HomeAway UK

This is NOT a site to rent / pay for accommodation - when you "pay" for the accommodation a fee is taken from your card and then... you'll get an email telling you contact another company to pay the balance, potentially by bank transfer.

I assumed this was a horrible mistake - but HomeAway assured me - they just advertise - get on with making the bank transfer.

Thankfully I've managed to get my CC company involved and disputed the transaction. My advice: find the property on another site. Try using Google reverse image search (https://images.google.com) to find others using the same images in the listing - then go to the property provider directly.

The accommodation we booked in Spain did not exist. After half a day on the phone to the local provider they offered us a far inferior apartment - 20 sq m, no windows, winos on the door step instead of our "Luxury Apartment".

Homeaway were no help whatsoever - as far as they are concerned the contract is between you and the local provider. Their "book with confidence guarantee" appears to be a complete fiction.

It wasnt their fault that the accommodation failed to materialise - but their "its nothing to do with us" attitude absolutely stinks.

Will never use them again - three days of a holiday ruined.

All the accommodation owners resent the enormous rake-off made by homeaway - for which they get bugger all in return.

I requested accommodation, this flipped to a confirmed booking and money was taken off my credit card. I attempted to cancel immediately when an emailed confirmation was received and the home owner has refused to refund me my money, saying "go or lose the payment". Home Away have stood by and allowed this to happen saying the home owners unscrupulous sharp practice cancellation policy applies. I did not sign any agreement. I rang Home Away 4 times looking to resolve and they have no empathy or accountability. The customer service is shocking. I was told once that the agent "had authorisation to drop this call" and subsequently hung up.
I used Owners Direct (acquired by Home Away) many times before and it was excellent. This website should be avoided at all cost. I have never had worse customer service from a "reputable" company. I feel defrauded. I couldn't recommend any company less than this.

I stayed in a lovely log cabin for a 4 night break in Mid March. Could not fault the place, the owner an absolute delight, we met her at the cabin and she showed us round. Homeaway took our money and a deposit for damage. £100 held in case of damage, I contact the owner through their website (Homeaway) she says that they have refunded it on the 23rd March, I have contacted Homeaway through their online chat facility and they say it may now take quite a few weeks due to Covid 19. Personally I think they are going into administration due to lack of funds. The online agent said she would provide me with an email address to write to sending it to my email, guess what... NO EMAIL from Homeaway, please avoid this site and company at all costs, they take but do not issue legitimate refnunds

My husband and I rented a week in Beer, Devon at Durham House Apartment. We have visited Beer before so we knew the location.
On entering the building the carpets and tiled floors were dirty. The hand rail and general paintwork, which was all white emulsion had not been wiped clean., The mirror and shower door not cleaned. The seal on the glass shower door mouldy. The pipe behind the loo thick with dust and dirt. The overflow hole in the bathroom sink black. Carpets matted, stained and hair. Cooker vents greasy. Toaster full of crumbs. Food under fridge and seeped out of side of fridge. Extractor in bathroom extremely noisy and ran on a long time. A plug in air freshener on to disguise a dusty smell throughout. We took our own linen and bedding and we were very pleased we had. We did not cook and we only are fish and chips once in Beer beach. When i complained to the owner she implied we had complained about local restaurants which we had not even been to. I sent photos when we left the rental early. No acknowledgement of how dirty my photos showed the apartment to be. No apology but just insisting everything was clean and implying i was not telling the truth. The photos clearly verify what i have said.