Definitions

‘The Vehicle’ = The VW Camper Van to be hired

‘This Agreement’ = Lakes Escape Camper Hire Terms and Conditions

‘Rental Agreement’ = Document listing terms of rental which hirer must adhere to

‘The Customer/Hirer’ = The person or persons signing this agreement

‘Security Deposit’ = £500 which is equal to the insurance excess fee

1) Booking & Payment Details

Customers can book online, or directly via email or telephone. Bookings can only be confirmed on receipt of a £150 deposit (payment in full if less than 4 weeks to the start of the hire) and a signed copy of these terms and conditions by LEC. Payments can be made by bank transfer or Via Paypal.  This payment is non refundable.

The balance of the hire charge is due 4 weeks before the first day of hire.

Before customers can depart with the Vehicle on their day of hire, they must provide all the documents required by the insurance company and review and sign the Rental Agreement on arrival.

By signing the Rental Agreement customers accept the conditions set out in the document which include, but are not limited to, conditions with regards to ‘Your Responsibilities’, ‘Conditions for Using the Vehicle’, ‘Charges’, ‘Insurance’, ‘Maintenance’ and ‘Collection and Delivery of the Vehicle’.

We reserve the right to refuse or to terminate any hire in our absolute discretion. We will make every effort to accommodate amendments to booking dates. However this may not always be possible.

2) Driver Age

All drivers must be aged between 25 and 75 unless otherwise agreed by Lakes Camper Hire.

3) Fuel/Mileage Policy

All vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the hire. Customers must return the vehicle full at the end of the rental. If you return the vehicle part full you will be charged for missing fuel at the end of the rental at the locally determined price along with a collection of fuel fee of £30.

For 2024 there is unlimited mileage.  This will be reviewed in 2025.

4) Payment

Payment may be made via bank transfer ( BACS ) or via PayPal. All rental charges are to be paid at least 4 weeks prior to the first day of hire.

5) Deposit

On taking delivery of the Vehicle, customers must pay the £500 refundable Security Deposit.

The customer must irrevocably authorise Lakes Escape Campers to deduct from the Security Deposit any amounts due by the customer to Lakes Escape Campers arising out of this Agreement.

The security deposit will be refunded within 7 working days of the vehicle being returned to the correct location, undamaged, with a clean interior and with a full fuel tank. We reserve the right to retain a £100.00 valeting fee if the Campervan is not returned with the interior in a clean condition. Please can we ask that all rubbish be discarded and all crockery be washed.

If there is an insurance claim, we reserve the right to retain the Security Deposit for as long a period as is necessary to calculate what we must deduct from the deposit so that we are fully compensated. Where we incur costs that we set against the Security Deposit, we will provide you with an itemised invoice detailing those costs.

The hirer accepts that Lakes Escape Campers decision as to whether the Vehicle is returned in the same condition is final. We advise hirers to check the vehicle before leaving our premises and taking photos for peace of mind. Please note exterior washing is not necessary.

6) Driving Licence & Identification Required

Prior to vehicle rental for insurance purposes we will require a copy of both parts of the customers driving licence, and with  2 additional proofs of their current address. Documents accepted include: utility bill (within last 3 months), passport, bank statement (within last 3 months)..

On collection of the vehicle customers driving the vehicle must present both parts of their valid UK Driving Licence in person. No copies of licences will be accepted.

Drivers aged between 25 & 75 must have held a full driving licence for at least 2 years.

Licence endorsements up to 6 points are accepted. Full details of all licence endorsements must be given to Lakes Escape Campers at the time of booking.

Additional drivers must present a valid driving licence (both parts of new UK Licence are required).

In addition to the above, the vehicle shall not be let out on hire to or be driven by: –

Persons who have any mental or physical defect or infirmity or suffers from fits, diabetes or any heart complaint.

Persons who have had their insurance declined and/or renewal refused and/or special insurance terms imposed as a result of claims experience and/or have had their insurance or cover cancelled by any Motor Insurer.

Persons engaged wholly or partly in professional entertainment or professional sports persons.

Jockeys and persons connected with racing of any sort.

Undergraduates and/or students under 25 years of age.

