🤸‍♀️ Children and Pets: Honesty for Parents & Guardians

Hilltop Retreat is a private rural property, not a child-proofed home, playground, or supervised facility. Children and pets are welcome here, but parental responsibility is non-negotiable. Any behaviour that suggests child/pet endangerment, neglect, or unsafe supervision will be taken seriously. As property operators, we have a duty of care to report situations where a child may be at risk.

This Is Not a Child or Petproof Property

Hilltop Retreat is an estate-style countryside retreat with furniture, structures, terrain, and real risks, just like any normal home or cottage.

We do not:

• Install child/pet locks on furniture or cabinetry

• Anchor or secure every piece of furniture for climbing

• Modify the property to accommodate unsafe or unsupervised child/pet behaviour

• Provide supervision, baby/pet-sitting, or monitoring of children/pets

If your child/pet is prone to:

• Climbing furniture

• Hanging off cabinets, drawers, railings, or shelving

• Running indoors, on decks, or near water

• Ignoring safety instructions/commands

This may not be the right property for your family.

Parents & Guardians Are 100% Responsible

At Hilltop Retreat:

• Children/pets must be supervised at all times

• Parents/guardians assume full responsibility for their children/pet’s safety

• The property owner, hosts, and operators are not liable for injuries resulting from:

  • Climbing or misuse of furniture

  • Running, jumping, or roughhousing

  • Lack of supervision

  • Ignoring posted or written safety guidance

This applies indoors and outdoors, including:

• Bedrooms and living spaces

• Decks and stairs

• Yard and surrounding land

• Any furniture, fixtures, or amenities

Structure Is Not Playground Equipment

This should go without saying, but experience tells us otherwise.

• Cabinets are not ladders

• Drawers are not steps

• Balconies are not swings

• Shelving and stools are not for hanging or climbing

• Furniture is not anchored for child gymnastics

If a child/pet treats furniture as playground equipment and is injured, that responsibility falls on the supervising adult, not the property.

What We Provide (And What We Don’t)

We provide:

✔ A clean, maintained, legal short-term rental

✔ A rural retreat experience

✔ Standard residential furniture and amenities

✔ Clear written rules and expectations

We do NOT provide:

✘ Childproofing

✘ Baby/pet gates, cabinet locks, or furniture anchors

✘ Supervision or child/pet care, or camera watching

✘ Liability for injuries caused by misuse or neglect

Bottom Line

Children/pet are more than welcome. Unsupervised/pet children are not.

Hilltop Retreat is a real property meant for respectful use by responsible guests. If you are booking with children/pets, you are confirming that:

• You understand the property is not proofed

• You will actively supervise your children/pets

• You accept full responsibility for their safety

If that doesn’t align with your expectations, we encourage you to book a property specifically designed for young children/pets.

FAQ (Optional Add-On)

Is Hilltop Retreat safe for kids?It is as safe as any normal home or cottage when children are properly supervised.

Do you have child safety equipment?No. Guests must bring any equipment they feel is necessary.

Can we rearrange or move furniture?No. Furniture must not be moved, climbed on, or altered.

Are injuries covered by the host or insurance?No. Injuries resulting from misuse, negligence, or lack of supervision are the responsibility of the guest.

If you want, next I can:

• Tighten this into Airbnb-safe wording

• Create a short excerpt for listings

• Draft a liability acknowledgment clause

• Turn this into a house rules + booking confirmation checklist

This is the right move—and frankly, overdue.

Please also note likely and existing hazards (such as pool, balconies/decks, wildlife, etc)

Absolutely. Below is a clean add-on section you can drop straight into the blog (or integrate fully). It’s factual, defensible, and clearly shifts responsibility where it belongs.

Known, Likely & Inherent Hazards on the Property

Hilltop Retreat is located in a rural, natural environment and contains features common to countryside homes and estates. These conditions are not defects, they are inherent characteristics of the property.

Guests booking with children/pets must acknowledge and accept the following:

⚠️ Water Features & Pools

• Swimming pools and hot tubs pose serious drowning risks, especially for children/pets

• No lifeguard or on-site supervision is provided

• Children/pets must be actively supervised at all times around water

• Pool covers, gates, or alarms (where present) are not a substitute for supervision

Unattended children/pets near water is grounds for immediate concern and liability transfer to the guest.

⚠️ Balconies, Decks & Stairs

• Elevated decks and balconies are not playgrounds

• Railings are built to residential code, not for climbing, sitting, or leaning

• Running, jumping, or climbing on decks, stairs, or railings is unsafe

• Slips may occur due to rain, snow, frost, or natural debris

Children/pets must not be left unsupervised on any elevated structure.

