Terms and conditions
These terms are binding for both parties once the customer has paid to Lahtela Holiday Cottages the deposit as described in these terms or both the deposit and the final payment at the same time, or in special cases once the customer has made payment upon arrival at the holiday cottage.
An invoice shall be sent to the customer by normal post or e-mail. The payment must be made according to the details specified on the invoice. Any notifications must be made within 5 days of the date of the invoice.
The booking is confirmed once the customer has paid a deposit equal to 50% of the rent by the due date (7 days from the date of the invoice), unless otherwise agreed or if both the deposit and final payment are paid at once. The final payment must be paid no later than one month (30 days) before the start of the holiday.
If the payments or payment periods are neglected, the reservation may be cancelled without any separate notification to the customer.
Cancellations must be made in writing (by letter or e-mail) to Lahtela Holiday Cottages. A cancellation is valid from the moment that Lahtela Holiday Cottages has received notification of the cancellation. If the customer can show that the cancellation has been made and sent to the right address at the right time, the cancellation shall be accepted regardless of whether it arrives late or not at all.
In case of cancellation, 30% of the agreed price of the holiday shall be charged. If the cancellation is made within 30 days of the start of the holiday, the entire price of the holiday shall be charged. If the holiday is sold onwards to another customer for the same price, 30% of the agreed price of the holiday shall be kept as a cancellation fee.
Regardless of what is stipulated above, the customer has the right to compensation for the amount paid to Lahtela Holiday Cottages with the exception of the deposit due to severe illness, accident or death of the customer or a member of the same household. Notification of cancellation must be provided at once together with a reliable confirmation of the circumstances (e.g. doctor´s certificate). If the cancellation is made within 48 hours of the beginning of the reservation period or during the holiday itself, the customer shall not be compensated.
In case of force majeure, Lahtela Holiday Cottages has the right to cancel a reservation. The customer then has the right to full compensation for payments made to Lahtela Holiday Cottages. If the payments or payment periods are neglected, the reservation may be cancelled without any separate notification to the customer. If a reservation has to be cancelled during the holiday due to misbehaviour or damage, payments shall not be returned.
All expenses and consequences due to disturbances, damages or dangers caused by the customer shall be charged to the customer according to actual costs.
Keys to the holiday cottage are handed over to the customer upon arrival at the time notified in advance to the owner either by telephone or in writing. The owner or caretaker has the right to charge a deposit of €100 for the keys.
If the customer does not return the keys and can be shown to have lost the keys due to carelessness, the actual costs of replacing the locks shall be charged to the customer minus any deposit that may have been paid for the keys.
For one-week rental periods, holiday cottages are available to the customer from 4pm on the arrival date to 12noon on the departure date.
For weekend rental periods, holiday cottages are available from 4pm on Friday to 6pm on Sunday.
The rent includes the free use of the holiday cottage (includes sauna, rowing boat, all furnishings, tableware, cooking equipment and energy for heating, lighting and cooking).
Bedclothes and towels can be rented for a surcharge of €10/person (includes bed sheet, duvet cover, pillowcase, hand towel and sauna towel).
Customers themselves are responsible for cleaning their holiday cottage during their stay and before vacating the cottage. If cleaning has not been performed at the end of the reservation period, or if it has been performed inadequately, and Lahtela Holiday Cottages has to carry out cleaning before the arrival of the next customer, Lahtela Holiday Cottages has the right to charge a cleaning fee of at least 90€ minus any cleaning deposit that has been paid. Cleaning can also be booked beforehand, during the booking process. Nevertheless, the cottage must be left in a tidy condition: all furniture and movables in their right place, any spills cleaned up and garbage removed. Cleaning instructions can be found in each holiday cottage. For particularly dirty holiday cottages, Lahtela Holiday Cottages has the right to charge a cleaning fee of €50/hour.
Customers themselves are responsible for cleaning their holiday cottage during their stay and before vacating the cottage. All furniture and movables must be in their right place, any spills cleaned up and garbage removed. Cleaning instructions can be found in the holiday cottage.
In case the holiday cottage is particular dirty, Lahtela Holiday Cottages has the right to charge a cleaning fee of €50/hour.
Any use of open fire (candles, tealights, outdoor fire) is strictly prohibited in all cottages. Only water is allowed to be thrown on the sauna rocks (no essences). The use of aromatic, peat or honey skin creams in the sauna is prohibited. Bonfires are prohibited during forest fire warning periods and at other times are allowed only in especially reserved areas. Drying mushrooms, berries or fish indoors is prohibited! Jet skis are prohibited!
Holiday cottages can be used by no more than the number of people corresponding to the number of beds listed in the brochure or than has been agreed in advance when making the booking. The use of tents or caravans on the property without the owner´s consent is prohibited. The owner must be notified about any pets when making the booking. Pets are permitted only in Kapasaari and Aurinkokumpu (maximum 2 dogs). Pets are prohibited in Kanerva and Hongisto. Smoking is prohibited inside all holiday cottages.
Charging electric cars using cottage electricity is strictly forbidden as the electric system is not designed for it. For more information, call Juha Lahtinen at 0400255715.
Nearest charing stations are in Heinola (40 km), Mäntyharju (32 km) and Kuortti (25 km).
Remember to close the damper above the stove or fireplace once the embers have died out. If the damper is not closed, the cottage will become cold in wintertime.
Turn off all lights and close doors and windows when leaving. Keys must be returned to Lahtela Holiday Cottages, unless otherwise agreed.
Fishing with a rod and line and ice fishing are covered by everyman´s right. A fishing permit is required for fishing with a rod and reel. Fishing permits can be purchased from Lahtela Holiday Cottages for €5.
During their stay customers are responsible for ensuring that the walkways outside their holiday cottage are not hazardously slippery. To prevent slipperiness, sand is available in containers. If the sand runs out, the customer is responsible for notifying the owner. In wintertime when going swimming in the lake, special care must be taken not to slip on the ice. In case of any accident from slipping, the customer is responsible for notifying Lahtela Holiday Cottages about the accident immediately. If Lahtela Holiday Cottages is not notified about the accident at once, Lahtela Holiday Cottages´s responsibility for the accident is void. If a customer slips and injures him or herself while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, Lahtela Holiday Cottages shall not take any responsibility for the accident.
Customers are responsible for compensating the owner directly for any damages caused to the holiday apartment or cottage itself or to its movables. Lahtela Holiday Cottages is not responsibility for damages caused to customers due to force majeure or other comparable reasons (e.g. storms, blackouts, etc.) that are not due to Lahtela Holiday Cottages and whose consequences could not be reasonably avoided. Lahtela Holiday Cottages is also not responsible for damages or consequences caused by normal natural phenomena.
Any remarks or complaints about the holiday apartment or cottage must be made directly to the owner without delay once the problem appears and during the reservation period. The problem shall be rectified as soon as possible. If the customer and Lahtela Holiday Cottages do not come to an understanding, the customer can forward the matter to the consumer complaint board.
Any disputes arising from this agreement or its application shall be settled amicably by the parties. Should the parties fail to reach a satisfactory settlement, the matter shall be resolved in the district court of the holiday destination. This agreement is governed by Finnish law.
The terms of this agreement are valid indefinitely. Lahtela Holiday Cottages reserves all rights to make changes.
In summertime:
Enjoy every moment of your holiday! You can order and pay for the final cleaning no later than the day before your departure. Remember to leave your holiday apartment or cottage in a tidy condition and to remove all garbage.