Questions and answers

Because that is when most people are deciding. We start every search with the coming 28 days and show each house against them, so you can see at a glance what is free and when a stay can start. You can search later dates too. Each house’s calendar shows how far ahead its owner is taking bookings; ask us about dates beyond that window.

Each row is a house and each column is a day, starting today. A small ring means a free night, with no arrival shown. A triangle marks a day a stay can start: solid means ‘Price shown’; outlined means ‘Price on request’. A continuous diagonal hatch means ‘Booked’. A half-hatched cell means ‘Guests leave, free that night’. A question mark means ‘Not checked’. Pick a triangle to see the dates, number of nights and all-in price; an unpriced start checks the price when you choose it.

The grid shows a mix of house sizes and places, giving priority to houses with week-long starts and a quoted price. The caption gives the size of the selected set and the number of houses with at least one stay. Twelve houses are shown first; use “Show all” to see the rest of that view. Every house is on the full search, for any dates.

For now we take bookings by phone and email. Choose a house and your dates, then ring us on 0118 230 0750 or send us your dates by email to team@bookingbrain.co.uk. We check the dates with the owner, confirm the price in writing and take payment by card. Nothing is held until we confirm it.

We're sorry, we can't. Availability is live and dates can't be held without a booking. Ring us and we will book them for you straight away.

No. For safety and insurance reasons your party must not be bigger than the stated capacity, and that includes children. If your numbers change, let us know before you arrive.

Yes. Every price we show for dates is the total for the stay, including the cleaning fee and any service charge. Optional extras, such as a dog or a travel cot, and any refundable security deposit are shown separately before you pay. We only show a crossed-out price when the house's own pricing has a real reduction for those dates.

For stays starting in the next six weeks, yes. For later stays, most houses take a deposit, typically 30%, with the balance due six weeks before arrival. The exact amounts are confirmed to you before you pay.

By debit or credit card, processed by Stripe and taken by Booking Brain Ltd, which trades as Next 4 Weeks. There is no card fee. We don't take bank transfers.

Some houses ask for a refundable security deposit. Where one applies, we tell you before you book. It's returned after your stay unless the owner reports damage.

We will never contact you from an unknown mobile number asking you to click a link or pay to keep your booking, and we will never ask you to transfer money. If anything looks odd, ring us on 0118 230 0750 before you do anything.

Yes, but what you get back depends on the house's cancellation policy, which we give you before you pay. There is no 14-day cooling-off period for holiday accommodation on fixed dates. You may be offered Cancellation Cover or Booking Flex when you book; see section 7 of our terms.

We'll tell you straight away, and either help you find something similar or refund you in full.

Your confirmation comes by email once your booking is paid. Arrival details (directions, keys and check-in) follow by email closer to your stay. If they haven't arrived as the date gets near, check your junk folder, then ring us.

At many houses, yes. Each listing says whether dogs are welcome, how many, and any charge.