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Original poster

Holiday cottage and paying for logs for burner

46 replies

Lorrymum · 27/02/2023 17:45

I am staying in holiday cottage next week. The cottage has gas central heating and a log burner. The owner has been in touch to tell me how to obtain wood for burner from his log store. This involves a coded key lock and pre payment of £9.00 a basket of logs (last for 10 hours).
Should I feel slightly miffed that I have to pay for logs or is this normal practice?

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 27/02/2023 18:19

The cottages we’ve stayed in with log burners, we get the first basketful free. We have found the spare logs in one cottage so used them as nothing was said.

Drizzlepeacefully · 27/02/2023 18:19

You normally pay for logs though sometimes the first basket is free . In a gas centrally heated house it’s unlikely to be necessary for warmth more ambience if there is a radiator in the room

ForestofD · 27/02/2023 18:25

It's unreasonable if it is the only means of heating the home- you'd be effectively paying to keep yourself warm.

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Floofydawg · 27/02/2023 18:27

mumda · 27/02/2023 17:57

Find some cheaper and burn those instead.

Nope, don't do that. Burning cheap shit which hasn't been properly dried is not acceptable.

Logs are expensive - I wouldn't expect them to be included.

mumda · 27/02/2023 18:29

@Floofydawg many petrol stations sell bags of seasoned wood.

scoobydoo1971 · 27/02/2023 18:30

I run holiday rentals. Holiday cottage owner is unwise to charge for the extra's like wood. It builds resentment in customers, as you are feeling. I guess I would feel unhappy as a holiday maker too. It would have been better to charge a bit more for the rental on the off-chance a guest would use the burner.

Rubytoos · 27/02/2023 18:34

I have a holiday cottage and leave a complimentary basket with firelighters etc, and that’s usually enough for guests to have 3 evenings of fires. Most use it. I pay £10 for a bag of kiln dried logs. So it costs me £25 to provide the basket. My heating costs have also tripled with the price increases. It depends how much you’ve paid for the cottage and how long you’re staying as to whether the cottage owner is being reasonable or not to charge.

Georgyporky · 27/02/2023 18:37

Why use/buy logs when there's CH ?

HideTheCroissants · 27/02/2023 18:40

Whenever I’ve stayed at a cottage with a log burner there has been an initial “one night” supply only. Totally normal in my experience.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 27/02/2023 18:43

If there was no other source of heat provided I’d understand not expecting to pay but, as they’ve got gas heating available, the fire will be more for atmosphere and so charging what appears to be a fair price (based on what a pp says about a £5 net from a garage lasting around 3 hours) is acceptable. And, at least you’re aware before you get there and it’s available on site so you don’t have to go hunting for supplies in an unfamiliar area on the first night!

RandomUsernameHere · 27/02/2023 18:44

I don't think it's unreasonable, you don't have to use the log burner. If there was no central heating then it would be unreasonable.

Hedonism · 27/02/2023 18:49

Standard - though the first basket full is usually provided ime.

FannythePinkFlamingo · 27/02/2023 18:50

I work in holiday lets. We charge £10 per net of logs which is precisely what it costs us. We do provide kindling and fire lighters for free though. Logs have got super expensive over the last couple of years. They used to be £3 a net! YABU to expect them for free but the owner is BU for not telling you beforehand.

callingeveryone · 27/02/2023 18:59

It is normal to provide one basket for free and charge for any more.

Xol · 27/02/2023 19:01

Check the original information, both in the brochure/website and in the booking confirmation. It usually tells you about this, though happily for me the last two times I booked somewhere that said we would have to buy our own logs they did in fact provide them without extra charge. I assume if you can get them anywhere else more cheaply you are free to do so.

Mind you, when I've had to pay I'm stingy enough to take home any unused logs I've paid for.

emmathedilemma · 27/02/2023 19:22

Not unusual in my experience. There might be a bag of kindling and fire lighters left as a starter pack and then after that you supply your own.

Roselilly36 · 27/02/2023 19:23

Always had to pay for these as extras at Center Parcs & Forest Holidays so I wouldn’t assume they would be included, not every guest will want to use this facility so it gives the guest choice.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/02/2023 19:35

It's very normal to have to pay.

Log burners are a nice extra, not an essential.

Wallywobbles · 27/02/2023 20:24

We have an open fire at our beach house but live 2 hours away so would have no way of getting logs there. They are available in net bags from the local supermarket. Best we can do.

soboredoflooking · 27/02/2023 21:18

I went to a luxury lodge through a company. The place had a log fire but they didn't supply any u had to bring ur own!

There was central heating so it wasn't necessary but I did want to have it on for an hour or two in the evening as wld be nice as cosy.

I suppose it's similar you don't actually need it and I know the logs can be expensive to buy so least they are offering in advance. Should have been noted on the listing though.

Emptycrackedcup · 27/02/2023 21:27

Impatientwino · 27/02/2023 17:49

I would think it would be more reasonable for them to include one basket of logs and then to ask for additional baskets to be paid for.

Probably this, if it was electricity it would be included in the price. Is the burner necessary? Ie if you don't use it will it be freezing or is there a heater?

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