Terms & Conditions
for Houseboat, Event, Day, Stay, and Additional Service Bookings
The Lakeside Loft Bahlburg & Hohn GbR Werderstr. 51b 13587 Berlin Email: booking@thelakesideloft.de
Status: April 2026
1. Scope
These General Terms and Conditions apply to all contracts for the rental, use, and provision of the houseboat "The Lakeside Loft" including associated ancillary services, in particular events, celebrations, corporate events, weddings, engagements, birthdays, baby showers, photo and film productions, business offsites, catering, beverages, overnight stays, skipper services, and other additional services.
Deviating, conflicting, or supplementary conditions of the customer only become part of the contract if the provider expressly agrees to their validity in text form.
Customers within the meaning of these GTC are consumers and entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur is any natural or legal person or a partnership with legal capacity who, when concluding a legal transaction, acts in the exercise of their commercial or independent professional activity.
2. Conclusion of Contract, Offers, and Booking Confirmation
Representations on the website, in price lists, brochures, social media, or other advertising materials do not constitute a legally binding offer, but rather a non-binding invitation to submit a booking request.
By submitting a booking request or accepting an individual offer, the customer submits a binding offer to conclude a contract.
A contract is only concluded when the provider confirms the booking in text form or sends an invoice for an advance payment.
The booking confirmation, the individual offer, the invoice, and these GTC are exclusively decisive for the scope of services.
Changes to the number of guests, the timeframe, the additional services, or the purpose of the event require the consent of the provider in text form. The provider is entitled to charge additional costs for this.
3. Subject of the Contract and Purpose of Use
The provider makes the houseboat available to the customer for the agreed period and the agreed purpose of use.
Permissible uses are in particular private and business events, celebrations, photo and film productions, workshops, offsites, caterings, overnight stays, and similar purposes, provided they are agreed upon in the booking confirmation.
Use for purposes other than those agreed upon, in particular for publicly advertised events, commercial ticket sales, political events, events with an increased security risk, illegal purposes, or events with unregistered guests, is only permitted with the prior express consent of the provider.
The customer is not entitled to leave the boat or individual areas to third parties in whole or in part without prior consent, to sublet it, or to use it for unregistered events.
4. Prices, Advance Payment, and Maturity
The prices agreed upon in the individual offer or in the booking confirmation apply. Unless otherwise stated, prices are exclusive of statutory value-added tax.
Upon booking, an advance payment of 50% of the total price is due, unless otherwise expressly agreed in the offer.
The full remaining amount must be received in full in the provider's account no later than 14 calendar days before the start of the event.
If the full payment is not received on time, the provider is entitled to withdraw from the contract after a reasonable grace period has expired fruitlessly and to cancel the event. The provider's claims that have already arisen, in particular for cancellation costs, compensation for damages, or reimbursement of futile expenses, remain unaffected.
For bookings made less than 14 calendar days before the start of the event, the total price is due immediately upon conclusion of the contract.
Rights of retention on the part of the customer exist only insofar as they are based on the same contractual relationship. Offsetting is only permissible with undisputed, legally established, ripe for decision, or provider-recognized claims.
5. Deposit, Damages, and Cleaning
The provider may request a security deposit. The amount and due date result from the offer, booking confirmation, or invoice.
The deposit serves to secure all claims of the provider arising from or in connection with the booking, in particular due to damage, loss, additional cleaning, contractual penalties, exceeding the usage time, unauthorized guests, unauthorized food/beverages, smoking violations, or other breaches of duty.
The customer is liable for all damages, contamination, losses, and other impairments caused by them, their guests, service providers, vicarious agents, or other persons initiated by them.
The customer must report damage immediately. A later determination of damage after return remains reserved, provided that it can be assigned to the customer's event or stay.
If the damage exceeds the deposit, the provider remains entitled to claim further damages.
The deposit will be refunded to the customer immediately after proper and uncomplained return of the houseboat, at the latest within 14 calendar days after the end of the event. In the case of disputed or not yet quantifiable claims, the provider is entitled to retain a reasonable part of the deposit until clarification; the undisputed part will be paid out within the stated period.