Persons who, whilst driving, have been involved in more than one accident during the past 3 years.

Foreign Service Personnel other than persons born in the United Kingdom.

Persons with a non-UK passport

Unless otherwise agreed with Lakes Camper Hire.

*You will need to bring your driving license, and 2 recent documents with your address on. Since the abolition of the paper part of your driving licence, you now need to generate a one time passcode that you will need to pass to us at the point of handover to allow us to check your driving licence (The code only last 72hrs, so best to dot it 24hrs before you are due to collect). A DVLA video of how to do this can be found at:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjermy1fg1M and the web link to the share driving licence service is https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.  It is important to note that you will need your national insurance number to use the service.  It is mandatory for us to complete this check and will be unable to release the campervan to you if you have not generated the code for us to check.

The following documentation is acceptable for proof of address alongside the drivers licence

You must provide the following: –
• 1 utility bill / statement (primary form of proof)
• 1 of the documents listed below (secondary proof)

Key document criteria: –
• Both must be dated within 3 months of the hire date
• The address & name on your licence must match both documents

What is acceptable:-
• Utilities are as follows: Electricity, Water, Gas, Broadband, Council tax or Landline

1 of the following alongside a utility:-
• TV/internet/landline telephone bill (Including Sky/Virgin/BT etc.)
• Bank or Credit Statement
• Credit card bill / statement
• Mortgage/pension statement

HMRC & DWP documentation is acceptable in addition to one valid utility bill/utility statement

7) Collection/Delivery & Return of the Vehicle

The Vehicle will be supplied in a clean condition and in sound working order in accordance with the Hire Checklist and one full bottle of gas before they depart with the Vehicle. Customers must sign to acknowledge this. (The Rental Agreement will be produced for signature prior to departure).

Customers must comply with the collection and delivery times as set out in the Rental Agreement.

8) Rental Payment Terms

When the customer books online they accept the conditions set out below:

The vehicle will be available on time and on the day it was requested.

If the customer does not arrive to collect their reserved vehicle on the day and at the time it was reserved no refunds will be made.

If the customer fails to pay the full cost of rental 4 weeks prior to hire then the booking will be cancelled (the initial booking deposit is non-refundable).

9) Terminating the Agreement

The customer acknowledges that Lakes Escape Campers may terminate this Agreement and repossess the Vehicle at any time, without notification to the customer, and that the customer will pay the reasonable costs of repossessing the Vehicle, including towing charges if:

They are in breach of any term of this Agreement.

They have obtained the Vehicle through fraud or misrepresentation.

The Vehicle appears to be abandoned.

The Vehicle is not returned on the agreed return date or Lakes Escape Campers reasonably believes that the Vehicle will not be returned on the agreed return date.

Lakes Escape Camper considers, on reasonable grounds, that the safety of passengers or the condition of the Vehicle is endangered.

The customer understands that in the event of such termination or repossession, they have no right to a refund of any part of the rental charges or the Security Deposit.

10) Cancellation Charges

The booking deposit of £150 is non-refundable.

The customer will not be entitled to a refund if they cancel within 4 weeks of the first day of hire

In the event of cancellation, booking deposits are not transferable to alternative hire dates.

If appropriate identification and/or the necessary payment/deposit are not produced at the time the Vehicle is to be collected or the Terms and Conditions are not adhered to in any way then the rental cannot proceed and the cancellation policy will be enforced.

Cancellations may only be made by contacting Lakes Escape Campers by both phone and writing (including e-mail)

In the event that your vehicle is unavailable, on collection, for reasons out of our control, such as the vehicle has been involved in an accident prior to your agreed collection time of the vehicle, then we will endeavour to have a replacement vehicle in place. If a replacement vehicle is unavailable then we will refund all monies including your initial booking fee of £150.

11) Rental Period

The customer will have the vehicle for the rental period shown in the Reservation Confirmation and on the final page of the Rental Agreement.

If the vehicle is not returned on time, or if the customer does not contact Lakes Escape Campers requesting an extension of the rental then the conditions of this agreement have been broken.

Lakes Escape Campers will charge the customer for every day or part-day that the vehicle has not been returned. Until Lakes Escape Campers receive the vehicle, the customer will be charged the hourly rate specified on the rental agreement.

