What are the current rates of the Holiday Homes?

To view the current EWSC Holiday Home Rates, CLICK HERE.

 

Are the Holiday Homes pet-friendly?

Only 5 of our 15 EWSC Holiday Homes are pet friendly. Please refer to the Pet Policy for more information. EWSC has a policy for “registered” Assistance Animals – a copy of this policy is available on your booking confirmation email and HERE. 

 

Do the Holiday Homes have Wi-Fi? 

All EWSC Holiday Homes have had Wi-Fi since September 2024. You can find log in details at each house and on your PIP. 

 

What are the terms and conditions of staying at the Holiday Homes?

EWSC's Holiday Home Terms and Conditions document can be found HERE. This document is also attached and sent through in every booking confirmation email. 

 

What are the check-in and check-out times for each holiday home?

For every EWSC Holiday Home, check-in is after 3:00 pm and check-out is before 10:00 am.

Please be aware that early check-ins and late check-outs are not permitted. A fee of $50 per hour, or part thereof, will apply where caretakers have to wait or return to the property. This is due to the caretaker's availability to undertake cleans and key exchanges as well as scheduled maintenance during the vacancy window. 

 

What if I don’t clean adequately after my booking?

If a Holiday Home is left in an untidy state on departure and a cleaning service is required prior to the next booking, an additional fee will be applied and charged to the Member.

Reminder: At every Holiday Home booking, the Checkout Cleaning List is provided to the guests to prevent an untidy departure. View the Checkout Cleaning List HERE. 

  

I locked myself out of the Holiday Home, what do I do?

Contact the Holiday Home's Caretaker. The caretaker's number can be found on the Property Information Pack found on your Booking Confirmation Email.  A call-out fee will be applied.

  

What additional fees might I incur while staying at the Holiday Homes?

• The member booking the unit will be responsible for any loss, damage, or failure to clean the premises. Major items (mattresses, furniture etc.), if damaged or soiled, will be replaced at the expense of the member.
• If the Holiday Home is left in an untidy state on departure, and a cleaning service is required prior to the next booking, an additional fee will be applied.
• Callouts as a result of a member’s actions (e.g. locking keys in the property or breakage caused by a member or Guest) will see a $40 fee applied for callouts on business days between 9 am and 6 pm - a $60 fee will apply at all other times.
• Callouts for a non-urgent matter will see a $40 fee applied for callouts on business days between 9 am and 6 pm – a $60 fee will apply at all other times.
• Late checkouts and early check-ins are not permitted. A fee of $50 per hour, or part thereof, will apply where Caretakers need to wait or return to the property.
• The regulated maximum occupancy for EWSC Holiday Homes is 6 people (inclusive of adults, children, and infants). If this limit is exceeded, the Member WILL be subject to a fine based on local government legislation and possible suspension of their membership.

Failure to pay additional fees may result in further measures being imposed on the member.

 

What items are provided at the properties and what items do I need to bring?

A list of what each Holiday Home provides and what a member will need to bring is provided on the Property Information Pack (PIP). The PIP is attached to all Booking Confirmation Emails. 

 

Why does EWSC not supply linen or bedding at the Holiday Homes?

At all 15 properties, EWSC does not supply any linen or bedding. This includes sheets, pillowcases, blankets/doonas, bath towels, hand towels, bathmats and tea towels. This is one of many methods utilised by EWSC to keep Holiday Home prices low for our members to benefit. Some caretakers offer linen hire, however you will need to contact them directly. CLICK HERE for a full list. Please note prices may change at the caretakers discretion. 

 

How many people can stay at each holiday home at one time?

The regulated maximum occupancy for EWSC Holiday Homes is 6 people (inclusive of adults, children and infants). If this limit is exceeded, will be subject to a fine based on local government legislation and possible suspension of their membership.

 

Where do I park my car when staying at a Holiday Home?

Members and guests must only use the parking spaces provided and NOT park on lawns, garden areas, on the street verge or on the street outside of the property.

As stated in the Terms and Conditions HERE, costs of rectifying damage caused by incorrectly parked vehicles, including trailers or costs associated with fines received from Local Councils will be passed onto the member. 

 

Do the holiday homes have any baby cots or highchairs?

Yes. All 15 properties have 1x baby cot and 1x high chair. If your require more than one highchair or cot, please ensure you make your own arrangements for these.

 

What are the rubbish collection days?

All 15 properties have their rubbish collection days stated on the Property Information Pack (PIP) located in all Booking Confirmation Emails. A reminder sign has also been placed on all property fridges with the Rubbish Collection calendar created by the property councils. Please be aware that some property bins are taken out fortnightly and others weekly.  

 

Is my registered partner allowed to stay at a holiday home without me (the member)?

Yes, however, your partner must be registered on your profile. To register your partner, please email feedback@energywest.com.au stating your partner's first and last names, and their best contact number.

 

Does the member have to be in attendance throughout the whole booking?

