Terms and Conditions of Rental

This page provides our standard Terms and Conditions of Rental for Guests.

This website is owned and operated by VillaDirect Management LLC. The website provides properties managed and marketed for rent through the Company. All correspondence, quotations, bookings, and notifications, whether electronic or on paper, sent from this site are deemed to be from the Company.

VillaDirect Management LLC, from now on referred to as the Company, or the Owner of the Property, from now on referred to as the Owner, offers the short-term rental/letting of the Property named on the Registration Form (a copy is supplied on receipt of payment for your vacation property), to the person of 21 years or over named as the Party Leader and to the called party members (on the Rental Agreement), from now on referred to as the Guest, under the terms set out below.

Booking

The Company will provide a written quotation by email and on-screen showing the total rental fee to the Guest for the Property. Quotes are valid for 48 hours unless and until a third party or the Company books the Property and receives a deposit from any party for the exact dates (or part thereof). When the Guest makes a booking through the secure online booking system on our website or when the Guest makes a booking over the phone and makes the required payment, the Company will provide a booking confirmation to the Guest by email. The Company reserves the right to refuse to accept any booking.

Confirmed booking

On receipt of the required payment from the Guest, the Company will issue either a Deposit or Final Payment Confirmation as needed by email to the Guest. Only on the release of the Deposit or Final Payment Confirmation document from the Company is the booking determined as confirmed.

Acceptance

The Guest agrees that payment of the rental deposit sum or full payment to the Company will signify their full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions of Rental. The Guest further acknowledges that by payment of the final rental sum, the Guest has received copies of and read and accepted these Terms and Conditions of Rental on this website.

Payments

The Guest agrees and acknowledges that the Company will not release the Property or any service before receipt of payment in full to the Company. Failure of the Guest to pay rental or for any service will result in removal or refusal to supply said service, including, but not limited to, provision of accommodation in the Property. Such removal and or refusal will not alter the terms and penalties associated with cancellation of a reservation or service.

The Guest agrees to pay the total reservation value, as shown on the Statement of Account, within the due dates on the booking confirmation. Final and full payment is due 60 days before arrival. In the event of late payment or failure to pay, the Company reserves the right to levy the cancellation penalty percentage charges against any money that the Guest has paid in advance and cancel the booking of the Guest. Where the money paid in advance is insufficient to cover the calculated percentage, the Company reserves the right to exercise any legal remedies to pursue the amount the Guest owes.

Where the Guest chooses to amend their booking 30 days or more before arrival, resulting in a change in the property size or location or a shift in stay dates, a $125 Change Fee will be levied. Where the Guest alters the booking, reducing the number of nights, the Company will charge the $125 Change Fee in addition to the cancellation fee warranted against the number of nights canceled as described below.

Any changes to existing bookings within 30 days of arrival will not be permitted.

The Company reserves the right to amend rates at any time. Pre-existing reservations, where the Guest has made a payment, will remain at the pre-increase pricing.

Rental period

The Guest agrees, and the Company permits the Rental Period to begin and end on the dates and times shown as the Rental Period (as shown on the Registration Form).

Check-in

Check-in to the Property is at or after 4:00 PM on the arrival date shown on the Booking Confirmation and Arrival Guide. At the Company’s sole discretion, any Guest checking in before the home this time may be refused until the house is ready for occupancy. Suppose the Guest enters the home before 4.00 PM and the home has not been inspected. In that case, the guests will be deemed confirmation that the Guest accepts the Property as found and accepts responsibility for any damages or loss found at the Property on the departure of the Guest.

Check-out

Check-out is at or before 10:00 AM on the departure date, as shown on the Arrival Guide. If it is found that the Guest has not departed the Property on the date of departure at the due time without prior approval and agreement by the Company, then the Guest will pay a penalty charge.

Basis of rental

Properties offered for short-term rental through the Company are provided on a self-catered basis. At a minimum, the Company will provide one soap bar and a roll of toilet tissue in each bathroom, dishwashing soap, dishwasher tablets, washer pods, sponge, washing liquid, trash liners, trash bags, and a paper towel as complimentary starter items for each booking party. We may also provide coffee, milk pods, sugar, salt, pepper, and other items. Once these items are used, it is the Guest’s responsibility to purchase their supplies. Except as defined above, items such as trash liners, paper towels, dish soap, laundry soap, and bathroom tissue are all items that are to be provided by the Guest. The Company may provide additional items at the Property for the Guest’s use in an amenities pack. For reasons of hygiene and safety, the Company does not provide food items on the Property for Guests’ use.

