We have just returned from a lovely holiday as always in CV, staying at a villa we found on the internet.After the maids changed our bedding midweek, we noticed an awful smell on all the sheets and duvets- like mildew. I t was so bad we had to air the beds continually for the rest of the holiday.
Getting back to England it was a shock to receive an email from the owners(who were away in Europe for the duration of our stay) that we would not be getting our £100 deposit back as there were yellow stains on all the bedlinen which did not come out with washing. I told her about the awful smell, and that the maids left wet towels in the machiine for 2 days, which can't help the state of the linens. My latest communication with her said that she had also found damage to the dressing table in the room where my children stayed, so we would definitely not be getting our money back.
The furniture in the villa was quite tatty, especially the sofa, which had unpleasant grease stains
I am resigned to not getting my £100 back- not a huge sum of money but am cross that its through no fault of our own. She said it was the aftersun we'd used- if that was the case, the marks should have been on the bedding washed earlier in the week as well.
So beware of Soltan After Sun all you CV visitors!!!!

hum, i have used soltan after sun and havent had any problems!

Think you might have had a 'bad one' there, We have never had a problem with any sun creams/after sun any that has got onto the sheets, towels etc after bathing has always washed out no problem.

It is stories like this which has always put us off from booking a holiday privately. We have always gone through a tour operator and when timed correctly have found that our holidays have been cheaper than booking flights etc. seperately.
Seems that the maids might be getting paid for work they aren't doing but thats no surprise to me as years ago we stayed in an apartment which I thought had been given to us by the owner but it turned out to be their hired handyman/driver

Maybe that the beds were damp? or hadn't been aired for a while, then you sleeping in them and the sun cream created a warmth that made the damp and cream soak into the sheets. Just a thought.

Anonymous wrote:It is stories like this which has always put us off from booking a holiday privately. We have always gone through a tour operator and when timed correctly have found that our holidays have been cheaper than booking flights etc. seperately.
Seems that the maids might be getting paid for work they aren't doing but thats no surprise to me as years ago we stayed in an apartment which I thought had been given to us by the owner but it turned out to be their hired handyman/driver

We normally book privately through a lady who has a property on Rocha Brava, and have had no problems. I have suggested to the owner that she count the spoons to make sure we didn't mislay one......
Ah well, Greece for us next year for a change!!

Maybe we’re naïve, but we’ve been letting our place for the last five years and making a virtue of NOT asking for a so-called “security” or “key” deposit in anticipation that the people to whom we let will treat our house, furniture and furnishings with due respect. Thus far, we’ve had only one minor problem that cost us €100 or so to fix.

I haven't had anyone ask for a security deposit when I've booked villas before and would be reluctant to go with anyone who asked for one.

I have but only in Portugal and then only in 50% of occasions.

Tbh mainly on those occasions where everything in the villa/apartment still matches (i.e. is new!!), the older the rental and more of a mish mash of crockery/cutlery/linen etc it is the less likely I have been to be asked for a security deposit with owners then simply suggesting that you replace anything that gets broken.

But I have to say (and this might be why there is little response from the regulars to this question but of course I could be wrong) - I have been asked for security deposits from more than one of the regular forum posters who own property in CVO which might suggest that for many it is considered common practice.

Maddi

WE do ask for a security deposit ( although we have not had to retain any monies to date ? )
Its a sad fact however how some renters leave apartments.
Bins full to overflowing ( incl disposable nappies ).
Dish washers full and left for days ( just imagine the smell ).
Furniture stained and damaged etc etc.

This is on an upmarket devlopment that definetly does not attract the youner element you would expect to be responsible for such events.

WE think our selves lucky so far.

Ive never had to pay a security deposit and Ive been coming to Carvoeiro for very long time and always stay in good accomodation. But if we accidently break anything like a mug or a plate and thats only happened once I think, then we replace it .I think most sensible and responsible people would do that anyway.

I have never had a property that I have rented out for holidays. My parents have, a long time ago, and wouldn't do it again for the state theirs was often left in. I have had a property which I let long term in the UK and have kept deposits or partial deposits on numerous occasions, so I do appreciate the problems property owners have.

Its a difficult situation I guess.

Surely responsible villa/apt. owners should provide their guests with an inventory which I would have thought was standard practice. It should list every item in the property and any minor damage so when guests arrive they go through the place checking the list and can contact the owners immediately if they find anything of concern ( I would email as proof) Then when a guest leaves you can't be accused of doing damage that has been there all the time. If there are dishonest guests you can bet your bottom dollar there are many villa owners who are even worse
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former tenant

We have been comming to cvo several times a year for about five years and have always paid a deposit when renting privately the only exception has been when booking directly with monte dourado.
Never had a problem getting deposits returned, i think maybe you were just unlucky.
Dont let it put you off cvo

I can only see a problem with absent landlords and agents.

If a visitor is greeted on arrival and agrees the inventory and condition of the place and then at the end of the rental the landlord/agent inspects when the keys are handed back then there should be no confusion on either side. If a visitor damages something then I am sure they would expect to pay - either by way of a deduction from any security deposit, a charge against their card or some similar mechanism.

Why do people see this in a different light to car hire? We all accept paying a deposit, the inspections and paperwork that goes with it and deductions if the car is handed back damaged or excessively dirty.