6. Number of Guests, Access, and Domiciliary Rights
The maximum permissible number of guests results from the booking confirmation. Exceeding this is only permissible with the prior consent of the provider.
The provider is entitled to deny access to unregistered persons or persons exceeding the permissible number of guests or to cancel the event.
The provider, their employees, agents, skippers, or other responsible persons exercise domiciliary rights during the entire period of use.
Persons who violate safety instructions, house rules, or legal regulations, appear intoxicated or intoxicated, endanger other persons, riot, carry unauthorized objects, or significantly disrupt the process may be expelled from the boat.
A refund or reduction due to rightfully denied access, exclusion of individual persons, or cancellation due to the behavior of the customer or their guests is excluded.
7. Entering and Use at Your Own Risk
Entering and using the houseboat, the jetties, accesses, terraces, outdoor areas, stairs, wet areas, and other movable or weather-exposed areas are at your own risk within the framework of statutory provisions.
The customer is aware that the use of a houseboat can entail special risks, in particular due to water location, swell, wind, moisture, slipperiness, differences in height, jetties, railings, terraces, stairs, technical equipment, and changing weather conditions.
The customer undertakes to point out these risks to themselves and their guests before the start of use and to ensure compliance with all safety instructions.
Running, climbing on railings, sitting on railings, jumping into the water, swimming without express permission, unauthorized operation of technical equipment, entering restricted areas, and other dangerous behavior are prohibited.
Particular caution is required in the dark, wetness, frost, wind, or other difficult conditions.
The customer and all guests are aware that the houseboat is located directly on or by the water and that, in particular, terraces, outdoor areas, jetties, and access areas may partially not or not completely be secured by railings, balustrades, or other fall protection.
Entering and staying in these areas requires particular attention and personal responsibility. This applies in particular in the dark, wetness, wind, swell, alcohol consumption, fatigue, or other circumstances that may impair stability or responsiveness.
Persons who cannot swim or can only swim uncertainly are obliged to take this into account on their own responsibility and to exercise particular caution. The provider keeps life jackets ready for non-swimmers and insecure swimmers.
Non-swimmers, insecure swimmers, children, as well as intoxicated persons or persons restricted in their ability to stand, perceive, or react are strongly recommended to wear a life jacket at all times in outdoor areas, on terraces, jetties, and other areas close to water or falling.
If a person, despite recognizable risks, in particular in the case of alcohol consumption, non-swimmer status, or limited responsiveness, does not wear a provided life jacket or stays in areas close to water or falling contrary to safety instructions, this is done at their own responsibility within the legal limits.
The customer is obliged to expressly point out the water location, the special risks, the partially missing railings/balustrades in outdoor areas, the availability of life jackets, and the special dangers for non-swimmers and intoxicated persons to their guests before the start of the event.
The provider assumes no liability for damage, injuries, or other consequences arising from the fact that customers or guests act contrary to safety instructions, do not wear provided life jackets, incorrectly assess their swimming ability, enter areas close to water or falling intoxicated or intoxicated, or otherwise behave in a self-endangering manner, insofar as legally permissible.
The mandatory liability of the provider for damage resulting from injury to life, body, or health as well as for intent and gross negligence remains unaffected.
8. Children, Minors, and Duties of Supervision
Minors may only enter and use the boat accompanied by an adult person authorized to supervise.
The customer ensures that sufficient supervision is guaranteed for all minor guests.
Persons obliged to supervise are liable within the framework of the statutory provisions for damage caused by a breach of their duty of supervision.
The provider does not assume supervision of children or young people.
In the event of insufficient supervision or endangerment of minors, the provider is entitled to prohibit the use of individual areas, to expel persons from the boat, or to cancel the event for safety reasons.
9. Safety Instructions, Skipper, and Cancellation in Case of Danger
Instructions of the provider, the skipper, boat driver, personnel, security service, or other agents must be followed immediately at all times.
The skipper, boat driver, or a responsible person designated by the provider decides at their due discretion on the safe execution, continuation, modification, restriction, or termination of the trip, event, or use.
