes including processing and managing bookings, communicating with guests, providing services, administering payments, complying with legal and regulatory obligations and managing the Property.

We will handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which explains how personal information is collected, used, stored and protected.

By making a booking, the Lead Guest confirms that they have provided accurate information and, where applicable, have permission to provide the personal information of other members of their party.

We will not use guests' personal information for unrelated marketing purposes without an appropriate legal basis or consent where required by law.

22. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions and any booking made with The Boathouse at Maryculter are governed by the laws of Scotland.

Any dispute arising from or relating to a booking or these Terms and Conditions will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects any mandatory legal rights or protections available to guests under applicable consumer law.

23. General

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, that provision will be treated as modified or removed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

A failure or delay by us in exercising any right under these Terms and Conditions will not constitute a waiver of that right.

These Terms and Conditions, together with the booking confirmation, any applicable policies and any specific written arrangements agreed with the Lead Guest, form the agreement between the Lead Guest and us in relation to the booking.

We reserve the right to make reasonable amendments to these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version applicable to a booking will be the version in force at the time the booking is made.

Where there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and a specific written agreement confirmed by us in relation to a booking, the specific written agreement will take precedence to the extent of the conflict.

24. Contact Details

The Boathouse at Maryculter
Operated by Sean Dempsey, trading as The Boathouse at Maryculter

For booking enquiries, changes, cancellations, complaints or other matters relating to your stay, please contact us using the contact details provided on the Property's website or booking confirmation.

Website: theboathouseatmaryculter.com

The contact details provided at the time of booking should be used for all booking-related correspondence.