To think that a 'bedroom' without a window cannot be legally described as one?

[ABedroomByAnyOtherName]

We've had a holiday booked since last year with a UK Holiday Cottage company. Lovely cottage, three bedrooms, great reviews on the website.

I paid the final balance this week and thought I'd have a look at the more recent reviews. Two new reviews point out that the third bedroom does not in fact have a window, it is just a windowless storage room with a bed inside.

This is ridiculous, surely? We need three bedrooms as there will be me and DH plus two teens who will definitely not share. We have paid a significant amount of money for three bedrooms - none of us will sleep in a windowless room, especially not in the summer!

After a quick check on the internet, most seem to agree that a room without a window cannot be legally described as a bedroom under UK law and can definitely not be advertised as one for renting out. This is due to fire safety regulations, as there needs to be at least two exits in the case of a fire.

I emailed the company saying this and have had a reply today to say it IS a bedroom and as such wasn't misdescribed, so they don't see an issue.
I'm so annoyed! We have paid a lot for what's basically a two bedroom cottage unsuitable for our needs, how on earth can they justify this?!

Can anyone help point me to the particular piece of legislation/building regs that confirm this? Obviously, lots of planning/building trade websites mentioned this, but I'd rather have a link to a government site to support this when I email back. I'd be so grateful for any help!

Ugh. I am so peeved. I'd rather they gave me a full refund now, as it's so dishonest that I resent giving them any of my money...any advice/pointers gratefully received!

Maybe send your complaint and safety/legality concerns (and that shite response) to this email address op if you haven’t already..

[email protected]

I hope you get it sorted one way or another soon.

😈

Also contact the fire service at their location to investigate it's safety.

I hope you get a refund @ABedroomByAnyOtherName , it would be my worst nightmare to not have a proper fire exit
Totally wrong of them

I never book with Sykes, their customer service is awful and in my experience their standards for the properties aren't particularly high. Then ended up accidentally booking with them through Booking.com (realised when the confirmation came through). True to form, it was one of the ropiest holiday properties I've ever stayed in - an awful bed, stained bedding, previous guests rubbish sat outside the back door attracting flies... and yet a 4* rating on Sykes. True to form Sykes weren't interested.

This thread is going to put an awful lot of people off using them.

Exactly what I was going to suggest

And you know this one doesn't how?

Wow. I've used sykes lots in the past and any issues have been swiftly remedied.
Will be wary of using them know but will know to email to check all bedrooms have windows.
This is the reason we have to have batshit laws because a company thinks its acceptable to say a big cupboard is a bedroom.

They are in breach of basic fire safely regulations. They don't get to choose which laws they abide by. Safety laws are for a reason.

We put in a bedroom off a room and it did have a window. The safety officer (building regs) insisted on a fire escape window.

They can't stuff a bed into a large cupboard and call it a bedroom. It's really not safe.

Take this all the way. This is disgraceful.

I book two or three cottages in the U.K. every year, to meet up with extended family.
I have used Sykes a in the past, won’t use them again after reading this.

Just wondered if you'd gotten any resolution @ABedroomByAnyOtherName?

Hi Vikings - we've actually just got back, thanks for asking!

The cottage was really lovely, beautifully clean and decorated nicely, lovely view etc...But that bedroom was horrible. Really small, extremely stuffy, just a single bed and a very small wardrobe in there (and I'm not totally convinced it was even a full single as my feet were touching the wall at times and I'm only 5'2"!)

The two teens (opposite sex) had the two double rooms, I had the 'cell' and DH was stuck with the sofa all week, poor thing. I had to have the door wedged open at night just for airflow and there's no way I would have expected either of the kids to sleep in there.

I'm relieved that that was the only issue with the cottage, but I'm very much a glass half full person 🤷‍♀️. I still think they should have clearly stated in the property description that the bedroom had no window and I'll be saying that in the review. Whether the review will stay up is another matter, as Sykes appear to have super restrictive conditions on what you can and can't say in a review ... convenient, that 😒

There is no way I'll ever use Sykes again - imagine telling a customer they should specifically check with Sykes that all bedrooms have a window before booking?! The epitome of CF- Ness.

OP if you think Sykes censor reviews, complain to the CMA. They are pretty hot on misleading reviews.

We have stayed in this property in the Peak District. Converted water tank, two out of the three bedrooms are underground and therefore have no window. However, that's made pretty clear from the listing.

https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Peak-District-Peak-District-Derbyshire-Dales-Darley-Bridge/Cambridge-Lodge-903901.html

I wonder if they used to use this (or previous owners) as a locked storage room -you know, for their "stuff" and/house maintenance equipment/personal bedding etc and that the previous layout was as a 2 bed. Trying to up the income they have added a "third" bedroom - which was never meant to be a bedroom. So hence, previous reviews (which will have been for a 2 bed) have been OK - but more recent ones have been, like you WTAF?!!