It is understood that Robin and John Katsaros (hereafter referred to as OWNER) offer short term rental of their Paris apartment located at 83, rue Saint Dominique in Paris, France. The person paying and signing the document for the rental (hereafter referred to as “Customer”) understands by booking the property with OWNER directly, or on the www.OurParisHome.com or the www.vrbo.com web site agrees to abide by the Rental Conditions listed below.
1) PAYMENT: A deposit of 50% of the total rental must be received by OWNER before a booking will be confirmed and the date of our online calendar updated with your requested dates. The balance of the rental amount is due 60 days prior to the beginning of the rental period. If the arrival date is within 60 days of the date of booking, the total rental amount is required for confirmation. You will be given an email confirmation from OWNER when your deposit has been received. OWNER will provide Customer with an email confirmation after final balance has been received. Customer will receive an email “Travel Document” which contains apartment arrival instructions & our local Apartment Manager contact information approximately three weeks prior to the arrival date.
2) ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE: Occupancy commences 3 PM on the day of arrival, and terminates by 10 AM on the day of departure unless other arrangements have been made in advance with OWNER. If there is no one checking out on the day you check-in, you may take occupancy early, but this must be coordinated with OWNER. Those times where there are same day check-in/out, we must have enough time to clean the apartment thoroughly and you may not be able to check in until 3pm, although we try our hardest to accommodate all early arrivals, whenever possible. You are more than welcome to drop your luggage off after 10am, but you will need to coordinate those arrangements with OWNER. Please contact OWNER to make any modifications to the 3pm arrival time. Extra arrival coordination charges will apply if occupancy commences on a Sunday, a French National Holiday, or before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on the day of arrival and need to be paid, in cash in Euros, directly to our Apartment Manager. But please note: Any change in arrival date or time must be coordinated with OWNER at least 96 hours prior to arrival at the property.
3) SECURITY CHARGES: Customer will be met by OWNER’s Apartment Manager upon arrival at which time a walk through of the apartment will be conducted to orient Customer with apartment layout, the proper usage of appliances and other familiarization aspects of apartment. Customer will also be shown inventory of items in apartment and proper working order of apartment. Should the Customer discover anything not in suitable working order they must notify Apartment Manager immediately (and in any case not more than 24 hours later) via local phone number provided to Customer at time of check-in. Customer agrees to cover the cost of any damage, breakage or missing items during Customer’s stay to the property and its contents excluding normal wear. Apartment is expected to be left in a normal state of cleanliness upon Customer’s departure (which means the same condition as when Customer arrived at the the apartment). Customer agrees to be responsible for the inventory of items, which may be broken, damaged, or missing, and for all debts or charges not included in the rental price that Customer incurs during occupancy. Customer is fully responsible for any damage they cause and authorizes OWNER to debit their credit card, or deduct monies from their security deposit, to reimburse OWNER for any damages. If you are using your credit card as security deposit, please make sure to fill in credit card information completely which is at end of this form.
Most apartment owners of Parisian property rentals of our caliber require a substanstial cash security deposit which means your money is being held for a significant period of time. We’ve found that most of our guests would prefer to have the use of their money while on vacation rather than havig it tied up as a deposit. We’ve chosen this method of using your credit card as insurance against damage because we’ve found it is the most fair for all parties involved. But if you prefer not to provide a credit card as security, you are more than welcome to provide a security deposit check, to be received in our office no later than 14 days before your arrival date, in the amount of US $1000, made out to OWNER. This will be refunded to you within 7 business days of your departure date unless there has been damage and monies needs to be deducted. OWNER will provide you with a complete accounting of charges at the earliest moment possible (ie-recepts from workmen to complete repair work). Regardless which method you choose to guarantee your security deposit, Customer must print, sign and date this RENTAL CONDITIONS form and return to OWNER prior to Customer arrival date.
4) NUMBER OF PERSONS: The number of people occupying the property must not exceed the number supplied to OWNER on the “Reservation” formand a maximum of five regardless; otherwise the booking can be cancelled without refund. If other, unauthorized people occupy the property, the OWNER and/or the property OWNER’s local Apartment Manger has the right to charge additionally for the extra person, or refuse entry completely.
5) PRICING: Prices are based on market conditions and OWNER therefore reserves the right to modify prices in the case of fluctuation of the rate of exchange for those amounts not paid in full at time of booking. The current pricing is calculated on a high season rate of $595 per night or low season rate of $550 per night.Please be advised that there is an extra charge of $50 for the use of the third bed or 5th person per week.
6) MODIFICATIONS and CANCELLATION CHARGES: Apartments are not commercial entities like hotels. They are booked far in advance and they are not easily re-rented. If Customer cancels a reservation at any time after it has been confirmed, all money paid by Customer prior to cancellation will be forfeited. The reservation is also non-transferable to another party or another date. No money will be returned to Customer. OWNER strongly recommends that Customer take out Travelers Cancellation Insurance to cover any unforeseen medical or other type of emergency which would prevent them from occupying the property booked. If for any reason beyond their control, OWNER should be unable to provide to the Customer the property he has booked, OWNER will refund all money paid by Customer immediately. OWNER reserves the right to refuse or cancel any booking for accommodations, and OWNER’s total liability shall be limited only to such amount advanced by Customer.