Accidental damage waiver (ADW)

The Guest paid the Company an Accidental Damage Waiver (ADW) premium (amount shown on the Statement of Account) before arrival. The Guest agrees that the Party Leader remains responsible for all losses from the Property or its inventory during the Rental Period. The Guest must inform the office of issues with the Property within one working day; ADW covers accidental damage up to a maximum value of $2,000.

The Guest agrees that the Company can charge additional fees to cover:

• Early arrival or late departure charges
• Loss or breakage of items not covered under ADW (above)
• Malicious damage to the Property or its equipment not covered under ADW
• Unauthorized Pets

Where loss or damage to the Property, the inventory, or equipment exceeds the maximum individual claim value, or where the Guest has caused damage to multiple parts of or items within the Property, the Company will bill the Guest for the shortfall or excessive damages, and the Guest agrees to pay within 14 days. Suppose the Guest fails to pay any such shortfall. In that case, the Company reserves the right to exercise any legal remedies to pursue the amount owed from the Guest or may additionally place such debt with a commercial debt collection agency. Where the Company finds damage or loss to the Property following the Guest’s departure that, in the view of the Company, constitutes malicious or wanton damage, the Company reserves the right to notify law enforcement authorities and prosecute, in addition to billing the Guest for the total amount of repair or replacement. The Guest agrees to pay within 14 days.

Non-smoking

Smoking of cigarettes, vapes, cigars, pipes, cannabis, or any other substance is not permitted inside the Property at any time. In the event that – on departure – the Guest is found to have smoked a substance inside the Property. In that case, the Guest will be contacted and informed of any charges related to the cleaning/deodorizing of the Property and all of the items in the Property (i.e., carpets, furniture, window treatments, etc.). These charges will be applied to the credit card on file by the Company for the reservation, or applied to the agency through which they booked, for recompense.

Pets

Pets are not permitted in the Property unless otherwise specified on the listing/advert, or agreed in advance by the Company. Guests with pets are advised to place their pet at another facility. The Company can not be held liable for any loss or injury, or for any action taken against the pet or pet owner by third parties while staying at the Property. The Company cannot be held liable for any damage or injury to third parties or property by a pet brought to the Property by the Guest. In the event that the Guest brings a pet to the Property, the Company may elect to evict the Guest from the Property with loss of all rental money paid and/or levy a charge of at least $150 per bedroom per week to the Guest, to pay for additional sanitation and cleaning on the departure of the Guest and pet. Different terms apply to ADA registered animals.

Cancellation

The Guest may cancel their booking at any time up to or during the Rental Period subject to the following conditions. Suppose the Guest exercises their right to cancel. In that case, the Company will levy the following cancellation penalty percentage rates of the Total Rental Fee (amount shown on the booking confirmation) as well as the original guest booking fee, any late fees, layaway fees, and change fees:

• From the initial date of booking up to thirty (30) days before the arrival date – A full refund*
• Between twenty-nine (29) and fifteen (15) days before the arrival date – 50% refund*
• Between fourteen (14) days and seven (7) days before arrival date – 25% refund*
• Less than seven days before the arrival date – No refund*
• No refunds for unfavorable weather, early departure, utility service interruption, construction, or maintenance issues will be given.

*Applies to any reservation made after 1st June 2023.

In the event of a local, national, or international event, pandemic, or crisis, where state and Federal rules/laws prevent the Guest from traveling to stay in the Property on the dates initially booked, the Company may, at its sole discretion, offer a Deferral of the reservation to the Guest, for dates extending up to 12 months after the arrival date of the originally booked dates of stay. All monies initially held against the reservation will remain on Deposit with the Company for use by the Guest toward such reservation made for future dates in the same or different Property with the following provisions and exclusions. Should the future reservation dates or Property be available at a higher rental rate and supplemental fees, the Guest must pay the difference. Should the rental rates and additional fees of the Deferred reservation be lower, then that sum will be held as a credit against a future stay. If the Company offers such a Deferral, the Company will deduct the following charges from a Deferral reservation at the time it is provided:

• The Guest Booking fee is charged against the original reservation or $125, whichever is the more significant sum.
• Any Layaway set-up fees or charges processed against the original reservation.
• Any additional credit card processing fees applied due to late payment of Layaway plan payments.
• If the Guest is granted a second or subsequent deferral of the reservation, the Company will charge a “Change Fee” of $125 for each instance of Deferment.