12) Release and Indemnity of Lakes Camper Hire

Subject to its obligation to deliver the Vehicle or an appropriate substitute vehicle, the customer must release Lakes Escape Campers   from any liability to the customer (regardless of who is at fault) for any loss or damage incurred by the customer by reason of this Agreement, including but not limited to:

Any loss or damage caused by breakdown, mechanical defect, accident or the Vehicle being unsuitable for the customer’s purpose.

Any loss or damage to any property left in or on the Vehicle or in Lakes Escape Campers premises or recovered or handled by Lakes Escape Campers. Customers are advised to take out their travel insurance and personal effects insurance.

Subject to any insurance arrangements agreed with Lakes Escape Campers I hereby indemnify and shall keep indemnified Lakes Camper Hire, its employees and agents against any claims, demands and expenses (including legal costs) incurred or sustained by them or any of them by reason of my use and/or possession of the Vehicle.

13) Rental Agreement

The customer will be asked to sign a Rental Agreement upon collection of the vehicle so please review this prior to your departure.

14) Privacy Policy

During the enquiry and reservation process Lakes Escape Campers will collect personal information, including but not limited to, your name, e-mail address, postal address and telephone number. This information is necessary for booking and for insurance purposes. We may use this information to notify you of any news you may interested in regarding Lakes Escape Campers. None of your personal information will be passed on to any third party companies (other than the insurance company that Lakes Escape Campers uses).

 

Return of items left in the Vehicle

We will be happy to return your belongings left in the Vehicle.

Animals

We are dog friendly and there will be a charge of £20 per animal per booking. You will also be charged for any damage caused by the animal during the hire period. We also reserve the right to charge extra if animal hair or odour requires extensive cleaning.

Habitation Equipment or Accessory Breakdown

Breakdown of an item of on-board equipment does not render the vehicle unusable or necessitate in the curtailment of your holiday. In the first instance, please contact us so that we may establish whether the problem can be resolved during the hire period. This may mean a visit to a VW dealership or repair centre. Reasonable agreed costs up to the value of £60 including VAT, supported by a VAT receipt, will be reimbursed. Please do not attempt DIY  

If the Vehicle sustains damage at any time during your hire, please inform us straightaway. If we know about it we can start to make arrangements for repair before the Vehicle returns, rather than having no time to effect repairs prior to the next hire, potentially leaving us in a position of having to cancel or compensate another customer’s holiday. Willful damage, neglect of care or accidental damage which is not part of a road accident is not covered by insurance.

Breakdown

Included is breakdown cover with the RAC. A policy and all contact details will be given on collection. If you have any difficulties please report these immediately to us.

You must make sure you call the correct breakdown service. Otherwise you will be liable for costs we incur. We must pre-authorise all repair costs.. We cannot accept liability for any costs arising from accident, breakdown or any other cause, e.g., replacement vehicle costs, travel, or accommodation etc. We will refund your hire charge for any days for which you lose the total use of the Vehicle. If you have broken down, you must remain at a safe distance from the Vehicle until the Roadside Recovery Service arrives. You must not abandon the Vehicle at the roadside, if you wish to continue your journey with another form of transport. You must hand over the keys to the Roadside Recovery Service.

Our Obligations

We will supply the Vehicle to you in good overall and operating condition, complete with all necessary documents, parts and accessories, and adequately insured. We will check the condition of the Vehicle in your presence at the start of the Hire Period and on return of the Vehicle.

Collection and Return

When you arrive to collect the Vehicle, please ensure you allow at least an hour for us to show you around it, and how to operate the cooker, sink, fridge, roof, camping gas, heater, water storage, etc. We shall also need to complete the paperwork within that time

Please return the van by the agreed time, or you will inconvenience others. Please allow sufficient time to get back to our premises so that you do not over-drive the Vehicle trying to get back in a hurry. If you return the Vehicle outside normal business hours, you must comply with our out-of-hours return instructions. You remain fully responsible for the Vehicle until we re-open for business. If you fail to comply with these instructions, you remain responsible for the Vehicle until we are able to access it. If at any time we have agreed that you may return the Vehicle to a place other than our premises, or if we have agreed to collect it, you remain fully responsible for the Vehicle until we have collected it.

