[salty dog]

This definitely sounds like a bad way to do business, although it sounds like the owners will no longer be doing any. I wonder how many other regular renters were given the same treatment? Too bad you couldn't get in touch with any of them to confer. We've been renting in West Alton for the past 4 seasons and go through Curry Realtors who have always been pleasant and forthcoming to deal with. I think we just got lucky with this place, especially with allowing Sadie, our dog, to stay. It's quaint but comfortable and always clean. There's a $50 cleaning fee and the cabin is cleaned each week at the turnover. I think this is reasonable and sort of provides a baseline for each renter coming in because it's always cleaned the same way. The same people rent each year; everything always looks as it did last stay and we've never seen any damage that we can tell. We turn our key in at the end of the week and reserve then for the next season, and our security deposit is returned within a month. We get an email in January with an attached bill for one half the rental fee which we mail in, the balance due when we pick up the key that summer. It's a shame this has happened to you, especially at this late date when it may be difficult to find a place available. Taking legal action is certainly an option but at what cost in man hours, legal costs and "agita"? Good luck in whatever you decide and in finding an alternate vacation spot.