Damage deposits on holiday cottages

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Looking for a last minute break next week and came across a one bed place which looked ideal for me and DH for a few days. Went to the booking page and the price nearly doubled - apparently there's a £200 deposit (which wasn't mentioned anywhere in the particulars) which would be refunded 14 days after.

We usually go away in the UK 2/3 times a year and I've only been asked for significant damage deposits once - for a ten bed house, so that seemed totally reasonable. And others I've paid have been in the region of £50.

I dropped a note to the owner to say I wouldn't be booking and why. Would this have put you off too? It just seems a bit greedy to me. Rental deposits are protected in law but I don't know if there's anything similar for short term lets. Also the fact it wasn't mentioned until booking just seems a bit snaky.

Perhaps with the increase in take up this year they’ve seen an increase in bookings, and an increase in damage, perhaps they did use to do £50 and it wasn’t enough so they take more now? Not everyone treats holiday cottages as well as you might, and especially in the UK where it might feel a bit more “staying at home”

Lots of cottage owners ask for a security deposit- I do but luckily have never had to retain any but the following have all happened to people I know:
Mattress soaked with urine (guests had removed the waterproof protector).
TV broken as it had been moved outside so they could watch the football from the terrace.
Bed frame and sofa broken after being used as a trampoline.
Dog poo ground into the carpets throughout.
Dog urine on doorways and fabric sofas.
Kitchen cupboard doors pulled off.
Broken glass in the swimming pool.
Pool liner punctured by teens pole vaulting through it.
Ceramic hob smashed.

A £200 security deposit probably just covers the insurance excess. We refund by bank transfer within a week.

Ours for the Lakes is a £250 deposit.

We don’t charge a deposit for our cottage as usually we know the people renting as long term returners or friends and friends of friends.

The deposit on our lodge is set by site. It’s about £150, I think.

Perhaps I've just been lucky.

The owner replied and was quite arsey so I feel I made the right decision tbh.

He did say if we were returning guests he wouldn't charge. Different approaches I suppose and maybe different areas get different guests. This was just outside Huddersfield.

I think it’s usual. We had to pay one of about £250 for the cottage we stayed in in Devon. It was transferred back the week after we got home.

If it will be refunded if there's no damage done, then I won't be offended. It must be safer for owner to have security deposit first, then return, rather than chase up someone who damage it and refuse to pay.

Greedy, snaky, when someone's just trying to cover themselves against damage. If you book direct then it's pretty standard.

Really common, it's usually to cover the insurance excess if they have to claim.

It's not an unreasonable amount, but I would expect it returned quicker than 14 days. The owner should be checking for damage as soon as you've left. In 14 days there could easily be two or more sets of guests staying after you and how can they attribute damage to a party if they leave it so long?

We always book direct and in many years of using holiday cottages have only been asked for a deposit at one cottage that we used a couple of times. If I remember correctly they were rather tardy in returning it - not because of any problems, just because they were rather flaky owners.

I'm not against the deposit as such but do think that if there is one then it should be mentioned upfront and not part way through the booking process.

I know this is an old thread, but we are thinking of booking a house we have stayed in before. Last time they waived the damage deposit, this time they are charging £350 for two people! When we went last time the kitchen cupboards were grubby and covered in finger marks and there were flies in the kitchen. Everything else was clean. The garden furniture was also broken. They have changed their policy now and I feel it's a very large amount to charge. How can I trust them not to decide we have left the house a mess and not refund? We are always very tidy and clean, but I am not sure I trust them .

Take loads of before and after photos as evidence?

I wouldn't stay there personally.

I don’t want the hassle . I have been stung a couple of times by owners who claim the deposit when the house was left immaculate. It makes me nervous.