Holiday letting- would you expect compensation?

[Mirrorxxx]

We have been staying this week in a holiday cottage and have had a few issues;

• no hot water for first 24 hours
• no heating all week. They did bring some plug in heaters so we can heat some rooms but it’s either freezing or boiling
• woken up early every day by building work next door that we were not told about. This is clearly long running work. All day there is banging and shouting and music.

This is a quiet beach location so we had hoped for a peaceful relaxing stay but I’m not sure if to ask for compensation.

thanks

You have had heating as they sorted that for you and brought you some plug in heaters. No hot water for 24 hours is not that much of a big deal IMO.

As for the building work next door, that is nothing to do with them, or the holiday cottage you are renting. They can't control what the neighbours do or what is going on around them. Its no fault of theirs so why should they be out of pocket for that? We stayed somewhere with building work last year. We were up early most mornings and out most of the day but when we were home we just turned the TV or music up. Its only during the day and not in the evening so we just put up with it and didn't let it bother us.

So no, I don't think personally that you should ask for compensation.

I would definitely expect some compensation. Threads similar to this get some strange replies. Some people will put up with anything apparently.

What did the reviews look like?

I expect you've paid a lot of money so it's not unreasonable to expect to be reimbursed some of it.

Is it in the U.K.? And did you book it direct or through an agency.

I would, but this is mumsnet and people’s standards seem to be low.

Each of those points are bad, but combined it sounds like a pretty crap break.

In the uk and booked through an agency. Used this agency before.
yes we did pay quite a lot and feel disappointed in the stay. If it was unexpected building work I wouldn’t feel the same but it has clearly been on going for a long time so they knew about the noise issues

Which agency? Some are better than others? How much would you be happy with?
Did you raise the issues straight away?
What about 50%?

You probably won’t get anywhere with the building issues. We had similar with a cottage in the summer and were told there’s nothing they can do about neighbour’s building work & noise. I feel for you though. It spoils the holiday if you want a peaceful break away from it all.

We were booked with Sykes.

I would expect a small discount for the inconvenience of the building work, and a bloody big discount for the lack of heating and hot water.

MN is very weird when it comes to things like this though and seems to think you should just accept a lack of basic amenities like hot water or heating in December - so you'll likely get some very odd responses!

I would definitely be asking for a discount for the no heating. How much did you pay and for how long?

I would have gone home if there was no hot water, and asked for a full refund. That must be against the terms in the contract.

Absolutely should have compensation for this! It’s unacceptable.

They should have offered to move you as soon as you explained the issue. If there was no option, then a decent compensation for the days you have been without hot water and heating (plug in are not acceptable).

You should have been warned about the noise. In my experience, we would have sorted you out with an alternative.

Call Sykes and tell them to sort it out.

Why not contact them and ask for a refund. I would think they should offer a reduction or vouchers for a future holiday.

I'd be asking for a refund for the lack heating alone. The no hot water for 24 hours is bad but sounds as if this was sorted? You should have been made aware of building works but not much they can do about the noise other than to ask the contractors to be mindful of noise levels I suppose. The property isn't fit to be rented out if it lack basic amenities like heating and hot water. The owners are making a profit on an uninhabitable house.

The first reply is typical MN lunacy 😂.

I definitely would.

This is a bloody holiday not an endurance test. It sounds miserable. Standards should be higher than your own house otherwise what's the point.

I bet all these people telling you to stop moaning wouldn't put up with it on their own break.

Suffering a shit holiday is not a virtue.

What was the reason for no heating/hot water? Around these parts there's been houses with no electricity and some with no water for days following the storm last weekend.

Definitely ask, plug in heaters aren't the same as having heating set on a timer in this weather.

@ohtowinthelottery I believe the lack of heating is due to it being an air source heat pump and they couldn’t find anyone to come and fix it.

The first reply is odd. I do think there should be some recompense for the discomfort and disappointment.

Did it say anywhere (even in tiny print) in the booking that there was building work going on? I've stayed in places a couple of times where this is mentioned so you can't complain.
I'd ask for compensation, it sounds like a miserable holiday.
(But I'm here mainly for the posters who think that unless the owner punched you in the face on arrival, you have no rights at all)

I'd be expecting some compensation, yes - that sounds grim, and certainly not what you paid for.

Some people on MN seem to think that a holiday should be endured rather than enjoyed, and providing you've been given a roof over your head you should count your blessings and be grateful. Fuck that.

@GinaDreamsofRunningAway I had no hot water in the uk in the middle of winter at an air b and b and I can assure you it is a very big deal.

Absolutely you deserve some compensation/discount.

Yes I did think the first response was odd and that maybe I had unrealistic expectations. But I do expect a holiday to be nicer than home or I’d stay at home.

its not a national agency but one that covers this specific area. Paid about £1500 for a week for 2 adults 1 dog.

Was the first reply written by the holiday cottage owner?

I guess we are all different. It honestly wouldn't be a big deal to me. Not for 24 hours anyway. Its just a bit of hot water. You can boil a kettle and still wash up. All you can't do really is take a shower. Like I said, for 24 hours it wouldn't be something that worried or bothered me. Then again I live in Wales and we are often without power, hence no heating and hot water, so I guess maybe I am just used to this kind of thing.

Nope. But I guess I am just not easily bothered about no hot water for 24 hours and using plug in heaters for warmth and some building noise. We are all different and it honestly wouldn't bother me.