Yes. The member or their registered partner must be in attendance for the entirety of the booking due to legal reasons. If the member or registered partner is not found staying all nights of the booking, measures may be imposed, including up to the suspension of membership.

 

Can I book two adjoining holiday homes and only stay in one while family or friends stay in the other?

A member is allowed to book two adjoining holiday homes that are next door to each other at the same time (e.g., Busselton Unit A and Unit B). However, the member must be present for the entire duration of the booking.

Please note, two bookings at the same time are not allowed by a member when the holiday homes are not adjoining or next door. As an example a Dunsborough and Cape View property or Cape View and Busselton are NOT permitted.

 

Where are the key codes located for the holiday homes?

The key codes are located in each Property Information Pack (PIP) attached to all Booking Confirmation Emails. Please note, key codes for all properties change regularly so please check the PIP link closer to your booking. 

 

 

BOOKINGS:

How do I add a paid clean to my booking?

Paid cleans are mandatory from 1st July 2024. A clean can be added at a later date for all existing bookings by contacting the EWSC Office via email at feedback@energywest.com.au. Please state the Booking Reference Number and that you wish to add a clean. 

Requests for cleans within 14 days of the booking start date are at the discretion of the EWSC Office and the property Caretaker. 

Please note that some cleaning tasks remain the responsibility of the member even if a clean has been paid for. Please refer to the cleaning checklist HERE.

 

What happens if I need to cancel my booking? 

• Cancellations that are processed by the member online 4 weeks or more prior to check-in date will not incur any cancellation or administration fees and the full booking cost will be refunded. This excludes any ballot period bookings which will still need to be handled manually by the office and should be requested via email to feedback@energywest.com.au.
• Any alterations requested, that require administrative handling, will incur a $50 administration fee, except when the request is made within 24 hours of the booking.
• Cancellations, alterations or transfers made within 4 weeks of check-in date will require administrative handling and therefore will incur a $50 administration fee. 
• Cancellations between 14–29 days before check-in date will attract a 50% cancellation fee. Refunds in this instance, will be proceed after the booking is re-let or after the check-out date. 
• Cancellations within 14 days of check-in date are non-refundable.
• EWSC will not reimburse any monies where the member does not complete the duration of their booking.
• Merchant fees are non-refundable.
• As required, and at their discretion, EWSC may issue modified cancellation policies in response to specific Govt. or emergency restrictions that lead to the compulsory cancellation of bookings.
• Application for exemption to the standard cancellation policy may be made to the EWSC General Manager, however, only extraordinary circumstances will be given consideration and proof must be presented. 

Why is there a surcharge for online payments?

A surcharge for online payments is imposed due to the necessity of covering merchant fees. These fees are incurred because of our reliance on a third-party payment service provider, which ensures the secure transfer of funds between EWSC and Members.

Members are welcome to pay via bank transfer. Contact feedback@energywest.com.au for EWSC bank information. 

 

How far in advance can I book a Holiday Home?

EWSC only allows Holiday Home bookings up to 12 months in advance. This is due to the following reasons: 

• It allows EWSC to have better operational planning such as blocking off dates for planned maintenance. 
• Allowing bookings further than 12 months ahead allows popular dates to be booked out years in advance, preventing other Members, particularly new Members, access to these dates. 
• A lot of things can change in a year, and so if a booking was made far in advance, the potential of a member having to cancel their booking increases. 

 

How do I add a day to my booking?

Firstly, check whether there is a night available before or after your existing booking. To do this, log in to our website, select Holiday Homes, select your existing property and check whether there is a night available. 

If there is not a night available around your existing booking, you are not able to add a night. 

If there is a night available, email us at feedback@energywest.com.au with your existing booking Reference Number and date of the night you would like to add. You will then be sent a payment link to add the extra night. 

 

Where is the cleaning checklist?

Please refer to the Checkout Cleaning List HERE. This checklist is also available on your Booking Confirmation Email. 

 

Do I have to do anything at departure, despite mandatory cleaning? 

Yes. Even though you have paid for a clean, every Member who visits a Holiday Home will need to complete a few tasks before checkout, to prevent being charged a fee. Please refer to the Checkout Cleaning List HERE which states what must still be completed by the member even with a paid clean. 

 

Who is my caretaker?

Members are informed of the caretaker for their booking through the Property Information Pack (PIP) which will be attached to your Booking Confirmation Email. Here, the name and phone number of the caretaker is provided.  

 

Can I pay for my booking in instalments?

Not yet. 

Extensions for payment may be granted in extraordinary circumstances through application to the General Manager. If you do request an extension, please email our General Manager via feedback@energywest.com.au with your request. 

 

What happens if I booked the wrong days?

It is the member’s responsibility to ensure dates and properties selected are correct. A booking confirmation is supplied for this purpose. If a member discovers a booking error, they have one (1) business day from the receipt of the booking confirmation to contact the EWSC office to request a correction without attracting any penalty. EWSC holds no responsibility for incorrectly booked dates or properties, and the EWSC cancellation policy applies where applicable.

