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Rental Terms & Conditions

Check-in: 4:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST) or later. Early check-in is not available during Spring Break or Summer, and may not be available at other times of the year. Occasionally the cleaning staff may need additional time in order to ready the home for your stay. We ask for your patience and suggest you have alternate plans available in the event additional time is needed. Please do not interrupt or delay the cleaning staff if they are at the house. Let us know immediately if the unit has not been properly cleaned.

Check-out: By 10:00 AM CST. A $100 per hour fine will be assessed for guests remaining after 10:00 am CST on the day of check-out unless late check-out has been approved in writing, in advance. Late check-out is not available stays in peak spring break and summer seasons.

This lease is between the LESSEE or Guest and Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals, Inc. (GSVR) or LESSOR. GSVR, Inc is the management company that operates this unit.

All of our reservations are made online so that you can agree to the rental terms, and have a secure payment interface for the first payment. Reservation requests are subject to approval before confirmation.

You will receive a reservation confirmation email. Carefully CHECK your confirmation for accuracy and email immediately if any corrections are necessary; otherwise, it will be assumed correct. Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals reserves the right to correct any monetary calculation errors. In the unlikely event this occurs, the guest will be promptly notified and sent a correct reservation email.

PAYMENT TERMS:

Houses/Duplexes up to 6 bedrooms

  • Reservation made more than 90 days before arrival:
    • Initial Reservation Payment 25% of the total by credit card at booking
    • Balance by check, 90 days before arrival.
    • Within 90 days of arrival, total due at reservation.

Houses 7+ bedrooms

  • Reservation made more than 6 months (180 days) before arrival
    • Initial Reservation Payment 25% of the total by credit card at booking
    • Second Payment of 25% of the total by check 6 months before arrival
    • Balance by check, 90 days before arrival
  • Reservation made between 90 and 180 days before arrival
    • Initial Reservation Payment 50% of the total by credit card at booking
    • Balance by check, 90 days before arrival
    • Within 90 days of arrival, total due upon reservation.

Travel Insurance is payable in full at the time it is added to the reservation.

* First payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover. In an effort to keep rates reasonable, subsequent payments are payable by check or E-Check. The published rate is a Cash rate. If you would like to make subsequent payments by credit card, you may add 3% to the balance and pay by Visa, MasterCard or Discover, to cover the 3% credit card fee.

CANCELLATION:
All cancellations must be submitted in WRITING to info@gsvacationrentals.com. Please note Cancellation in the subject line. We will confirm back by email.

Houses/Duplexes up to 6 bedrooms

  • Cancellation more than 6 months (180 days) before arrival, 100% Refundable.
  • Cancellation between 90 and 180 days before arrival, 25% of total rental amount cancellation fee.
  • Within 90 days of arrival, total due upon reservation, NON-REFUNDABLE.
  • We strongly encourage Travel Insurance to protect your vacation investment.

Houses 7+ bedrooms

  • Cancellation more than 6 months (180 days) before arrival, 100% Refundable.
  • Cancellation between 90 and 180 days before arrival, 50% of total rental amount cancellation fee.
  • Within 90 days of arrival, total due upon reservation, NON-REFUNDABLE.
  • We strongly encourage Travel Insurance to protect your vacation investment.

Cancellations, date & property changes occurring less than the stated minimum days required notice will result in forfeiture of Initial Reservation Payment, rent, taxes and fees.

*In the event of re-scheduled dates, cancellation deadlines apply to the earlier of original or rescheduled dates.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:
At the time of reservation, you have the option of adding Travel Insurance. We have contracted with CSA to offer this optional benefit to our guests. This optional coverage is 7.95% of your total trip cost. If making the reservation online, there is a place to "Click to Add Travel Insurance" on the booking page. Click Here for more information on the Travel Insurance provided by CSA.

