non payment of holiday let dilemmas

[thisoldrag]

Firstly i know I am very fortunate but when i got my retirement lump sum at work I decided to use it to buy a holiday let for us but also as potential income.
So far it's gone quite well
not loads of bookings but enough to help pay fir upkeep internet insurance etc
However a neighbour asked to rent the house during october half term as she was getting married near there and wanted space to accommodate some of her guests.
As she is a neighbour but not a friend I said i'd let it to her but would do it as an owner booking so she wouldn't have to pay the letting agent fees. A saving of around 300€
Now weeks have passed and she has not paid and is not responding to emails
Meanwhile I have paid the housekeeper and caretaker their usual fee of €400 plus gas and electricity for their stay.
I feel so annoyed but cannot think what else to do . I guess i just have to chalk it up to experience. Just wanted to vent here really as

Talk to her face to face?

yes i have said in an email that i am going over there it's in Spain next week so i suppose i can knock. dreading it though

Either go round there or send them a formal letter.
Don't just leave it!

Could you get the agent involved now? Maybe tell the neighbour they need to pay by X date or you'll have to pass it to the agent to chase and they'll be liable for any agent fees.

Ah, is it a neighbour of the holiday let not a neighbour at home?

Have they actually stayed yet? If not just don’t give them the keys/arrangements and tell whoever deals with it the other end not to let them in?

Whatever else you do learn from this. Decide when you require your deposit by and full payment by 7 days before (or whenever) or the booking is cancelled.

Your agent might pay you in arrears but they get the customers money upfront.

neighbour of the holiday let! yes they have been .
I hate anything like this and hate arguing especially as they would know when the apartment is empty.

yes definite learning curve. i should have just let the agent deal with it in the first place but was trying to be nice!!

No more favours for her

Did they understand that it meant they would have to pay? I think if someone said they would book it as an owner booking I would assume that was free but it just meant the lettings company knew it was unavailable at that time. I mean surely when you book it to stay in you dont pay anything do you?

no we agreed an amount and she asked for my bank account details but despite saying she'd pay she hasn't.
As others have said it's a lesson learned.
seems so mean as she knows the cleaner and knows how much work it is to clean up change beds wash towels etc.

I'd consider changing the locks, as they might have made copies of the keys.

i didn't consider this but you are right!!

Mexican holiday home thief

She may have just forgotten and be on honeymoon somewhere?

i would definitely go round.

We have a property abroad and do mates rates sometimes but they don’t get keys from the agent until I have the money, even if it’s friends or family.
Big mistake to let them in without payment, dont do it again

yes i realise that now.

TBH it's not even the money it's now things will be forever awkward as it's a tiny place where everyone knows everyone!!
no i'll never do this again through the agent only from now on

Police or small claims court. This person is a dick and a thief. Don’t worry about running a friendship, they clearly didn’t when they robbed you blind.