House rules and safety

The short version: look after each other.

Most of this page is about four things — the roof, the hot tub, the fires and the stairs. They are what make the house, and they are what to think about before you arrive with children.

The four things that matter

What to talk about before you arrive.

Worth five minutes with whoever you are travelling with, particularly if there are children or anyone unsteady on stairs in the party.

The rooftop terrace: The whole top of the building is an open-air level, laid with turf and railed in glass on every side. It is the best room in the house and it is not a space for unsupervised children. Please have an adult up there whenever children are, and decide as a group whether the roof is somewhere your youngest goes at all.
The hot tub: On the roof, facing the ridge. Never leave a child in or near it unattended, keep the cover on and secured when it is not in use, and go easy on the combination of a hot tub and a long evening. If anyone in the party is pregnant, has a heart condition or high blood pressure, the usual advice about hot water applies.
The fires: There is a gas fire bowl on the roof, a fire ring at ground level, and gas fireplaces in the great room and several bedrooms. The gas fires light from a switch, which makes them easy to start and easy to forget. Adults only on the controls, nothing left burning unattended, and nothing dried, propped or stored against a fireplace.
The stairs: Three storeys, with an open stair and a glazed rail over the great room. There is also an elevator, which is the sensible route for luggage, groceries and anyone who would rather not take the stairs at all. If you are travelling with a toddler, look at the stair on the day you arrive and decide where the gates would need to go.
The pond and the grounds: There is a pond beside the entrance drive and open field around the house. It is unfenced. Small children outside need an adult with them, the same as anywhere with water on the property.
The drive: Private, unlit and on a rise, so it is dark at night and slower than it looks in winter. Take it gently, and park where you are not blocking anyone else in.
Cots and high chairs: Both are here for babies and toddlers. Tell us how many you need when you enquire, and bring a stair gate if your child needs one.
Nearest emergency department: Meaford Hospital (Brightshores Health System), 229 Nelson St W, Meaford: about 11 km, roughly 15 minutes, with a 24-hour emergency department. In an emergency, call 911 first.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: On every storey, and carbon monoxide alarms outside the sleeping areas, as the Ontario Fire Code requires. They are checked before every stay; if one chirps, tell us and do not take the battery out.

What we ask

Short, and mostly obvious.

Only the people on the booking: The house is for the party you told us about. Visitors during the day are a conversation to have with us first, not a surprise — this is a rule about insurance and the municipal position, not about hospitality.
Gatherings, by arrangement: Birthdays, anniversaries and family milestones are what the house is for, and gatherings with guests who are not staying are welcome too, by arrangement. Tell us the numbers and the plan when you enquire, so it works for you and for the neighbours.
Look after the neighbours: It is a quiet rural road and sound carries further here than it does in a town, particularly from a rooftop on a still night.
Tell us if something breaks: On the day, not at checkout. Ordinary wear is expected and nobody is charged for it.
Leave the fires and the hot tub as you found them: Off, covered, and not left for the next person or the housekeeper.
Pets: Considered on request. Ask before you book with a dog; a cleaning fee may apply.
Smoking and vaping: Not inside the house. Outside, keep well clear of the doors and windows, and take the ends away with you.
Quiet hours: 11 PM to 8 AM. The neighbours are a long way off, but sound carries across open country at night, particularly from the roof.
Check-in and check-out: Check-in from 4 PM, check-out by 11 AM. If you need a little more room either side, ask; when the calendar allows, we will make it work.
Maximum occupancy: Twelve overnight guests. Day guests beyond that are welcome by arrangement; tell us the numbers when you enquire.

Why this page exists

Better said now than discovered later.

Most rentals bury this in an agreement you sign after you have already paid. We would rather you read it while you are still deciding, because one or two of these will change whether this is the right house for your group.

If you are travelling with a two-year-old, the roof and the stairs are worth a conversation. If you were hoping to bring a dog, ask us first. If the trip is built around a celebration, tell us about it; most are exactly what the house is for, and if yours is not, we would rather say so by email than on the day.

Everything marked as being confirmed is exactly that. This is a house that has not been let before, and we are settling the terms properly rather than copying somebody else’s.

Getting around the house What is in each room Who you are booking with

Ask before you book.

If anything here matters for your group — a toddler, a dog, someone who cannot manage stairs — write to us with the specifics and we will give you a straight answer, including if the answer is no.

Ask a question See the house

Keep reading

Questions before booking

Is The Collingview suitable for young children?

Families are welcome, and there are two things to plan for. The rooftop terrace is a full open-air level with a hot tub and an open gas fire on it, and the house is three storeys with stairs between them. Both are manageable with a rule about who goes up and when, and both are worth thinking about before you book instead of on arrival.

Is the rooftop terrace safe for children?

It is railed in glass on every side. It also has a hot tub and an open gas fire bowl on it, so it is not a space for unsupervised children of any age. We ask that an adult is on the roof whenever children are, and that the fire and the hot tub are treated as adult-operated.

Can we hold a gathering or celebration at the house?

Yes, by arrangement. A birthday, an anniversary or a family milestone is exactly what the house is for, and guests who are not staying can join too. Tell us the numbers and the plan when you enquire and we will work it through with you, including parking and the quiet hours.

Are pets allowed?

Considered on request. Tell us about your dog when you enquire, and we will say yes or no for your dates before you book. A cleaning fee may apply, and it will be in the quote if it does.

What happens if something gets broken?

Tell us. Things get broken in every house that gets used, and an accident reported on the day is a different conversation from damage found after checkout. Nobody is charged for ordinary wear.