Covid-19 cancellation terms for the 2021 season

For reservations for the 2021 season the following cancellation terms will be applied in relation to the Covid epidemic, in accordance with the agreement obtained from the property owners whose rental property is published on vendee-gites.com*

If you rent a property through our partner company Select Villas, their applicable cancellation terms will be provided before reservation.

Holiday rental cancellation terms are subject to French legislation. The French government may decide to introduce specific measures for tourism which could modify the terms that can or must be applied.

You are strongly advised to follow the evolution of travel insurance terms and ensure that your policy offers the best cover possible, in particular for the medical risks for you and your family that may affect your ability to travel.

*Check the mention on the property details page - some may still be waiting for the terms to be confirmed. If this is the case, we will consult the owner.

Date of balance payment

Assuming that the Covid situation remains in the first half of 2021, to allow you to make a comfortable decision in relation to the probable situation for the dates of your stay, the balance payment date for the 2021 season will be fixed at 4 weeks before the start of the rental (rather then the usual 8 weeks). This date is the cornerstone which determines the applicable terms.

Cancellation before the balance payment date

If a condition of Force Majeure due to the Covid epidemic is established for the dates of your stay :
(See the notes below for the definition of Force Majeure and the applicable instances.)

The property owner will refund the net rental amount of the initial 25% deposit paid.

The fees already acquired by Accord Services - vendee-gites.com, at the time of cancellation, concern the payment of accomplished services which are not refundable. The amount of the fees acquired is indicated by the payment schedule on the booking confirmation.

Cancellation after the balance payment date

If a condition of Force Majeure due to the Covid epidemic is established for the dates of your stay :
(See the notes below for the definition of Force Majeure and the applicable instances.)

The property owner will accept to move your stay to different dates. This can be later in the same year or for similar dates the next year and is subject to the availability at that that time.

We will assist in organising this change of dates. A new rental contract will be established for the revised dates. If there is a seasonal price difference between the original dates and the revised dates, this will be taken into account by a further payment or a partial refund from the owner.

No additional fees will be charged by Accord Services - vendee-gites.com, for processing a timely once-only change of dates. The fees already acquired by Accord Services - vendee-gites.com, at the time of cancellation, remain acquired. The amount of the fees acquired is indicated by the payment schedule on the original booking confirmation.

Reservations made after the balance payment due date, with full payment

As the situation for the rented dates can be anticipated at the moment of entering into the rental contract, the client accepts the remaining inherent risks.
For a major and entirely unforeseen event which may invoke Force Majeure, a modification of the rented dates, as above, may be proposed but solely at the discretion of the property owner.

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Definition of Force Majeure for tourism

"Exceptional and inevitable circumstances appearing at the place of destination, or in its immediate proximity, which are outside the control of the client or supplier, and which have important consequences for the execution of the rental contract, or the transport to or from the destination, and which can not be resolved or avoided by all reasonable means."

This excludes reasons relating to personal or economic circumstances.

This excludes reasons relating to health, for which the client must ensure adequate cover by travel insurance.

In the light of the knowledge of the situation and the inherent risks, the application of Force Majeure is now determinable in function of the foreseeable nature of the difficulty. The application of Force Majeure may be invalidated if, at the time of reservation, there was already a manifestly uncertain situation for the intended dates of the travel or stay.

Examples for guidance :

Force majeure applicable for the holiday rental contract.

The specific Covid cancellation terms apply.

Lock-down (confinement) at the client's place of residence, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation.
Lock-down (confinement) at the holiday destination, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation.
Border closure, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation.
Travel quarantine applied at the client's place of residence, or at the holiday destination, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation
Restrictions of allowed travelling distances, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation.
The government of the client's place of residence officially classes the destination as "at risk" (FCDO list in the UK), or restricts travel to and from the destination, not foreseeable at the time of making the reservation (1).
A cancellation by the property owner, relating to the epidemic, due to a closure of the establishment, or other impossibility to fulfil his/her contract.

Force majeure NOT applicable for the holiday rental contract.

The standard cancellation terms apply.

Fears of contamination at the destination or of inadequate safety procedures.
Fears concerning travel to and from the destination.
Certain infrastructures or services not being open at the time of the stay.
The client or a member of the group intending to travel is infected by Covid (2).
The client or a member of the group intending to travel is declared as a Covid contact (2).
The client or a member of the group intending to travel is declared "at risk" due to a medical condition or age (2).
Modifications to transport to or from the destination becoming inconvenient or costly.
Supplier's cancellation of the travel tickets for the client or a member of the group intending to travel.
Changes in personal or economic circumstances.

(1) It is understood that if, in an unforeseeable manner, a destination becomes officially considered "at risk" for the dates of the planned travel this may invalidate the client's travel insurance cover or health cover, making Force Majeure applicable. However, if, at the time of reservation, the destination is already officially considered "at risk" and possibly to remain so, the client must accept the risk of potential losses and can not invoke Force Majeure.

(2) The client must ensure that cancellations due to existing or future medical conditions are covered by adequate travel insurance and can not invoke Force Majeure.

Outside the specific conditions defined here for Force Majeure, if the supply of the accommodation can be provided as per the contract, our standard cancellation terms apply :
(i) The initial 25% deposit is not refundable.
(ii) The client's liability for the remaining balance can only be lifted, or a refund thereof accorded, at the owner's discretion and in relation to the possibilities of re-letting the rented dates.