Rental Agreement
The Jungle House Short-Term Vacation Rental Agreement
Please read this before you book. You agree to it at checkout. Version 2026-10-20.2.
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THIS IS A VACATION RENTAL AGREEMENT UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA VACATION RENTAL ACT. THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE DEFINED BY LAW AND INCLUDE UNIQUE PROVISIONS PERMITTING THE DISBURSEMENT OF RENT PRIOR TO TENANCY AND EXPEDITED EVICTION OF TENANTS. YOUR SIGNATURE ON THIS AGREEMENT, OR PAYMENT OF MONEY OR TAKING POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AFTER RECEIPT OF THE AGREEMENT, IS EVIDENCE OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT AND YOUR INTENT TO USE THIS PROPERTY FOR A VACATION RENTAL.
The short version
- Up to 7 guests. Primary renter 25+ and on site. No parties, pets, smoking or vaping. Quiet hours 10 PM–8 AM.
- Check-in after 4 PM, checkout before 11 AM, 2-night minimum.
- A refundable $400 security hold (not a charge) is placed about 1 day before check-in and released 3 days after checkout unless there’s documented damage.
- The primary renter verifies a photo ID with a selfie through Stripe before entry details are sent.
- Full refund if you cancel at least 5 days before check-in. Later than that, you get 50% of the nightly rent back, plus the full cleaning fee and taxes.
1. Who this agreement is between
This Short-Term Vacation Rental Agreement (the “Agreement”) is between Chetola Blueridge LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company and the owner of the property (“Host,” “we,” “us”), and the person who books and pays for the stay (the “Primary Renter,” “you”). “Guests” means you and everyone staying with or visiting you.
Property: The Jungle House, 140 Pond View Ln, Unit 6, Blue Ridge Building, Chetola Woods Condominium, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, including its furniture, fixtures, linens and equipment (the “Property”).
Your dates, number of guests and the total price are shown on your booking confirmation and Stripe receipt, which form part of this Agreement.
2. How you accept this agreement
You accept this Agreement by ticking “I have read and agree to the Rental Agreement” at checkout and paying. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-10, paying money or taking possession of the Property after receiving this Agreement is also evidence of acceptance. We keep a record of the Agreement version, the date and time you accepted it, and the IP address and browser used.
This is version 2026-10-20.2. The version you accepted at booking applies to your stay.
3. Your stay
- Check-in is after 4:00 PM. Checkout is before 11:00 AM. Early check-in or late checkout only with our written OK.
- Minimum stay: 2 nights.
- Self check-in with a smart lock. Entry details are sent before arrival only after the Primary Renter’s ID is verified (Section 9) and the security hold is in place (Section 10).
- Staying past checkout without our OK is a holdover under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-23 and may result in removal and a charge for the actual costs it causes (for example, a lost booking or an extra cleaning).
4. Price, fees, taxes and how payments are handled
You pay the full price when you book, through Stripe. The price includes the nightly rent (with any direct-booking discount), a cleaning fee of $160 per stay (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-17(d)), and taxes: Town of Blowing Rock occupancy tax (6%) and NC & Watauga County sales tax (6.75%). There is no separate processing or administrative fee.
Advance payments of rent are handled as the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act requires (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42A-15 to 42A-17). They are deposited in a trust account at [PLACEHOLDER: name and address of the federally insured bank holding the trust account]. No more than 50% of the rent is disbursed before your stay begins, except as the Act allows, and you may ask us for an accounting of your payments before arrival.
Card details are entered on Stripe’s secure page and never pass through this website. You authorize us to save your card with Stripe for the security hold (Section 10) and the charges described in Section 11.
5. Cancellation and refunds
- Cancel at least 5 days before check-in (by 4:00 PM Eastern on the date 5 days before your check-in date): full refund of everything you paid.
- Cancel fewer than 5 days before check-in: we refund 50% of the nightly rent (the lodging amount after any direct-booking discount) and keep the other 50%. Because the stay never happens, the cleaning fee and all taxes are refunded in full. Example: lodging $1,000, cleaning $160, taxes $147.90 → refund $500 + $160 + $147.90 = $807.90.
- A no-show (not arriving and not cancelling) is treated as a cancellation fewer than 5 days before check-in.
- To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation or contact us using the details on it. The cancellation time is when we receive your message.
- Refunds go back to the original payment method. Card processing fees are never deducted from a refund: Stripe doesn’t return its fee to us, and we absorb it.
- If we must cancel, or the Property is not in a fit and habitable condition at check-in and we can’t provide a reasonably comparable substitute, you get a full refund (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-17(b)).