Execution or continuation may be refused, restricted, or canceled in particular in the event of: strong wind, storm, thunderstorm, heavy rain, fog, ice, high or low water, official warnings or bans, technical malfunctions, dangers to persons, boat, environment or third parties, intoxication, drug use or aggressive behavior, exceeding the number of guests, non-compliance with safety instructions, or other circumstances that endanger safe execution.
The assessment of the security situation lies with the skipper, boat driver, or provider. The customer has no right to demand that a trip or event be started or continued contrary to this assessment.
If the cancellation or restriction occurs for reasons for which the customer, their guests, or third parties commissioned by them are responsible, there is no right to a refund, reduction, replacement date, or compensation for damages.
If the cancellation or restriction occurs for safety reasons for which neither the provider nor the customer is responsible, in particular due to weather, official order, or force majeure, the provisions in clauses 13 and 14 apply.
10. Weather, Wind, and Water-Related Risks
The customer acknowledges that events on a houseboat can be weather-dependent.
Normal seasonal weather, rain, cold, heat, wind, cloudiness, or other weather subjectively perceived as "bad weather" do not entitle the customer to free cancellation, reduction, non-payment, or unilateral postponement.
A postponement due to weather only takes place subject to availability and exclusively after prior agreement with the provider. There is no right to postponement.
If the customer requests a postponement due to weather, the agreed price remains due, provided the provider can basically provide the service at the agreed time or significant preparations, dispositions, personnel, catering, or third-party services have already been initiated.
Security-relevant weather decisions, in particular in the event of strong winds, storms, thunderstorms, or other dangers, are made solely by the provider, skipper, or boat driver.
11. Food, Drinks, Catering, and External Service Providers
Bringing your own food and drinks is only permitted with the prior express consent of the provider.
Catering, drinks, service personnel, technology, decoration, music, photographers, artists, or other external service providers may only be used with the prior consent of the provider.
The customer is liable for actions and breaches of duty by service providers commissioned by them as for their own behavior.
External service providers must comply with the house rules, safety instructions, noise protection guidelines, fire protection guidelines, and other guidelines of the provider.
The provider may deny service providers access or prohibit their activities if there are safety, liability, hygiene, fire protection, noise, or other legitimate reasons for doing so.
12. Music, Noise, Night Rest, and Official Requirements
The customer is obliged to comply with all legal, official, and contractual requirements regarding noise, music, night rest, environmental, water, resident, and emission protection.
Volume, music operation, outdoor sound reinforcement, and the use of terraces or outdoor areas can be restricted or prohibited by the provider at any time.
If the customer or third parties commissioned by them use music, sound, or stage performances for which the rights of third parties, in particular GEMA, are affected, the customer is exclusively responsible for timely registration, obtaining the necessary licenses, and paying the resulting fees. The customer indemnifies the provider from all third-party claims in this regard, including any subsequent claims, default surcharges, and costs of legal defense, insofar as they are responsible for the legal violation.
The customer is liable for fines, fees, claims of third parties, and other damages caused by violations of noise, environmental, water, safety, or other public law regulations, insofar as they are responsible for them.
Police, official, or security-related measures resulting from the behavior of the customer, their guests, or service providers entitle the provider to cancel the event immediately without refund.
13. Cancellation by the Customer
Cancellations must be in text form.
In the event of cancellation by the customer, unless otherwise agreed in the individual offer, the following flat-rate cancellation costs apply to bookings with event or combined stay character (including associated provision, personnel, catering, or third-party services):
| Time of Cancellation | Cancellation Costs | |---|---| | Up to 30 calendar days before the start of the event | 30% of the agreed total price | | From 29 to 15 calendar days before the start of the event | 50% of the agreed total price | | From 14 to 6 calendar days before the start of the event | 75% of the agreed total price | | From 5 calendar days before the start of the event or in case of no-show | 100% of the agreed total price |
For bookings that are exclusively aimed at an overnight stay without event character and without further additional services, the following cancellation costs apply:
| Time of Cancellation | Cancellation Costs | |---|---| | Up to 30 calendar days before arrival | 10% of the agreed total price | | From 29 to 15 calendar days before arrival | 40% of the agreed total price | | From 14 to 3 calendar days before arrival | 70% of the agreed total price | | From 2 calendar days before arrival or in case of no-show | 90% of the agreed total price |
The flat rates take into account saved expenses and other possible uses of the provider.
