Renting a French house with a sense of security!

[StiffyByng]

For several years we've spent holidays in French gites rented directly from owners through various sites with no problems. Last year though we had a nightmare owner who gave us lots of trouble and kept part of our deposit on very dodgy grounds. Sadly she is based abroad so we couldn't pursue her through the small claims court.

This experience has left me very nervous of renting again but my husband is keen and there's no doubt that it's a very good value way of having the holiday we like. Can anyone recommend a website we could find a house through that offers any security to renters, or a company that rents rather than individual owners?

At the very least this year I will be insisting on a UK-based owner and a security deposit paid by cheque, but I'd rather not spend my whole holiday fretting. We are very careful and responsible people so are very unlikely to cause damage, but then we didn't last year either...

Where in France are you aiming to go and when?

We're looking at the first two weeks of August, from Southern Brittany down to the South West. We need 4/5 bedrooms which narrows down our choice and it's relatively late to be looking, so we don't want to cut ourselves off from possibilities.

I have booked through holday lettings, owners direct and finally I always look on trip advisor at reviews. Good luck, don't let one awful owner put you off. Most people are very nice.

I'm looking for company recommendations if anyone has one. I've heard dodgy things about them too!

I know most people are decent. We've only ever had perfectly pleasant owners in the past. I'm cross with myself for feeling this nervous.

Do you mean companies that run lettings? I have found that most holiday homes or gites are privately owned and managed by the owner on site or a company - but then you will pay more and not necessarily get a better service.

Just thought- you might mean companies that rent for expats into france- but they won't do reviews? And those lettings will be short term/ long terms lets anyway.

Why don't you find a place you like and contact the owners? It depends if some people have messed them about in the past. But you will get frank views on trip advisor!

Most private places aren't on Trip Advisor though. The one we had problems with certainly isn't.

I guess I was thinking along the lines of James Villas. But having looked at their prices, they are extortionate! And I've spotted that other companies are just agents for private individuals too. I suppose I just wanted not to leave myself open to being ripped off with no comeback again and using a company seemed safest.

I am going to have to grit my teeth and trust someone. At least if they are UK-based I'll have some comeback.

we used a company in the uk a couple of years ago and the place was awful - the dirtiest we've ever had in over 30 years of hiring places - so it doesn't guarantee anything - they obviously hadn't checked the place for years as it eventually took them 6 man hours to get it anywhere near decent.

renting via someone in the uk sounds sensible, or maybe paying with your credit card