⚠️ Furniture, Fixtures & Interior Risks

• Furniture is not anchored for climbing

• Cabinets, drawers, shelving, and wardrobes are not childproof

• Glass, sharp edges, and heavy objects exist, as they do in any normal home

• Flooring may be slippery when wet

Interior supervision is just as critical as outdoor supervision.

⚠️ Wildlife & Natural Environment

Hilltop Retreat is surrounded by nature. Wildlife is not fenced out, trained, or predictable.

Possible encounters include:

• Deer, raccoons, foxes, coyotes

• Birds, insects, spiders

• Ticks and mosquitoes

• Rodents common to rural environments

Children/pets must not:

• Chase animals

• Attempt to feed wildlife

• Wander unattended into wooded or unlit areas

⚠️ Terrain, Weather & Seasonal Conditions

• Uneven ground, gravel, mud, snow, and ice may be present

• Rural properties are affected by changing weather conditions

• Visibility may be reduced at night

• Winter conditions may include ice accumulation and slippery surfaces

Appropriate footwear, clothing, and supervision are required year-round.

⚠️ Fire Features & Heat Sources

• Fire pits, BBQs, stoves, and heaters may be present

• Open flames and hot surfaces pose burn risks

• Children must be kept at a safe distance at all times

Fire features are never to be operated or approached by children.

⚠️ BBQ, Gas Stove & Kitchen Hazards

• There is a grill as well as a gas stove with open flame

• Burners ignite instantly and retain heat after use

• Knobs are accessible and not child-locked (they can be removed)

• Hot cookware, boiling liquids, and sharp utensils may be present

Children must never:

• Turn stove knobs

• Reach over burners

• Use the stove, oven, or microwave

• Be left unattended in the kitchen

⚠️ Appliances & Machinery

The property includes standard household machines, including but not limited to:

• Dishwasher

• Washer & dryer

• Refrigerators and freezers

• Microwaves

• HVAC vents and mechanical systems

These appliances:

• Contain moving parts, heat, electricity, and water

• May pinch fingers, trap hands, or cause injury

• Are not childproofed or locked

Children must not:

• Open, climb into, or play with appliances

• Press buttons, pull doors, or tamper with controls

• Touch vents, fans, or mechanical components

⚠️ Exercise Equipment & Fitness Areas

If present, exercise equipment may include:

• Weights

• Resistance equipment

• Cardio machines

• Benches or racks

These items:

• Are heavy

• May move unexpectedly

• Can cause crushing, pinching, or impact injuries

Children must not:

• Use exercise equipment

• Climb, hang, or play on machines

• Be left unattended in fitness areas

⚠️ Games & Recreation Equipment

The property may include:

• Billiards / pool table

• Game tables

• Cues, balls, paddles, or accessories

These items:

• Are heavy and may tip if climbed on

• Include hard surfaces and fast-moving objects

• Are not toys for young children

Children must not:

• Climb onto tables

• Swing cues or equipment

• Use recreational equipment without supervision

⚠️ Bugs, Insects & Natural Irritants

As a rural property, guests may encounter:

• Mosquitoes

• Flies

• Ants

• Spiders

• Bees or wasps

• Ticks

These are normal environmental conditions, not infestations.

Parents should:

• Monitor children outdoors

• Use appropriate repellents

• Check for bites or ticks after outdoor play

• Keep external doors closed

⚠️ Cleaning Supplies & Household Chemicals

• Cleaning products may be stored on-site

• These may include detergents, disinfectants, or solvents

• Products are not stored in childproof containers

Children must not:

• Access cleaning supplies

• Handle liquids or sprays

• Open storage closets unsupervised

Important Reminder for Parents & Guardians

These hazards are not hidden, unusual, or unique, they exist in nearly all rural or estate-style properties.

By booking Hilltop Retreat with children, you confirm that:

• You understand these inherent risks

• You will supervise your children/pets at all times

• You accept full responsibility for their safety

• You release the property, owners, and operators from liability arising from misuse, neglect, or lack of supervision

If This Feels Like “Too Much”

That’s okay—but this property may not be the right fit.

Hilltop Retreat is ideal for:

✔ Families with attentive supervision

✔ Older children who understand safety boundaries

✔ Guests who respect private property

It is not suitable for:

✘ Unsupervised children/pets

✘ High-risk behaviour

✘ Parents expecting childproof accommodations

All safety information, hazard notices, child supervision requirements, liability limitations, and reporting policies outlined above are summarized and incorporated into your rental agreement. By proceeding with a booking at Hilltop Retreat, guests acknowledge that these disclosures form part of the terms and conditions of their stay and are agreed to at the time of reservation.