The customer is permitted to prove that the provider has suffered no or significantly less damage.
The provider reserves the right to prove greater damage.
Already commissioned third-party services that cannot be canceled free of charge, in particular catering, drinks, personnel, skipper, technology, cleaning, decoration, special procurements, or official services, must be compensated additionally insofar as they are not already included in the cancellation flat rate or do not remain saved by the provider.
Rebooking or postponement is only possible subject to availability and the express consent of the provider. The provider may make consent conditional on the payment of costs already incurred, third-party service costs, or a rebooking fee.
14. Cancellation, Restriction, or Postponement by the Provider
The provider is entitled to cancel, restrict, postpone, or abort the event if execution is impossible, unreasonable, unsafe, or legally impermissible.
This applies in particular in the case of force majeure, extreme weather conditions, storms, thunderstorms, strong winds, or other hazardous situations, official bans or conditions, technical defects, illness or failure of security-relevant personnel, and dangers to persons, boats, the environment, or third parties.
Insofar as the provider is not responsible for the cancellation or restriction, there are no claims for damages, reimbursement of futile expenses, or lost profit.
Insofar as possible and reasonable, the provider offers the customer an alternative date. There is no right to a specific replacement date.
Costs already incurred, not saved, or non-refundable, in particular for third-party services, catering, personnel, skipper, special procurements, or official services, may be charged to the customer to the extent permitted by law.
If the customer is responsible for the cancellation, restriction, or abort, the provider's full claim to remuneration remains valid.
15. Price Adjustment for Long-Term Bookings
If there is a period of more than twelve months between the conclusion of the contract and the agreed start of the event, the provider is entitled to appropriately adjust the agreed price in line with the development of their relevant costs, in particular for energy, personnel, catering, service providers, taxes, and duties, insofar as the total cost increase since the conclusion of the contract is more than 5%. The adjustment is limited to the percentage by which the relevant costs have actually increased; cost reductions are to be taken into account accordingly.
The provider will inform the customer of an intended adjustment in text form at least six weeks before the start of the event and name the relevant cost items upon request. If the adjustment exceeds 10% of the originally agreed price, the customer has a special right of termination, which must be exercised in text form within 14 calendar days after receipt of the notification. Advance payments already made will be refunded in this case; further claims are excluded.
16. Liability of the Provider
The provider is fully liable for damage arising from injury to life, body, or health based on a breach of duty by the provider, their legal representatives, or vicarious agents.
The provider is fully liable for damage based on intent or gross negligence on the part of the provider, their legal representatives, or vicarious agents.
In the case of slightly negligent violation of essential contractual obligations, the provider's liability is limited to the contract-typical, foreseeable damage. Essential contractual obligations are those obligations whose fulfillment enables the proper execution of the contract in the first place and on whose compliance the customer may regularly rely.
Otherwise, the liability of the provider for damage caused by slight negligence is excluded.
Liability under mandatory statutory provisions, in particular under the Product Liability Act, remains unaffected.
The provider assumes no liability for items, cloakroom, technology, decoration, valuables, vehicles, watercraft, or other items brought in by customers, guests, or external service providers, except in cases of intent or gross negligence or insofar as liability is mandatory by law.
17. Liability of the Customer
The customer is liable for all damages, losses, contamination, breaches of contract, and other disadvantages caused by them, their guests, children, supervisors, service providers, or other persons initiated by them.
The customer indemnifies the provider from third-party claims arising due to a breach of duty for which the customer, their guests, or service providers are responsible. This also includes reasonable costs of legal defense.
The customer is obliged to inform their guests and service providers of the essential safety, behavioral, and house rules.
Multiple customers are jointly and severally liable.
