Terms and Conditions - Owners

Terms and Conditions of Booking with HouseMinders
Please read our terms and conditions before applying with us.

The Houseminders service
HouseMinders Pty. Ltd. (the “Company” or “HouseMinders”) provides a service where the Company assists owners and residents (the “Owners”) to locate individuals, couples and families (the “Minders”) to live-in and care for, their homes, pets and gardens when they’re travelling away from their homes (hereinafter referred to as the “Service”).

Types of Service
These terms and conditions apply to all services relating to Minders. It is the role and responsibility of the Owner, and not HouseMinders, to select and screen the minder to care for the Owner’s home and pets. HouseMinders cannot guarantee the suitability of Minders or screened references.

Areas of operation
The Company operates in major population centres around Australia. The company will accept bookings in other areas where it believes it can assist owners in locating suitable minders.
Overseas assignments will be catered for in the future.

Availability
The Company provides the Service for any duration of 7 days or more. Shorter assignments in certain areas can be accommodated where there are available registered Minders. Long term bookings in major population centres can almost always be catered for. For shorter assignments (i.e. durations of under 14 days) it is advisable for owners & residents (or travel agents) to call the Company before booking to check availability. Owing to a shortage of Minders in some areas, the Company, at its discretion, may decline certain bookings. There are no minimum or maximum periods.

*Owner/ Minder agreement. *
You agree to execute a houseminding agreement with your selected Minder. This agreement will detail the terms, duration and responsibilities of the houseminding arrangement. For your convenience, the Company can provide the Owner (and the Minder) with a sample houseminding Agreement that sets out the responsibilities of both parties concerning the security and care of your home and pets. You agree that a houseminding agreement (whether or not it is the pro forma provided by the Company) is made between the Owner and the Minder only and that the Company or a third party introducer is not a party to this agreement or any of its terms and conditions.

Bookings
Bookings can be made by you or by your travel agent, pet store or vet. Where the booking is made by your agent, the person affecting the booking shall be deemed to have accepted the booking conditions on your behalf.

*Registration fees *
A $220 fee is payable on all bookings. Alternatively, a $330 fee is payable for a 12 month registration, in which HouseMinders will help find as many Minders as required in a 12 month period, starting from the date of the first trip.

Deposit and Payment
A non-refundable deposit of $50 is payable on all bookings. Bookings not deposited are subject to cancellation without notice. The balance is payable within 4 days of selection of the Minder by the Owner. If for any reason your balance of payment is not received by the due date, the Company reserves the right to treat your booking as cancelled and to apply the appropriate cancellation charges.

No suitable minder/cancelled booking
While the Company will exercise its best endeavours, occasionally, we find there are no suitable Minders available. In the event that we cannot find you a suitable Minder, or you choose to cancel the booking for any reason, the $50 deposit is non-refundable. However, in the event that you use the services of the Company again, $50 will be taken off the price.

Changes in prices
The Company reserves the right to change its prices at any time. Invoiced prices will be held for 30 days only. Prices will be held for customers who have made the deposit payment.

Rebooking with the same Minder(s)
Regular customers may request the same houseminder as used previously and the Company will endeavour to meet your request. You agree not to contact or attempt to engage the same Minder(s) directly, but to book their services through the Company and to pay the appropriate fee (where applicable).

Amended booking dates – prior to departure
If you are forced to change your departure or return dates, before you depart, and such a change requires the Company to find you a new Minder, you agree to pay an Amended Booking fee of $50.00. Where a new minder is required (due to illness or unavailability of the selected minder), HouseMinders will endeavour to find you a new Minder at no charge.

*Cancellations and Refunds *
Should you be forced to cancel your Minder booking prior to departure you must notify the Company in writing. You will not receive back your $50 deposit. If you have paid the annual fee no refund shall be given, and your annual registration will expire on the same dates.

Extensions involving the same minder
Where you wish to stay away longer (and where you need a continuation of the houseminding arrangement) you agree to the following:

• To notify both the Company and the Minder (by phone, fax or email) of your revised plans and new arrival date, at least 7 days before your original planned date of return.
• To instruct the Company to organise the extension arrangements with the Minder
• To amend (or have an authorised representative amend) the houseminding agreement to reflect the changes to the return dates.
• pay the Company any additional fees if applicable plus an amendment fee of $50 to cover disbursements, such as phone, courier and fax costs.
  Extensions involving a new minder
  Where you wish to stay away longer and need a continuation of the houseminding arrangement, but where your existing minder is not available, you agree to the following:
• To contact the Company, who will exercise its best endeavours to find you another Minder for the extended duration.
• To select (or have an authorised representative select) the new Minder who will care for your home.
• To complete (or have an authorised representative complete) a new Houseminding Agreement with the new minder
• to pay the Company, an additional fee of $110, for the set up of the new arrangements.

Early return of owner
You agree not to terminate the houseminding agreement or the houseminding assignment except in the case of a medical emergency. As such a return would have the effect of putting the minder “out on the street”, you further agree to:

• give HouseMinders and the Minder at least 7 days written notice of your intention to return
• accommodate the registered minder(s) for a period of up to 7 days in your home upon your return OR pay $250 towards their accommodation expenses
• pay the Company a cancellation fee of $110 to cover the costs of phone, fax and making alternate minding arrangements for your displaced Minder(s).
  There are no refunds given if you are forced to return early.

Owner representative or proxy
In the event of you needing a replacement Minder (e.g. through extension of your trip or illness of your Minder) – you agree to appoint a representative to select a Minder. The nominated representative must be an adult, be able to perform duties such as appoint the new Minder on your behalf and to negotiate the arrangements e.g. duties, bond payable, start and end date etc. Your appointed representative agrees to all terms and conditions in this agreement and accepts all responsibility.

The Minders
You agree that the Minders who have registered with the Company are independent individuals, and are neither agents nor employees of HouseMinders or any third party introducer.

The Company is an introduction agency
You agree that the role of HouseMinders is that of an introduction agency. I.e. the Company introduces you to individuals, couples and/or families who have registered with the Company with the desire to care for people’s homes and pets.

Owner responsibility and indemnity
You agree that the decision to select any Minder is yours alone and that HouseMinders or any third party introducer cannot be held responsible in any way for the conduct or actions of any Minder that you may select. You agree to hold the Company or any third party introducer harmless for any such action by a Minder selected by you (or your authorised representative) and to indemnify HouseMinders or any third party introducer from any action brought by any Minder against you for any reason.