Frequently Asked Questions

Vacationing in cottage country is a great experience but doesn’t come without differences from being in the city (besides the landscape). From understanding how the septic system operates to having to take garbage to a landfill and the importance of following local ordinances, there’s a few things you need to know to make your holiday run smoothly.

We get a lot of questions and answer them here – if you don’t see what you are looking for, let us know.

Yes, all of our homes are owned by private individuals. They range in size from one bedroom cabins to seven-bedroom waterfront homes. They are priced accordingly and by location and amenities offered. Many are used as family cottages by their owners and are offered for rental for a few weeks in summer, others are used for rental purposes only.

All cottages are different and have different amenities varying from simple and rustic to upscale and luxurious. Furnishings and fixtures will vary in quality and will be reflected in the rental rates. Some cottages have cable TV or satellite, some have nothing more than TV with a DVD player. Some cottages have internet access; most do not. Most cottages DO NOT have air conditioning, so please read the descriptions to find the right cottage to fit your needs. If you have any questions relating to the amenities of a specific cottage, please call us. Use the advance search function to look for cottages that have air conditioning, a hot tub, internet access, and/or accept pets

Every cottage has been inspected by one of our Account Managers to ensure it meets our minimum standards on acceptance into our management programme, Where possible we also have our staff stay a night at a cottage and report on their experience. Where we have done this you’ll see the ‘We’ve Stayed Here’ badge on the listing and you can talk to the person who experienced the stay.

All of our rentals include paper products, dishwashing soap, laundry detergent (where a washer is included), garbage bags, and cleaning equipment and supplies. If the cottage has a wood-burning fireplace- there will be a starter bundle of wood, matches and starters for winter use. All our properties have fully-equipped kitchens including pots and pans, glassware and cutlery sufficient for the number of guests the cottage will accommodate. Check the individual listing for a list of amenities and small appliances.

During the winter, snow will be removed from driveways, and shoveled away from doors prior to occupancy. In most areas snow clearance is undertaken by private companies who have a pre-determined schedule of ploughing. After significant snowfall it may take up to two days before snow is cleared from all the cottage roads in the vicinity of a cottage.

Firstly, not all cottages allow campfires and this is stated in the listings. Where there is a firepit, you will need to provide your own firewood – most gas stations and grocery stores will stock bags of wood. Fireworks are not permitted at any cottage – this is often a township restriction but also complies with owner requests.

Many of our cottages are pet-friendly and their owners welcome four-legged guests. They will ask you to follow their pet guidelines and pick up regularly, not allow pets onto furniture or into carpeted bedrooms, and ensure all dog hair is vacuumed before your departure. Taking a pet to a cottage that is not designated as pet-friendly could result in a charge to your credit card and possible eviction without refund. We would also like to point out that a ‘no pet’ rule does not mean there has not been a pet in the property (possibly the owners).

None of our homes allow smoking inside the property and several ban smoking outside the property.

Cleaning services are very hard to find in cottage country so most owners will drive up from the city to undertake a changeover and make the property ready for their next guests. Since they will also have to do exterior maintenance and lawn mowing and time is limited, outgoing guests are usually required to leave a cottage in a clean and tidy condition and all necessary cleaning materials are provided. Where cleaning is included, or provided as an optional extra, this is shown on the individual listing.

Accidents do happen in vacation homes and these can be costly. A window broken by a stray football; a hot pan placed on a countertop; a scratch on a stainless steel fridge door are just a few of the incidents reported to us over the course of a summer season. The ADPP covers accidental damage up to $2500 providing it is reported to us before the vacation is completed.

We will hold a credit card number in lieu of a damage deposit. The ADDP covers accidental damage only as described in the Plan. Damage not reported to us; caused by pets, or additional cleaning that is required to return a cottage to an ‘as found’ condition will be charged to the credit card in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Rental.

Each cottage has a maximum number of guests that are allowed and this includes all children, babies and any visitors. These limits are set by owner preference and restrictions their insurance company may impose. We do not allow children or adults to sleep in sleeping bags so that the occupancy can be increased, nor do we allow tents or tent trailers to be used outside the cottage. Maximum occupancy is shown on each listing, so check to make certain your cottage has sufficient accommodation for your group.

While we are still affected by the pandemic we’ve relaxed our cancellation policies in many of our cottages.  Some have maintained a Strict policy while others have opted for more Flexible cancellation.

Each listing shows which policy is in use for the cottage.  You can see this in the calendar box on the right-hand side of the page.

Strict

When a deposit has been received the booking is considered confirmed and a refund can only be made If the period of rental can be re-booked. If the period can be re-booked you will receive a refund for the period rented, less a cancellation fee of $150. If any part of the rental period cannot be rebooked, you will forfeit all monies paid for that period. We recommend you purchase a travel insurance policy that covers a range of cancellation scenarios.

Flexible

You may cancel any time up to 30 days from the vacation commencing and receive a full refund of all monies paid except for the $75 + HST booking fee.

Not all our cottages are available for winter rental. Many close up by Thanksgiving and do not re-open until April or May. The calendar for each cottage shows its availability. Most of our winterised cottages have wood burning stoves or propane fireplaces and many have hot tubs for really enjoying the great outdoors and keeping warm at the same time. Check our Winter Wise page before booking so you know what to expect.

Most of our cottages have keyless entry systems and you will be told the code when you make your final payment. We ask our owners to leave a spare key hidden on the property in case the lock box fails to work.

Where cottages provide linen, this is clearly stated in the description and a change of linen will be provided weekly for bookings of two weeks or more. Where towels are included, these must not be taken out of the cottage, so you will need to bring your own outdoor towels. Ample blankets and pillows are supplied unless otherwise described in a listing.

The extra cleaning protocols we now require have extended the period most cottage owners need between rentals.

The majority of weekly rentals commence at 5.30 pm on the first day of your cottage holiday and end at 10.30 am on the day of departure unless otherwise specified in the cottage rental agreement. This ensures that the owner or owners’ caretaker has time to prepare the cottage for incoming guests.

Your cooperation in this matter will contribute towards a trouble-free changeover. If you have not left the cottage by the time specified, you will be charged for an additional day’s rental which will be deducted from the security deposit.

The occasional accident is bound to happen and any losses or damages during your holiday must be paid for. However, minor spills and stains can often be dealt with quickly without leaving lasting damage and incurring a cost.

Please follow the instructions in the guest guide.

Before you arrive, your cottage will have been cleaned, the inventory checked and any missing items noted or replaced. If you find any deficiencies or damages on arrival which have not been noted please let the caretaker know within the first 24 hours of your stay. Any costs to repair or replace items caused by damage that is beyond what we consider normal wear and tear will be deducted from the security deposit.

We charge a non-refundable nightly fee for our Accidental Damage Protection Plan – find out more here

CottageLINK Rental Management
Email: info@clrm.ca
Toll Free: 1-866 323 6698

Our Hours:
Mon-Fri 9-5
Sat-Sun 9-5

Business Address:
PO Box 39036
Columbia PO, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2T 0A7

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