7) BEHAVIOR: Customer is responsible for correct and decent behavior of all persons in his/her party. The French take their peace and quiet very seriously. Customer is requested to be careful of noise, loud music and loud voices at all times during their stay but particularly between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Should Customer or his/her party behave in an indecent or incorrect manner based on civilized standards, they may be asked to vacate the apartment with no refund. Running up and down hallways, banging luggage in stairwells particularly during early morning or late arrival and/or departure dates, slamming doors, fighting or arguing, loud music are only some examples of behavior that will not be tolerated and could serve as grounds for eviction. Only those people listed on the booking may use the property. Pets and smoking are strictly prohibited. If OWNER’s local representative, at their sole discretion, determines that these provisions have not been strictly followed, Customer will be asked to leave and will forfeit their entire deposit.
8 ) ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES, and WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE: The description and photos of our apartment are provided in good faith and are representative only. OWNER rental offering is subject to errors, omissions, change, withdrawal without notice, and approval of Customer and acceptance of contract by OWNER. Photos of our apartment are non contractual and will not be recognized as the basis for any claim. They are intended to give a general idea of the appearance and atmosphere of our apartment and serve no other purpose.
9) RESPONSIBILITY: OWNER is not responsible for any physical injuries caused to Customer and/or party members during their stay at the property. It is therefore highly recommended that Customer purchase comprehensive travel insurance prior to their trip. Our propertiy is not an official tourist structure or hotel. Rather, it is our own private home. As such, it does not have standards or categories recognized internationally. Instead these reflect the architecture and furnishings of the local Parisian traditions and personal taste of OWNER. Customer must accept differences in our property, be they architectural or cultural, relative to their own home. Customer agrees to immediately inform our local Apartment Manager in France of any loss, damage, or other problem. If any issue is not resolved with our Apartment Manager satisfactorily, Customer must report the problem immediately and in any case within 24 hours to OWNER (via phone to our US home at (650) 941-2251 or our US cellular phone at (650) 787-7768) and document all issues in writing (via email to RKatsaros@aol.com). Complaints issued following the customer’s return will not be considered, nor will give rise to any indemnity. OWNER is not liable for any temporary defects or stoppages in supply of electricity, gas, water, plumbing , elevator service, Internet service, Cable TV service, telephone service, etc. Customer needs to fully appreciate that this property is located in a foreign country and as such, OWNER has no control over local contractors and situations on the ground (as much as we wish to the contrary!). OWNER is not liable for annoyance, disturbance, inconvenience or any noise nuisance incurred by Customer or any member of Customer’s party, related to maintenance and/or repairs of the building – including the common areas – or in the immediate vicinity, performed by parties not affiliated with OWNER. OWNER is not liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience of Customer caused by anything beyond its control. As rigid as this sounds, this is a fact of life when owning/renting an apartment in France.
10) OWNER’S DISCLAIMER: The OWNER does not accept any liability for any loss, damage, or additional expenses incurred by the Customer or any member of the Customer’s party regardless of the cause. The owner does not accept liability for any injury, death, loss, inconvenience or damage, alteration, delay or cancellation of the booking as a result of war, threat of war, riot or civil strife, terrorist activity (threatened or actual), natural disaster (i.e. volcanic ash), fire, sickness, weather conditions, action at an airport or port by any government or public authority, technical problems relating to transport and airport regulations caused by technical, mechanical or electrical breakdowns or with the Customer’s accommodation or other circumstances as amounting to ‘force majeure’ or Acts of God or other similar events beyond the OWNER’s control.
11) JURISDICTION: All contracts between Customer and OWNER are held to be made at the location of the OWNER’s office in California, and are subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the State of California. In case a dispute between the parties occurs the parties agree that resolution will be obtained by arbitration with the American Arbitration Association and conducted in Santa Clara County, California.
12) ACCEPTANCE OF THESE RENTAL CONDITIONS: By confirming the booking and/or paying any amount of money to OWNER for a booking, the customer implies that these Rental Conditions have been understood and have thereby been accepted without reserve and without exception. If any of the conditions of this contract become invalid, the other conditions cannot be contested.
13. THIS LEGAL DOCUMENT: As much as OWNER wishes we didn’t have to have all this “ legal mumbo jumbo” spelled out in a document like this, our lawyers made us do it! What else can we say?
CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT OF THE RENTAL CONDITIONS DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY:
I, the Customer, have read, understand, and accept the terms and conditions of the rental agreement set forth in this “RENTAL CONDITIONS” document. I am fully aware that OWNER, as well as OWNER’s local agent and/or Apartment Manager, accept no responsibility for accidents of any nature occurring within the property and its immediate surroundings. I also acknowledge that I have been advised to take a fully comprehensive, all risks, Travel Insurance and Personal Liability Insurance.
Date: ______________________
Customer signature: _______________________________________________
Customer PRINTED name: ________________________________________
Security Depost Method (circle one): Credit Card or $1000 check
Credit Card Type (circle one): MasterCard or VISA or PayPal (4% service handling charges apply)
Customer Card Number: _______________________________
Customer Name on Card (exactly as it appears on your card) : ____________________________________
Expiration Date on Card (month/day/year): ______________
Billing Address for the credit card referenced above: ____________________________________________________________________________
CVV Code: ________ What is this?
SIGNED ORIGINAL to be sent at time of booking reservation via normal postal service to OWNER’s business at address below. If time is of the essence (ie your reservation request within 60 days or your arrival date), please send via overnight FEDEX, UPS, DHL or other overnight serive provider. Please do NOT use United States Postal Service as they have been proven unreliable and not trackable. Please provide tracking ID number provided by your chosen expedited delivery company to OWNER via email to RKatsaros@aol.com to confirm that this form has been sent and is on its way. You will receive a confirming email from OWNER when this delivery has arrived.