Villa Owners! Advice please...

[UncleLatch]

Earlier this year we booked a villa at Highlands Reserve direct with the owners, not a dibb villa unfortunately due to availability. We paid the deposit at the time of booking, then balance and security deposit 8 weeks before departure date, which as you can see from my countdown is not long now.

Last week we had an email from a lady saying she had bought the villa from the people we booked with, but not to worry as the booking would be honoured. I had a couple of concerns, namely the condition of the villa after the sale, which she says is in good condition, and who would be responsible for the return of my security deposit after the holiday. The new owner hadn't been told that i had paid the security deposit, but again agreed to honour the booking after I emailed proof to her.

Tonight I had a phone call from her (she seems a very nice lady) letting me know that she was having trouble getting information and money from bookings from the previous owners and as a consequence there may be a delay in getting my security deposit back after the holiday, and indeed I may have to help chase the original owners for it.

Opinions please.

[Cal and Dave]

Well first thing I would do would be to speak to the original person that you booked the villa with.

He really should give you the security deposit back now as he no longer owns the villa, the money is no longer his to keep hold of. You then would pay the secuirity deposit to the new owner.

If you paid all money to the previous owner, did he pass on the money to the new owner for the booking? If he did, why did he not pay the security deposit also?

[Malcolm]

Hi if you have the owners information then e-mail them for confirmation that the fees and security deposit were passed onto the new owner. Check your booking confirmation details to see if any clause in the contract allows for passing on your booking to another person as your contract is with the origional owner and not new owner and so origional owner is liable to refund your deposit also check with new owner if they signed an agreement with the origional owner to honor bookings if they did then it is down to new owner to collect ballances and refund any monies due.

Malcolm

[UncleLatch]

Thank you for the replies. I think an email to the original owners seeking clarification of the situation would be in order. As far as i can see there is nothing in the terms and conditions on the booking form mentioning what would happen in this situation.

[Malcolm]

Hi ...then you are contracted to the origional owner and not the new, it is the responsability of the old owner to refund or clarify that they have passed on ALL your monies to the new owner.

[rnoon]

The old owner should have passed all funds onto the new owner upon sale and if you have proof of the money that you paid then it really is up to the new owner to sort this out. When we bought our villas we honoured all bookings and refunded security deposits etc from then on, in fact there was even a date discrepancy with one booking as they said they'd booked it for another day which the previous owner did not tell us about therefore we just took the hit as it is not the guests fault that the villa was sold.

With regards to the condition of the villa you'll probably find that it will be in better condition as the new owners will want to put their own stamp on it and if they're anything like me go shopping for lovely new bits and pieces.

[UncleLatch]

The old owner should have passed all funds onto the new owner upon sale and if you have proof of the money that you paid then it really is up to the new owner to sort this out. When we bought our villas we honoured all bookings and refunded security deposits etc from then on, in fact there was even a date discrepancy with one booking as they said they'd booked it for another day which the previous owner did not tell us about therefore we just took the hit as it is not the guests fault that the villa was sold.

With regards to the condition of the villa you'll probably find that it will be in better condition as the new owners will want to put their own stamp on it and if they're anything like me go shopping for lovely new bits and pieces.

That's the problem. The new owner has informed me that she is having problems getting the booking monies etc from the previous owner.

[*source*]

Oh dear :erm:

Hope you get that sorted out soon. I should have thought that the old owner would have transferred *everything* to the new owner... including deposits etc.

Hope you manage to get it sorted soon :thumbs-up

[andyhayley]

I remember a few years ago we had the same problem (before we ownered our own villa). We booked with one guy, who then sold the house, so we ended up dealing with another.

The new owner was very keen to ensure everything was perfect, and it was. We actually rebooked with him for another year his house was that nice.

I would not worry too much about the condition of the villa as the new owner will no doubt want to make everything perfect. For the security deposit, the original owner should have refunded this to you or passed it onto the new owner as they have no right to hold it, but Im sure this will get sorted out.

The new owner sounds like they are on the ball.

Im not sure how you paid btw, but if you used a credit card for at least £ 100 of it, and you did have problems, your card company will sort this for you. It might be hindsight, but its always a good idea with any holiday to pay at least the deposit with a card to get the coverage 'just in case'.

[rnoon]

That's the problem. The new owner has informed me that she is having problems getting the booking monies etc from the previous owner.

That's very odd as when we bought both of our villas the future booking amounts were all part of the settlement figure so we didn't have to deal with this once the property sale was completed. Good luck hope this all gets sorted.

[das c]

I think that at the end of the day you have a contract that stipulates your security deposit is FULLY REFUNDABLE providing everything is ok, so i would not worry to much you will get your money either way.

[UncleLatch]

I think that at the end of the day you have a contract that stipulates your security deposit is FULLY REFUNDABLE providing everything is ok, so i would not worry to much you will get your money either way.

Thanks again folks. The security deposit is only £200, but it's the principal of the thing isn't it? To be honest I feel sorry for the new owner and the position she's been put in, and I shall, unless the situation changes, chase the original owner for the refund after the holiday. It's just one worry you can do without isn't it?

[Cal and Dave]

Yes its not something you need just before your holiday. People like this make it difficult for the rest of us.

Hopefully you contacting the previous owner will resolve the issue. :)

Have a great holiday :wavey:

[Malcolm]

UncleLatch...did you fill in a booking form with the old owner? We always get guest to fill one in as it covers both us and guests.

Malcolm

[UncleLatch]

UncleLatch...did you fill in a booking form with the old owner? We always get guest to fill one in as it covers both us and guests.

Malcolm

Yes I did, my contract is with the original owners, and if the situation goes 'belly up' it will be the original owners who I'll stick into the SCC.