- Mandatory evacuation: if State or local authorities order a mandatory evacuation that includes the Property, you must comply, and you are entitled to a refund of rent, taxes and other payments, prorated for each night you can’t occupy the Property (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-36). We do not offer travel or evacuation insurance.
- Military: service members (and spouses) who receive deployment or permanent change of station orders may cancel as provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-37.
6. Who may stay
- Maximum occupancy: 7 guests, including children. Only the guests named or counted in the booking may stay overnight. Daytime visitors need our OK in advance and may never push the total above 7.
- The Primary Renter must be at least 25 years old, must stay at the Property for the whole booking, and is responsible for every guest and visitor.
- Children of all ages are welcome and must be supervised by an adult at all times, especially near the whirlpool tubs, the balcony, the fireplace and the lake.
7. House rules
- No parties or events of any kind, including weddings, receptions, reunions and gatherings with outside guests.
- Quiet hours are 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Please keep noise low at all times; you share the building with neighbors.
- No smoking or vaping of any kind (tobacco, e-cigarettes, cannabis or anything else) inside the Property, on the balcony, or anywhere on the condominium grounds where it is prohibited.
- No pets. If you need to bring a service animal, contact us before booking.
- No commercial photography or filming without our written permission.
- Wood-burning fireplace: use the screen, never leave a fire unattended, never use accelerants, and leave ashes in the fireplace (don’t put them in the trash).
- Don’t move furniture between rooms, tamper with the smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, the smart lock or the exterior camera.
- Keep the Property reasonably clean and safe and put trash in the building’s trash enclosure (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-32).
- Follow the checkout steps on the FAQ & House Rules page: start the dishwasher, gather used towels and linens, remove food and trash, turn off lights, and lock the smart lock.
Security camera notice: there is one exterior Ring camera outside the front door. There are no cameras inside the home.
8. Chetola Resort and condominium rules
The Property is in the Chetola Woods Condominium within Chetola Resort, a gated community. You and your guests must follow the rules of the condominium association and Chetola Resort, including rules on parking, noise, trash, pets, gates, and the lake and trail areas. Chetola’s indoor pool and fitness center are not included with your stay.
If the association or the resort fines us, or charges us for a cleanup or repair, because of something a guest did, you are responsible for that actual amount (see Section 11).
9. ID verification
After you pay, the Primary Renter must verify their identity through Stripe Identity: a photo of a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport or national ID card) and a matching selfie. The name must match the booking. It takes about two minutes and is started from your booking confirmation page.
We send entry details only after verification succeeds. If you can’t verify, contact us before arrival so we can try another way. If identity can’t be confirmed before check-in, we may decline entry, and the booking is treated as a cancellation by you under Section 5. A stay obtained by fraud or misrepresentation can be ended under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-23.
Stripe processes your ID images and selfie under its own privacy policy. We see the verification result and the details Stripe extracts (such as your name and date of birth), use them only to confirm who is staying, and don’t keep copies of your ID.
10. Refundable security hold (not a charge)
We place a refundable $400 security hold on the card you booked with. A hold is a temporary authorization, not a charge: the money stays in your account, but your available credit or balance is reduced by $400 while it’s in place.
- When it’s placed: about 1 day before check-in (or right away if you book later than that).
- When it’s released: automatically, 3 days after checkout, unless we find damage or other costs covered by Section 11. Your bank decides how fast the pending hold disappears from your statement, usually within a few business days.
- Longer stays: card networks only let a hold last about 5 to 7 days. On longer stays we release the hold and place a new one for the same amount before it lapses, so there is never more than one hold at a time. If a hold lapses or can’t be renewed, Section 11 still applies.
- If the hold is declined, we’ll ask you for another card. We may hold entry details until a hold is in place.
- If we need to use it, we capture only the amount of actual, documented costs under Section 11, up to $400, and release the rest. We send you an itemized statement with photos and receipts or repair estimates within 45 days after your stay (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-18). Nothing in this Agreement allows automatic forfeiture of the hold; it is applied only to actual damages and costs.
11. Damage, extra cleaning, lost keys and card authorization
You are responsible for loss or damage to the Property, its contents or the condominium common areas caused by you or your guests, beyond ordinary wear and tear. Please report any damage or breakage to us right away.
