FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Please find below a list of our most commonly asked questions, along with corresponding answers. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 1 767 616 8903 or use the Contact Form
Q. Do your cottages come with a warranty?
A. Yes, all of our cottages come with a 5-year cottage home warranty.
Q. What is the 5 Year Warranty Scheme?
A. The 5 Year Warranty Scheme is a free 5-year structural warranty, providing total peace of mind for purchasers of new resort homes.
Q. How is the Resort maintained?
A. Manicou River Resort is regularly maintained to a high standard, in particular the gardens and areas surrounding the cottages. If you wish to create your own garden and maintain it yourself that is fine although we would like to be consulted to ensure it fits with the natural habitat.
Q. Can I bring my pet?
A. Yes happy dogs, but sadly, due to low nesting wildlife … no cats.
Q. How secure is the site?
A. The Resort Warden lives on the site and a gate and guard dogs protect the cottage area.
Q. Can ownership be shared?
A. Yes, as long as the owners have approved the other parties.
Q. Can I sub-let my cottage?
A. Yes. It must be managed through the Manicou River Resort’s booking office at the agreed commission.
Q. Would my family have to pay inheritance tax on my cottage?
A. No, all of our cottages are exempt from inheritance tax.
Q. How are my interests protected when buying?
A. Its provisions include an acknowledgment of your right to take independent advice on any aspect of an intended purchase, be this from a surveyor, lawyer or any other professional.
Q. Do I actually own the plot and the home?
A. No, you only own your home. The renewable lease allows you to station your luxury cottage you have purchased on a plot, which is owned by Manicou River Resort, usually for a period of at least 15 years.
Q. What if I decide to sell?
A. You have the right to sell either privately, through an agent or to Manicou River Resort. Before you sell your home and assign your agreement you must notify Manicou River Resort of your intention and the price required. You must keep us informed of negotiations because we must give our consent to any prospective purchaser. We would need to interview prospective purchases to ensure they will integrate well with the community. However, we are not allowed to withhold our permission except on reasonable grounds, which must be given in writing. Manicou River Resort is entitled to a transfer fee of up to 10% of the purchase price when the agreement is re-assigned to a new purchaser.
Q. What are Resort Fees and how much should I budget for them?
A. Resort Fees and site rental are charges raised by the resort operator to cover the upkeep and maintenance of the resort. Site rental at Manicou River Resort is $100.00 USD per month RPI index linked upwardly only. Our resort fees are $100.00 USD per month RPI index linked upwardly only.
Q. How long can my cottage be sited on the resort?
A. We offer a minimum of 15 years with free contact renewal, as long as the home is kept in good condition. We also give the owner the right to sell their home on the resort, and the right to leave it to certain members of the family.
Q. What are the main advantages of cottage living?
A. Cottages make stylish and comfortable homes where people can make the most of their leisure time. Our cottages are imaginatively spaced and planned with generous living areas, both inside and outside and can be used all year round. We are investing heavily in creating carefully landscaped and well laid-out surroundings to compliment our cottages.
Q. What standards are cottages built to?
A. Cottages are built to either Dominica Planning Department Full Residential specification with standards of construction making it viable for all year round use.
Q. From what materials are the cottages built?
A. Local hard woods and treated pitch pine. Cottages are designed for easy maintenance, and owners are most unlikely to be faced with the sudden high repair bills, which can be a common feature of a traditionally built bricks-and-mortar property.
Q. What is the typical life expectancy of wood homes like these cottages?
A. Our modern cottages are extremely robust and longwearing. Properly maintained, a home should easily last in excess of 50 years.
Q. Are the cottages fully fitted and furnished?
A. The cottages are fully fitted with kitchens, closets and bathrooms. You can supply your own furniture or have our local craftsmen build your beds, tables, chairs etc from a selection of local woods.
Q. What cottages do you currently have for sale?
A. Please visit our Dominica Real Estate page.
Q. What services are provided?
A. Wind generated electricity and fresh rainwater is piped to each cottage and gas bottles supplied.
Q. Is there parking?
A. Yes, each site has a parking space.
Q. How many weeks per year can I expect my cottage to be rented for?
A. The season runs all year round in Dominica. We benefit from being close to Ross Medical University that has a 4-semester year.
Q. How much commission fee do I pay from my rental earnings to the resort and what do I get for this fee.
A. The commission fee is 30%. For this the resort will manage marketing and advertising, guest bookings and relations. The resort will also provide maid and laundry service to be charged by usage.
Q. How much should I expect to earn from my cottage rental?
A. The cottages are currently renting from $95.00 USD per night low season to $125.00 USD per night in high season.
Q. What are the main advantages of resort home living?
A. The social benefits are most readily appreciated by many, our resort is very much a community of like-minded people, where no one need suffer the sense of isolation so often felt by people who move away from familiar surroundings. Individual privacy is, of course, respected, as it would be anywhere.
Q. Do I have to pay Stamp Duty when purchasing a Cottage Home?
A. There is no Stamp Duty to be paid when purchasing a cottage home.
Q. Do I need an Alien Land Holding License?
A. No.
Q. Do I have access to the organic gardens?
A. Yes you can either purchase produce and/or you can sow and produce your own. We offer organic garden training.