Such Deferrals can only be provided until no funds are held against the reservation.

Channel Partner reservations: Where a guest places their reservation through a Channel Partner website such as Airbnb, Booking.com, FlipKey, Homeaway, Hopper, Travelocity, VRBO etc., the Channel Partner cancellation and payment terms will apply. Any cancellation policy penalties applied under those policies are outside the control of the Company.

The Company regrets that it cannot waive any cancellation charges under any circumstance other than those described above. The Company recommends that all guests purchase cancellation protection through the Company (only available at the time of initial booking). Please ask your reservations specialist for details. Further terms and conditions apply.

Service level

The Company agrees to a Service Level to remedy any problems found at the Property, either on arrival of the Guest or during the Rental Period, as follows.

The Company agrees to provide a maximum 4-hour response to remedy problems that, at the sole discretion of the Company, constitute emergencies that would directly affect or impact the safety of the Guest. Any issues arising during the Rental Period at the Property that do not constitute an emergency as determined by the Company will be remedied during or after the Rental Period, based on the severity of the problem, at the sole discretion of the Company.

The Company makes all reasonable efforts to maintain the Property and its equipment in good working order. Wherever commercially possible, repairs are performed within 24 hours, but sometimes delays are inevitable due to circumstances beyond the control of the Company. No refunds are granted for malfunctioning mechanical or electrical equipment, including (but not limited to) inoperable appliances, air-conditioning units, pools, and spas. No refunds for unfavorable weather, early departure, utility service interruption, construction, or maintenance issues will be given. Additionally, there are no refunds for faulty recording or playback equipment, TVs, audio, telecoms, cable reception, computer equipment, internet access, or speed of access to the internet.

The Company does not guarantee cellular service availability to the property or its surrounding area. Cellular carrier network reception varies between providers from one property and one community to another in central Florida. The Guest should take steps to confirm that their cellular network service provides coverage to the area/community in which they have booked to stay. No refunds or transfers/moves from one property to another can be provided for cellular reception issues.

The property is provided as a vacation rental. It is not designed or designated as a business center. Internet service is provided by third-party carriers as-is, and the Company offers no performance guarantee. No refunds or transfers/moves from one property to another can be provided for internet bandwidth or provision issues.

Pool heat

Pool heat is an optional amenity at most properties managed by the Company. Pool heat can be added to a reservation for a nightly rate that varies depending on the type of heater installed on the reserved Property. Once the Guest requests pool heat, the heater is turned on 24 hours before the Guest’s check-in date and will run from approximately 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM for the dates that have been paid for. When operating optimally, pool heaters will warm the pool to between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. While still working, electric heating pumps are ineffective during cold weather days when the outside ambient temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (see Limitation of Liability section below for further details).

Where pool heat is purchased during the Guest’s stay at the Property, the daily rate will be higher than advertised to facilitate the request. The Company will turn on the pool heat on the same day as ordered or, if ordered after 2:00 PM, will turn on the pool heater the following day. Guests agree and accept that the pool heater may take up to 48 hours, dependent on the ambient temperature, for the water to warm to an acceptable level. For reservations of less than two nights, a minimum of 3 days of pool heat is required.

Spa Pool (Hot tub)

Please be advised that a spa pool attached to the pool is not a Hot Tub. A raised spa pool is heated with the same heater/pump that warms the pool. The temperature of the spa pool will only reach the temperature of the main pool water, and once the pool heater or pool equipment stops running, the spa cannot be run like a hot tub. If a home is advertised as an above-ground hot tub, then this can be operated separately from the pool/spa pool.

Gas Grills

The use of a gas grill is welcome in our communities (excluding Festival). By fire regulations, they must be used outside the pool enclosure. The homeowner does not provide a grill at the home. Grills can be rented through the office at (407) 397-1210. Our 3rd party vendor will provide a gas grill that has been cleaned, sanitized and supplied with a full tank of gas, delivered to the property on arrival and collected on departure. Guests who purchase their own grill are responsible to dispose of them at the end of their stay. Any grill that the Company finds after their stay will be disposed of, and a charge of $50 (removal and disposal fee) will be charged to the card used to pay for the reservation. Charcoal grills are not permitted.