You authorize us to charge the card on file (by capturing the security hold and, if the documented amount is more than the hold or the hold has already been released, by a separate charge) for:
- repair or replacement of damaged or missing items, at actual cost;
- cleaning beyond normal turnover (for example, stains, smoke or odor removal, excessive trash, or pet hair), at actual cost;
- lost or unreturned keys, fobs, gate cards or parking passes, including rekeying or reprogramming, at actual cost;
- the actual costs caused by breaking the house rules or condominium rules, such as association fines charged to us, extra guests beyond the booking, or a lost booking because of a late checkout.
Before any charge beyond the hold, we email you an itemized statement with photos and receipts or estimates, and give you at least 5 days to respond. These are reimbursements of actual costs, never penalties. You keep any rights you have to dispute a charge with us or your card issuer.
12. Jacuzzi (whirlpool) tubs
Each suite has a two-person whirlpool (Jacuzzi) tub in its ensuite bathroom. For safety: fill the tub so the water covers the jets before turning them on; don’t use bubble bath, bath oils or bath bombs with the jets; check the water temperature before getting in; don’t use the tub after drinking alcohol or if you are pregnant or have a medical condition without your doctor’s advice; never leave children alone in or near a tub; and keep glass out of the bathroom. Turn the jets off and drain the tub after each use.
13. Outdoor amenities: assumption of risk
Chetola Resort offers access to the lake, kayaks and paddle boards (where available), and walking trails, and the area includes Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, its carriage trails and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These activities carry risks, including drowning, cold water, slips and falls, uneven or icy ground, sudden mountain weather, insects and wildlife (including black bears).
- Use of any outdoor amenity is optional and at your own risk. Follow posted resort rules and hours.
- Wear a properly fitted life jacket when kayaking or paddle boarding. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times near water and on trails.
- Inspect equipment before use and don’t use anything that looks damaged. We don’t own, maintain or supervise resort equipment, the lake or the trails.
- Don’t feed or approach wildlife, and never leave food or trash outside.
To the fullest extent North Carolina law allows, you assume these risks for yourself and your guests and release the Host and its members and managers from claims arising from these activities, except claims caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct. You are responsible for making sure your guests understand this section.
14. Limits of our responsibility
We keep the Property fit and habitable and maintain the systems and appliances we provide, as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-31; nothing in this Agreement waives those duties. To the extent the law allows, we are not responsible for: loss of or damage to guests’ personal property or vehicles; interruptions to utilities, internet, TV or resort amenities that are outside our reasonable control; road, weather or winter driving conditions; or noise or construction from neighboring properties. Our total liability under this Agreement is limited to the amount you paid for the stay, except where the law doesn’t allow that limit.
We recommend travel insurance for trip cancellation and personal belongings.
15. Repairs, safety equipment and entry
Tell us promptly (text or email is fine) about anything that needs repair, so we have the chance to fix it during your stay. The Property has smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit; please tell us if an alarm chirps or isn’t working, and don’t disable it (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42A-31 and 42A-32).
We or our contractors may enter the Property with reasonable notice to make repairs, or without notice in an emergency or if we reasonably believe this Agreement is being seriously broken.
16. Breaking the agreement and expedited eviction
A material breach of this Agreement, including a party or event, exceeding the occupancy limit, smoking or vaping, bringing a pet, obtaining the stay by fraud or misrepresentation (including false identity), not paying, or staying past checkout, may end your tenancy. The expedited eviction procedures of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42A-23 to 42A-27 apply to this rental: after at least four hours’ notice to leave, we may ask a magistrate for an expedited eviction order.
If your stay ends early because of a material breach, we may keep from your payments an amount sufficient to cover our actual damages (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-16(a)(2)) and refund any balance. Section 11 still applies.
17. If the Property is sold
If the Host sells or transfers the Property before your stay, your rights are governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42A-19: a new owner must honor stays ending within 180 days after the transfer is recorded. For later stays, the new owner may choose not to honor the booking, and in that case all advance rent and fees you paid are refunded to you within 30 days. You will be notified in writing of any transfer.
18. General terms
- This rental is for vacation, leisure or recreation for fewer than 90 days by someone who has a permanent home to return to. It does not create a residential tenancy under Chapter 42 of the General Statutes beyond what the Vacation Rental Act provides.
- North Carolina law governs this Agreement. Any dispute will be heard in the courts of Watauga County, North Carolina.
- If any part of this Agreement can’t be enforced, the rest still applies. Where this Agreement and the law differ, the law controls.
- This Agreement, your booking confirmation and the FAQ & House Rules page are the whole agreement between us about your stay. Changes must be in writing (email or text is fine).
- You may not sublet or transfer your booking without our written OK.
Questions about this Agreement? Send us an inquiry before booking.