On return of the Vehicle to our premises, we will carry out a vehicle inspection and an inventory check. Please allow 1 hour for unloading the vehicle, our inspection and signoff.

Pickups / Drop offs

Train pick up and drop offs can be arranged for £20.  This must be arranged prior to hire period.

Late Return

If a Vehicle is returned to our premises later than the agreed time, without our prior agreement, you must pay £40 per hour. You will also be affecting the holiday of the next person to hire the Vehicle. Should the late return of the Vehicle make us liable for costs greater than the total payable at this hourly rate, the excess is a debt due to us from you. Charges and costs for late return will be deducted from, but not limited to, your Security Deposit. By signing this Agreement you accept our right to make such deductions.

Cleaning

You must pay an additional charge, if the Vehicle requires more than our standard cleaning on its return to restore it to its pre-rental condition, allowing for fair wear and tear. We supply cleaning supplies so please give the hob and sink a rinse, dispose of rubbish.  We will do the rest.

Occupying the Vehicle

You must inform us on the booking form, or subsequently in writing, of the names and ages of all the people who will occupy the Vehicle during your stay. Failure to do so is a breach of these Terms and Conditions and may invalidate the insurance.

Health and Safety

You must follow the health and safety guidelines when operating the Vehicle and its appliances, and using any equipment in the Vehicle or awning. The instructions for using the van and its accessories, including the health and safety guidelines, will be given to you verbally.

Seat Belts, Booster and Baby Seats

You must carry only as many passengers as there are seat belts in the van. You are legally responsible for obtaining and using a child or baby seat. We do not have Isofix points in the van.

Dos and Don’ts

You agree that you will not : carry more passengers than the seating capacity of the Vehicle, , allow it to be overloaded, or loaded insecurely; use the Vehicle to carry passengers or goods for hire or reward; tow or push any vehicle, trailer or other object; drive off road (this includes driving on beaches), on un-surfaced roads or on roads unsuitable for the Vehicle (apart from within recognised caravan sites); carry any object or any substance which, because of its condition or smell may harm the Vehicle and/or delay our ability to rent the Vehicle again; take part in any race, rally, test or other contest; drive or park in contravention of any traffic or other regulations; use the Vehicle for any illegal purpose; use the Vehicle for sub-renting; drive, or be driven, in restricted areas including, but not limited to, airport runways, airport service roads, and associated areas; undertake driving training activity.

Fuel

The fuel tank will be full on collection, and must be returned to us full. An administration charge of £25, plus the cost of the missing fuel will be deducted from your Security Deposit if the Vehicle is returned with the tank less than full. The Vehicle’s fuel system is diesel. In the event that the incorrect type of fuel is used, the hirer will be liable for all costs to reinstate the vehicle to full operational use.

Camping Gas/Batteries

Gas is provided for the cooker and heating. There is an on-board leisure battery that charges when you drive. The van has electric hook up that powers lights and fridge while on an equipped campsite.

A full gas cylinder will be supplied at start of hire. The van has had habitation and Gas Safety check. A fire Extinguisher is on board.

Caring for our van ( Please be kind )

Keep the speed down – If there is damage or breakdown caused by your own actions, you will be liable for the cost of repair/replacement. This could be due to such things as working the engine too hard, or filling with petrol. This list is not exhaustive. You must check the oil, water and other gauges beyond 500 miles, refilling as necessary. If you cause damage to the engine through driving too fast (over 70 mph) over too long a period of time, and ignoring the warning lights, you will be liable for any repairs required or even for the cost of a replacement engine.

Smoking

Our van is no smoking. It is illegal to smoke inside the Vehicle or awnings. You will be liable for any damage caused to either, or their contents, through smoking.

Keys

If keys are lost or damaged, you are liable for the reasonable costs of and relating to obtaining replacements and further costs if this leads to the theft of the Vehicle.

Your Car

During the Hire Period we will store your car for you.

A copy of the terms and conditions will be sent prior to your collection and must be signed, agreed  and dated