18. Organizer Liability Insurance
In the case of commercial events, corporate events, public-effective events, weddings, photo or film productions, as well as events with more than 20 guests, the provider urgently recommends taking out organizer liability insurance with an appropriate sum insured (regularly at least 3 million euros flat rate for personal injury and property damage). The provider is entitled to demand proof of appropriate insurance at the latest 14 calendar days before the start of the event. If proof is not provided in a timely manner, the provider may restrict the execution or – after a reasonable grace period has expired fruitlessly – withdraw from the event; the provisions in section 13 apply accordingly.
19. Loss, Damage, and Brought-In Items
Brought-in items are on the boat at the customer's risk.
The provider assumes no duty of care for wardrobe, bags, technology, decoration, gifts, valuables, or other items belonging to the customer or their guests, unless separate storage has been expressly agreed upon.
Left-behind items will only be returned upon request and against reimbursement of costs. The provider is entitled to handle lost property after a reasonable storage period in accordance with legal regulations.
20. Technical Facilities, Smart Home, Media, and Equipment
Technical facilities, smart home components, light, music, kitchen, heating, plumbing, security, and on-board technology may only be operated after instruction or with the consent of the provider.
Unauthorized interventions in technical systems, fuses, on-board electrics, water, heating, control, propulsion, safety, or navigation systems are prohibited.
The customer is liable for damage and consequential damage resulting from improper use.
The provider assumes no guarantee for the permanent availability of certain streaming services, internet speeds, smart home functions, or third-party services, unless these have been expressly guaranteed as an essential part of the contract.
21. Smoking, Fire, Grilling, and Dangerous Objects
Smoking is only permitted in explicitly designated areas. Smoking indoors is prohibited.
Open fires, candles, pyrotechnics, confetti, fog machines, your own grills, patio heaters, fuel pastes, gas bottles, explosive, highly flammable, or dangerous objects are prohibited without the prior consent of the provider.
Violations entitle the provider to immediately abort the event without refund.
The customer bears additional cleaning, repair, safety, or disposal costs insofar as they are responsible for the violation.
22. Alcohol, Drugs, and Behavior Endangering Security
The consumption of illegal drugs is prohibited.
The provider is entitled to deny access to intoxicated, intoxicated, aggressive, or security-endangering persons or to expel them from the boat.
Persons who are intoxicated, intoxicated, or discernibly impaired in their ability to stand, perceive, or react can be prohibited from staying in outdoor areas, on terraces, jetties, and other areas close to water or falling.
The provider, the skipper, the boat driver, or authorized personnel are entitled to request persons to wear a life jacket, to restrict access to certain areas, or to expel persons from the boat if this appears necessary for safety reasons.
If a person does not immediately comply with a corresponding safety instruction, the provider is entitled to restrict or cancel the event. In this case, there is no claim for refund, reduction, or a replacement date insofar as the abort was caused by the behavior of the customer, their guests, or service providers.
The provider can restrict or end the serving of alcohol if this appears necessary for safety reasons.
Safety-related measures according to this section do not constitute a claim for a refund or reduction if they were caused by the behavior of the customer, their guests, or service providers.
23. Overnight Stays
Overnight stays are only permitted if expressly booked and confirmed.
Additional or unregistered overnight guests are not permitted.
Parties, unregistered guests, considerable noise pollution, or improper use in connection with overnight stays are prohibited.
The provider is entitled to immediately terminate the overnight stay in the event of violations. Claims for remuneration and damages remain unaffected.
24. Handover, Return, and Times of Use
The times for handover (check-in) and return (check-out) result from the booking confirmation. Unless otherwise regulated there, check-in takes place at the earliest from 3:00 p.m. and check-out at the latest by 11:00 a.m.
The handover takes place personally or via an access solution determined by the provider. The customer is obliged to report recognizable defects in text form immediately upon handover; otherwise, the boat is considered handed over in the contractual condition.
In the event of a late return, the provider is entitled to demand a flat-rate usage fee of 1/24 of the agreed daily price, but at least 50.00 euros, for each hour or part thereof of delay. The customer remains entitled to prove lower damage, and the provider to prove higher damage. Further claims, in particular from subsequent events, remain unaffected.