PLEASE NOTE: Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals, Inc's cancellation policy does not provide refunds for unforeseen developments such as illness, mandatory hurricane evacuations and similar events that can affect your trip. We strongly suggest that you purchase trip insurance to protect your investment. If declined, you acknowledge you have read and understand our cancellation policy and choose not to purchase Vacation Rental Insurance on behalf of all occupants.

POOL HEAT:
For homes with pools that have the ability to be heated - pool heat is available for an additional fee of $50 per day plus applicable taxes.

From October through May, when nighttime temperatures average below 70 degrees, pool temperatures will generally be in the 70s (or lower) without heat.
Monthly weather info source: www.gulfshores.com/plan/weather

Due to the lead time required to reach temperature, optional pool heating is only available for the entire length of your stay if you are staying less than 10 days. Heated temperature is 88 degrees (normal resort pools are heated to 82-84 degrees).

Pool heat can be added up to 2 weeks before arrival. It cannot be added during your stay.

DAMAGE WAIVER: In lieu of a standard security deposit, guest agrees to pay a non-refundable damage waiver (fee depends on size of property). This fee covers up to $5,000.00 of accidental or unintentional physical damage caused by guest. In the event damage to unit exceeds the $5,000.00 maximum, guest agrees to compensate GSVR for this damage. The Damage Waiver DOES NOT cover costs associated with pet damage. The Damage Waiver is intended to cover damage, not additional cleaning beyond normal amounts. Extra cleaning is billable to guest. Missing items are not covered by the damage waiver and will be billed to the Lessee.

Please note: for the Hangout Music Festival there is a $1000 Refundable Damage/Cleaning Deposit to ensure the house is left as expected.

MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND DAMAGES:
* ISSUES: Report all maintenance issues promptly by calling. Every effort will be made to correct the situation; however, no refunds or rates adjustments will be made for mechanical or maintenance issues and/or failures. GSVR makes an effort to keep all of our properties in good condition, maintenance issues might occur just as they could at your own well-kept home. Please allow us the opportunity to make an effort to correct the issue by calling us immediately.
* NO GUARANTEES: Working condition of pools, hot tubs, air conditioners, cable, phones, internet service, TVs, DVRs, DVDs, appliances, elevators, etc are NOT guaranteed. No guarantee that pools will be heated. NO REFUNDS or rate adjustments will be made for mechanical failures and malfunctioning equipment. These amenities are extras provided in addition to the beach house or condominium rental. Although all attempts will be made to correct the situation, some breakdowns cannot be prevented or repaired during your occupancy.
* DAMAGE: Report any damage or breakage upon occurrence by calling so the matter can be settled before departure. Most items will be covered by the Damage Waiver IF WE ARE NOTIFIED.
* NO SMOKING: Lessee acknowledges that smoking is prohibited inside the premises. Cleansing the unit of a smoke smell is costly as it may require cleaning of blinds/curtains, furniture, carpets, etc. Smoke is very obvious in these units. If it is detected following a guest's stay, there will be a fee of $500 for de-smoking the unit.

MINIMUM RENTAL AGE:
Only responsible adults ages 25 or older may contract to rent a property from GSVR. Legal renter named on the rental agreement must occupy property during dates listed on rental agreement.

OCCUPANCY:
Maximum occupancy listed includes adults and children of all ages. Some homes have a maximum adult occupancy that is lower than the total number of adults and children permitted. Violation of maximum occupancy is grounds for immediate eviction and forfeiture of rent. NO HOUSE PARTIES ARE ALLOWED.

EVENTS:
Parties/Group Events/Weddings are not allowed unless approved in writing by GSVR. Most of our homes are NOT event/wedding friendly. Unapproved events are cause for eviction without refund of rents or deposits.

PARKING:
Parking varies by property. Most homes have parking equal to one spot per bedroom. Some have room to park a boat trailer, RV, or bus, please ask. There is no on-street parking in Gulf Shores. DO NOT PARK IN NEIGHBORS' DRIVEWAYS.

