Guest Refusing to Sign Rental Agreement

[croatian_villa]

Hi there. I have the first guest that is refusing to sign a rental agreement following a booking via a holiday home website.

First they will not put down a deposit. Spoke at length to me on the phone about this. They say it wont be guaranteed by website as its a payment outside of the agreement. We take cash deposit on arrival. Perhaps this wasn't clear but as owner I think this is a risk. I did think to overlook on this occasion as maybe it wasn't clear enough pre-booking.

But now they returned the booking forms (Un-signed) They don't want to sign terms and conditions for rental.

They already paid but I am going to send them an email stating it needs signing by end of week or I will cancel/refund the vacation.

What are your thoughts? Would you spend additional time on the phone trying to resolve this or cut losses now. Would you give them until the end of the week like I have to sign and include a statement that I will cancel if not received.

I'd rather not have to waste more time on the phone chasing this up. The forms were returned quickly but has gone all quiet now Im asking for a signature..Gives me a bad feeling with these issues before they even get to the holiday home.

[bessie]

I state my t&c has to be signed to meet insurance rules by not signing I cannot accept booking as my insurance would be void.
I have been asked once and told them my property and themselves are at risk and my rules are not changeable.

[croatian_villa]

Thank you. I guess I can state this in my follow up email.

Do you think I should explicitly state I will cancel booking if this is not agreed or just cancel the booking at the end of the week if they do not respond. I suspect they are just ignoring my emails.

I'm starting to think cutting my losses may end up cheaper as with no security deposit or contact they could cost me a lot more. I don't have time to constantly chase.

[zebedee]

Agree entirely with Bessie.
Your property is worth (hundreds of) thousands.
You don't need the stress of these guests.

[Nemo]

Cut loose now. I understand their concerns but you have the greater loss, entrusting your home to someone who doesn't trust you, even though they have spoken to you.

A booking shouldn't take place without a correctly returned booking form in whatever shape or form that is and hopefully your terms back that up? You are then within your rights to cancel as they are refusing to adhere to the terms of your booking process.

I have allowed it to happen twice I think, but only from well known, returning guests, who are not online or email and only operate by snail mail. Elderly folk who have others help them with the booking and so it's clearly got forgotten. It's not ideal and makes me uncomfortable but I'd never do that with someone I didn't know.

[croatian_villa]

Thanks Nemo
I think as I've already given deadline of friday to return this Ill stop chasing now. I wont follow up to mention the cancellation to stir the honey pot but will just cancel on Friday evening if they don't come back to me. To be honest I can do without this for a low season booking. They were even moaning about the rental cost.. but had booked it anyway.

Lack of trust from a guest is something I'm not familiar with. First time in 4 years I've seen this. Trust needs to go two ways with rentals..

[tavi]

I did this last week to someone when someone was grumbling about paying in full upfront...was just tired of discussions.

Offered to cancel and refund all monies paid so far.

[greenbarn]

Life's too short. Whatever their reasons, if they don't agree with your rental process why would you want them staying?

[pambon]

If you have to register your contract with the guest then it must be signed. I don't have to register them but I do have to keep them for a couple of years.
No signature - no bookings. It's a no brainer.

[e-richard]

The guest feels that he has booked a holiday with the listing site. All his dealings and payments are to the listing site. His contract is with the listing site.

Why are you, the owner, getting in the way?

[AndrewH]

The guest feels that he has booked a holiday with the listing site. All his dealings and payments are to the listing site. His contract is with the listing site.

Why are you, the owner, getting in the way?

+1
A strong possibility for a guest who doesn't know the full background and why should he. He just wants to book a holiday and that's the way he sees it.

[kevsboredagain]

Generally making payment or just turning up would show acceptance of a contract as long as you can show you've made it available. A signature is just a formality which makes it easier to show acceptance, so not signing gets them out of nothing if it ever went to court.

Most online bookings these days would be done without a actual signature. That doesn't mean there is no agreement in place.

I'd be still worried though and refuse to let them in.

[AndrewH]

Generally making payment or just turning up would show acceptance of a contract as long as you can show you've made it available. A signature is just a formality which makes it easier to show acceptance, so not signing gets them out of nothing if it ever went to court.

Yes, but "Rules are Rules" (as the parking attendant said to the Queen's bodyguard when he clamped his police car - you can guess the rest of the story!)

[Joanna]

All good advice. I wouldn't want them staying after this - if they don't think they need to sign up to your terms before they arrive how will they behave when they're there?

Although a signature might not be legally necessary, I think it probably focuses people's minds on what they're signing so they're more likely to actually read it.

[Casscat]

People who are that petty an nit-picking are going to be a right royal pain in the posterior on every possible level I would think so if you can find an excuse to cancel their booking then go for it.