How old do I need to be to rent a cottage for a holiday in the UK?
Hiya,
After finishing our GCSE exams, a few friends and myself would like to go and have a holiday. We want to go to the Isle of Wight for a week and stay beside the beach, but we want to rent a small cottage for the week. I’ve looked around a few websites, and the prices our within our range, but it suddenly occurred to me that we may not be of the correct age to rent the property, so I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a law or if it’s up to the property owner to decide?
We will all be 16 when we rent it.
I’d be willing to put down a deposit if that would make a difference, as we’re the sort of teenagers who have Monopoly tournaments instead of getting drunk out of our minds…
Also does anyone know the law for B and Bs or hotels?
Thanks:)
Also, would I be able to get an adult to rent it for us and then not be present when we we’re actually there?
5
Answers
I expect that you would need to have someone over the age of 18 with you. There is no harm in contacting the owner and asking, but I would be surprised if they let to 16 year olds regardless of how sensible you are.
The law is not clear on this topic. There is probably no law to stop operators renting to you if they want to.
In practice I suspect you will find very few operators will be willing to rent cottages to a group your age.
B&B operators may also be unwilling, unless they know you or an adult they know can vouch for you.
If you join the Youth Hostel Association then you certainly can stay at their hostels – min age is 16.
http://www.yha.org.uk
Usually to rent a cottage, the owner requires you to be over 25 – mainly due to their insurance purposes. Many owners will tell you this and it’s usually on their website’s Terms & Conditions.
With a cottage or holiday park, you wouldn’t be able to get an adult to rent/pay, simply because when you pick up keys they’ll be suspicious, will want to see ID and then realise you’ve lied. Plus, they then have the rights to terminate the contract you will sign prior to going on holiday, so they can legally kick you out of their property and not give you your money back.
Regarding hotels, Travelodge allow over 16s to stay – I think there is only one Travelodge in the Isle of Wight though and that’s in Newport. There are Travelodges lined all over city seafronts though.
B&Bs generally can decide who they wish to rent to, I’ve found it’s usually over 18s only.
So your best option would be a Travelodge, not that luxurious, but you’d only be sleeping there anyway.
Most renting agencies will not rent to people under 25.