PETS:
No unauthorized pets are permitted. Most of our homes, and all condos, prohibit pets. A few homes allow pets with written permission and a pet fee. Without written permission and a pet fee, pets are not allowed on the property, even for a few minutes. If GSVR discovers evidence of a pet without written permission (or pre-paid pet fee), the will be a fee of $500 and the unit will be steam cleaned at the GUEST'S EXPENSE. Presence of a pet without written permission is grounds for immediate eviction and forfeiture of rent. The pet cleaning fee DOES NOT cover damage caused by the pet, nor does the unintentional damage waiver fee. Lessee will be responsible for all associated costs from pet damage. CITY ORDINANCES SPECIFY THAT PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE BEACH.

PRIVACY & SECURITY:
Our properties are considered to be in a relatively "safe" location, however, occasional burglaries and thefts are among the realities of today's world. We strongly advise our guests to lock all doors and windows upon retiring, and when absent from the property. Your automobile should be locked at all times when not in use. Guests will be held responsible for the loss of furnishings, appliances, beach equipment and other items from the property. Beach equipment should be returned to the property when not in use.

MANAGEMENT:

  • This property is individually owned and GSVR has a contractual relationship with the property owners who employ us to act as their agents.
  • WE RESERVE THE RIGHT to refund Initial Reservation Payments, refuse rental, or to discontinue occupancy if, in our judgment, your occupancy is detrimental to the property. If evicted, all rents and deposits are forfeited.
  • An atmosphere conducive to quiet enjoyment of those in surrounding properties must be maintained at all times.
  • Property may not be used for any unlawful purpose.
  • We reserve the right to enter the premises at any time for the purpose of inspection, repair, management or showing to a prospective buyer.
  • Rates, descriptions, furnishings, amenities (including pools, hot tubs,etc) and availability are subject to change WITHOUT NOTICE. We make every possible effort to keep information accurate but changes do occur.
  • By renting this property, you are assuming all risks and liabilities for any damage done to person or property, agents, employees or visitors occasioned by the present or future condition of the premises, both latent and manifest. Neither GSVR or the property owner will be responsible for accidents or injury to guest or loss of money or valuables of any kind.

RISK: LESSEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT BEACHES, SWIMMING POOLS AND AREAS SURROUNDING THE SAME ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY, DROWNING, OR DEATH. Lessee will assume this risk and exercise great caution when using any pool, outdoor spa/hot tub, pool area, beach area, pier, stairs or balcony. CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES. Owners assume no responsibility for any accident or injury in connection with such use. Persons using the amenities agree with the Owners and GSVR for and in consideration of the amenities, to make no claim against Owners or GSVR for or on account of any loss of life, personal injury, or damage to or loss of personal property.

BEACH COURTESY:

  • Please take a plastic bag or other container along to gather any trash or cigarette debris you create at the beach.
  • The beach, above the high tide line, is PRIVATE property. Please do not walk under houses, use their showers, etc

DEPARTURE RESPONSIBILITIES:
We know you are on vacation and appreciate your business! Please leave the home neat and orderly to avoid additional charges. If the cleaning crew finds that the home has been left excessively dirty you will be billed for the additional cleaning time at a rate of $100 per hour. We hope you will leave it as you would want your home left. We appreciate your cooperation. Check-out time is by 10 AM Central Standard Time.

  1. Clean and put away all kitchen items.
  2. Place all trash (including bedroom and bathroom) in outside trash containers.
  3. Leave beds unmade that have been used. Please strip sleeper sofas.
  4. Start a load of towels in the washing machine.
  5. Completely empty the refrigerator.
  6. Return indoor and outdoor furniture to original position.
  7. Rinse and put away beach chairs, beach cart, crab traps, etc in storage room.
  8. Close and lock all windows and doors.
  9. Check the house thoroughly for any personal belongings.
  10. Return keys to lock box where that applies.