Limitation of liability

The Company makes all reasonable efforts to provide advice and safety information. This information can be found in the Home Guide at the Property or on this website. It is the responsibility of the Guest to ensure that they have read and understood the contents and advice given, either before or following arrival at the Property. The Company is willing to provide further information or answer questions about the Property. In addition, the Company states the following:

• The Company will release the physical address of the Property to the Guest within the Arrival Guide, which is sent to the Guest after full payment and the Company receives the completed Registration Form for the reservation. This is a security measure.
• The Company does not accept liability for equipment failure or services in the Property. In the event of equipment failure, the Guest must notify the Company within one working day so that the Company may elect to effect a remedy to the failure. The Company does not accept liability for the failure of the pool heater to provide adequate heating where pool heat is provided. There is a service fee to turn on/off pool heat at any time during a reservation period; however, if requested to have pool heat turned on/off before check-in, this fee will be waived. Refunds will not be granted when pool heaters fail to operate effectively due to an act of nature.
• The Company does not accept liability for the Guest’s lost or stolen personal Property from the Property during the Rental Period. The Company provides information and advice in the Home Guide to the Guest in an advisory capacity only, with no guarantee or promise of security, even where the Guest uses or follows any advice given by the Company or its representatives. If the Property of the Guest is lost or stolen, the Guest should advise the appropriate authority first, and then the Company, of the lost or stolen items. The Company will either make good and secure the Property or transfer the Guest to another Property (where the original cannot be secured), which will be the extent of its liability to the Guest under such circumstances.
• The Company or its representatives may enter the Property at any time, without notice, for the protection and maintenance of the Property. Wherever possible, the Company will notify the Guest before such entrance. Please note that pool service technicians may enter the pool enclosure at any time/day and the Company cannot provide notice to the Guest. Wherever possible, such pool service will be performed quickly and with minimum disruption to the Guest.
• The Company does not accept liability for personal loss or injury to the Guest during the Rental Period. The Guest must ensure that they have adequate insurance coverage. The Company provides information and advice to the Guest in an advisory capacity only, with no guarantee or promise of safety or security implied or given.
• The Guest must ensure that Children are supervised at all times. It is the policy of the Company that no children under 18 years are left in rental accommodation unsupervised during the rental period. The Florida Department of Children and Families adopts the National SAFE KIDS recommendation that Children under 12 must be supervised at all times. The Guest and the Children’s parent(s) are responsible for always ensuring adequate supervision.
• All minors must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older while using the pool. Guests acknowledge that at no time will there be a lifeguard on duty. Swimming involves certain risks for which the Company or the Owner will not be held liable. Guests waive the right to any claims against the Owner or the Company relating to using the pool and pool area.
• The Company does not accept liability for acts of violence, nature, fire, flood, war, civil disobedience, riot, pandemic, national or international emergency or restriction, or other force majeure that may deleteriously affect the Guest or the Property and its amenities.
• The Property is provided on an as-is basis. Furnishings, decor and equipment may not be exactly as shown in the photos on the listing. There may be replacement furnishings, equipment, or decor on arrival, and no compensation is provided for such changes, nor can it be used as the basis for cancellation or refund. The Company cannot provide replacement items without the prior agreement of the Property Owner during the Guest stay at the Property.
• The Company does not accept liability for removal of the Property from the marketplace due to accident, damage, sale, or transfer of the Property to another company by the Property Owner, resulting in the Property becoming unavailable for the Rental Period. Wherever such an event occurs, the Company will attempt to make all reasonable efforts to offer the Guest a suitable alternative accommodation of equal or better quality, subject to availability. If no suitable alternative is available, or if the Guest refuses the offered alternate Property, then the Guest or the Company may cancel the booking, and the Company will refund the Total Rental Fee.
• Where the Guest books the Property and is subject to a construction discount, which will be notified on the quotation or the booking confirmation to the Guest, the discount is the sole compensation offered to the Guest for any inconvenience caused by protracted construction, i.e., that which continues for more fantastic than four weeks, within 150 feet of the Property.
• Failure to comply with any of the Terms and Conditions of Rental herein will, at the sole discretion of the Company, result in the eviction of the Guest from the Property without compensation or refund.
• The Rental Agreement between the parties shall be governed and construed by the laws of Florida. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the federal or state courts in Osceola County, Florida. The prevailing party in any litigation shall be entitled to reimbursement of all costs and legal fees incurred in connection with the litigation.