25. Pets
Bringing pets is only permitted with the prior express consent of the provider in text form. The type, number, and size of the animals must be stated in the booking request.
The customer is liable for all damage, contamination, and increased cleaning effort caused by animals. Animals may not be left alone on the boat unsupervised. The provider may charge an appropriate flat-rate cleaning fee for approved animals; the amount and due date result from the offer or booking confirmation.
Recognized assistance and guide dogs remain unaffected within the framework of the statutory provisions.
26. Photo, Film, and Sound Recordings
Commercial photo, film, and sound recordings require the prior consent of the provider unless they are expressly the subject of the contract.
The customer is responsible for obtaining any necessary consents, rights, and permits, in particular personal rights, copyrights, trademark rights, music rights, and rights of guests, artists, or service providers.
The customer indemnifies the provider against claims by third parties arising from an illegal use of recordings, insofar as the customer is responsible for the legal violation.
27. Right of Withdrawal for Consumers
Consumers within the meaning of § 13 BGB generally have a statutory right of withdrawal according to § 355 BGB in the case of distance contracts. The provider distinguishes as follows:
a) Contracts aimed exclusively at the provision of services in connection with leisure activities and for which the contract provides for a specific date or period (in particular events, weddings, celebrations, photo/film productions, business offsites, daily use):
For these contracts, there is no right of withdrawal in accordance with § 312g Abs. 2 Nr. 9 BGB.
b) Contracts for pure accommodation/overnight services for a specific period:
These contracts also fall under § 312g Abs. 2 Nr. 9 BGB; a right of withdrawal does not exist.
c) Other distance contracts concluded with the provider that do not fall under letter a) or b):
The following right of withdrawal applies to these contracts.
Cancellation Policy
Right of Withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the day the contract is concluded.
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us (The Lakeside Loft, Bahlburg & Hohn GbR, Werderstr. 51b, 13587 Berlin, Email: booking@thelakesideloft.de) of your decision to withdraw from this contract by an unequivocal statement (e.g. a letter sent by post or email). You may use the attached model withdrawal form, but it is not obligatory.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of Withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us), without undue delay and in any event not later than fourteen days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
If you requested to begin the performance of services during the withdrawal period, you shall pay us an amount which is in proportion to what has been provided until you have communicated us your withdrawal from this contract, in comparison with the full coverage of the contract.
Model Withdrawal Form
(If you want to withdraw from the contract, please fill out this form and send it back.)
To: The Lakeside Loft, Bahlburg & Hohn GbR, Werderstr. 51b, 13587 Berlin, Email: booking@thelakesideloft.de
I/We () hereby give notice that I/We () withdraw from my/our () contract of sale of the following goods ()/for the provision of the following service (*):
Ordered on () / received on ():
Name of consumer(s):
Address of consumer(s):
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper):
Date:
(*) Delete as appropriate.
28. Force Majeure
Force majeure exists if unforeseeable, unavoidable events outside the control of the parties make performance wholly or partially impossible, significantly more difficult, or unreasonable.
These include in particular natural events, extreme weather conditions, storms, thunderstorms, high water, low water, ice, official measures, blockades, pandemics, war, terror, strikes, energy failures, major technical disruptions, or other comparable events.
The affected party will inform the other party immediately.
Claims for damages due to force majeure are excluded as far as legally permissible.
29. Data Protection
The provider processes personal data of the customer for contract initiation, contract execution, payment processing, communication, and fulfillment of legal obligations.
Further information can be found in the Privacy Policy of the provider.
30. Final Provisions
The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
If the customer is a merchant, a legal entity under public law, or a special fund under public law, the place of jurisdiction, as far as legally permissible, is Berlin.
Information on online dispute resolution pursuant to Art. 14 Para. 1 ODR-VO: The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (OS), which is accessible at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. The email address of the provider is: booking@thelakesideloft.de.
Note pursuant to § 36 VSBG: The provider is neither willing nor obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
Should individual provisions of these GTC be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The statutory provisions shall apply in place of the invalid provision.