Tourists hit by National Trust rent rise
Dec 29 2009 by Alastair Craig, The Journal
THE National Trust was facing a backlash from North East holidaymakers last night after hiking rental charges for its cottages without warning.
The heritage charity has increased the rates by up to 40% on more than 1,000 existing bookings on properties across the UK.
The Trust has 10 cottages available for hire in Northumberland listed on its website, from Holy Island to Wallington, Hadrian’s Wall at Hexham, and Cragside near Rothbury.
Also on its books are an engineer’s cottage at Souter Lighthouse, in Whitburn, and a coastal lookout at Low Newton.
Around 1,200 people nationwide have received a demand for additional payment after the charity decided not to honour its originally-quoted prices.
One customer was told the rental for a week’s stay at a farmhouse in Cumbria would rise from £260 to £354, with an additional £10 non-refundable “security charge”. Customers with bookings in the first four months of 2010 were sent letters asking them to pay a steeper “revised price”.
There were reports of jammed lines at a National Trust call centre as customers called to complain. National Trust spokeswoman Jane Travis insists its cottages are still good value, and blamed the price hikes on rising maintenance costs.
She said: “The price rises are justifiable. With every National Trust holiday booking, the customer is made aware that the prices are subject to change.