 

What is the minimum and maximum number of nights I can book per property?

Bookings are for periods of 2 to 14 nights. Single night bookings are not available. 

 

How do I provide feedback.

For Holiday Home Related Feedback:

• Complete the feedback form which is physically provided during your booking at every holiday home.
• Complete the Welcome Home Survey sent after every Holiday Home Booking. 

For any other feedback. Please email the EWSC Office at feedback@energywest.com.au.

 

 

SCHOOL HOLIDAY BALLOT:

Do I need to have children to submit an application to the school ballot?

No. Every member is eligible to apply during the school holiday ballot periods.

 

When does the school ballot run?

Ballot applications normally open about 5 months before the school holiday period. The application process is open for 3 weeks. Upcoming ballot information will always be displayed under the Holiday Homes Tab on the Energy West website.

 

How does the ballot process work?

The ballot process is run by an algorithm that has been developed by a 3rd party Company. This process incorporates Microsoft’s random GUID algorithm. An easy way to understand is by thinking of the ballot process as a lotto system.

Once the ballot has been allocated to members, the system then creates a random waitlist which is used for second-round offers. Anyone who has received a first-round offer has the option of 1) accepting the offer, or 2) rejecting the offer and being added to the bottom of the waitlist. If you do not reject the offer, your Ballot application will automatically be taken off the ballot waitlist for other offers. 

 

What can I do if I made a mistake on my ballot?

Even if the Ballot timeline has closed, any member can edit their ballot applications at any time. To edit your current Ballot Applications, please follow the below steps: 

1. Login to your Member Profile HERE.
2. Select your Name located in the top right corner
3. Select the "Your Ballots" subheading. 
4. Select the Ballot application you would like to edit and save.

 

How do I know if I’ve been successful in a ballot?

The ballot system will email you the outcome of your application once the application is closed. This email is generated within 48 hours of the close-off date. Do check your spam/junk box for the outcome. The email will be sent to the email address that was on the member's profile as of date of application.

 

Do I have to accept a ballot offer?

No, but we do ask you to notify us as soon as you know that you can’t accept the offer to not disadvantage your fellow members wanting that property. If you do not want to take the offer, select "Decline" offer to stay on the wait list for other offers. 

 

What is considered as a valid offer?

For our statistics, a valid offer is any offer whether made from your initial application or from the wait list.

 

How long do I have to accept an offer and make payment?

Members who receive a first-round ballot offer will have 1 week to accept the offer from date of initial offer, and 3 weeks to make payment from date of initial offer. Members who receive a subsequent ballot offer will have 48 hours to accept the offer from date of initial offer, and 3 weeks to make payment from date of initial offer.

 

Am I able to swap my ballot booking with someone else?

No. This is because the ballot process is completely automated. This is why it is so important to make sure your ballot application reflects the dates/locations your desire. 

 

Why do I have to pay a $5 per night ballot surcharge for the school Holiday Booking Period?

A $5.00/night School Holiday surcharge was introduced for all Ballots occurring after July 1, 2020 - effective for the December 2020/January 2021 School Holiday Ballot. All members were informed of the introduction of this surcharge via the EWSC Newsletter. The Board introduced the surcharge in recognition of the significant additional administrative work required to manage School Holiday Ballot periods.

 

What can I do if I can’t make the payment in full within 3 weeks of initial offer?

Contact the EWSC office at feedback@energywest.com.au as soon as you are aware that payment will be an issue by the due date. We can provide an extension plan however, it does have additional terms and conditions.

 

Ballot 101 - a quick simple guide to School Holiday Ballots. 

• You can apply for the next ballot once we have advised the opening dates. These dates are generally 4-5 months prior to first ballot booking.   
• You can update your ballot at any stage during the year, even during the ballot period. This can be done by logging in online.
• When submitting your ballot application, please ensure you only select the dates you can attend.
• When selecting, please ensure you are selecting the houses you want to stay in.
• If you are wanting to take your pet along, please ensure you select a pet friendly home.
• By selecting all time slots and all locations it reduces the next members opportunities to potentially get a home.
• If you are offered a ballot and for whatever reason decide you do not want to accept, please decline the offer ASAP. By declining your ballot offer, you will remain on the waitlist.
• If you want to accept your ballot offer, please do so ASAP. If your offer lapses, it will be offered to the next person and your application will be removed from the waitlist.
• If you accept a ballot offer, please ensure you pay before the cutoff date. Failure to pay will result in your offer being rejected and your booking being offered to the next member.
• We do accept bank transfer, however you will need to transfer at least 48 hours prior to the payment cutoff, send remittance, and notify the EWSC team. Failure to do so may result in your offer lapsing and being offered to the next member.
• Please remember ALL ballot allocations are FINAL. We cannot transfer your booking to another member. We cannot change the location if you decide you do not want to travel that far. We cannot change the date because it is no longer suited.
• The ballot is system generated and EWSC hold no responsibility on who receives a ballot offer.