Your information

Privacy and cookies

How we look after the information you give us when you book a stay or send us a message.

Who we are

McDougall Holiday Rentals is the trading name of McDougall of Fife Ltd, a company registered in Scotland (company number SC684347). We are the data controller for the personal information described here.

If you have any questions about this notice or your information, contact Peter McDougall at peter@mcdougallholidayrentals.co.uk or on 01592 800 544.

The short version

We only collect what we need to take your booking, look after your stay or answer your message.
We never sell your information or use it for advertising.
This site has no comments, accounts, newsletters, analytics or advertising trackers.
Card payments are handled by Stripe. Your card number never touches our website.

When you book a stay

To make a booking we ask for your name, email address, phone number, postal address, the number of guests and any note you add. We use this to confirm and manage your booking, send your confirmation and online check-in link, and contact you about your stay.

Your booking is held in our booking system, Hostaway, which we use to manage reservations, availability and guest messages. Card details are entered into a secure form provided by Stripe, our payment processor, and go directly to Stripe. Stripe charges your card for the booking and, at check-in, places the pre-authorisation for the security deposit.

When you check in online, we ask for the details we need to prepare for your arrival, and any information we are required by law to record about guests.

Why we can use it: to enter into and carry out our contract with you, and to meet our legal obligations, such as keeping financial records.

When you send us a message

Our contact, long-stay and owner appraisal forms ask for your name, email address, optional phone number and your message, plus any details you choose to give, such as dates, company name or property postcode. The message is emailed to us and a copy is kept securely on this website so nothing gets lost.

We use it only to reply to you and deal with your request. Why we can use it: our legitimate interest in responding to enquiries, or to take steps you ask for before entering into a contract, such as a quote.

Protecting the site from spam and abuse

Our forms and checkout use Cloudflare Turnstile to check that a real person is using them. Turnstile looks at information about your browser and connection, including your IP address, without using cookies. We also briefly use IP addresses to limit repeated attempts and stop misuse. Why we can use it: our legitimate interest in keeping the site and your bookings secure.

Homes booked on a partner’s booking site

A few homes we look after are booked on the owner’s own booking site. For those homes you check dates on our site, then go to their site to book and pay. Anything you enter there is handled by that site under its own privacy notice; we don’t see your card details.

Who we share it with

We only share your information with companies that help us run our service, and only what they need:

Hostaway: our booking and property management system.
Stripe: card payments and security deposits.
Cloudflare: spam and abuse protection on our forms and checkout.
Our website host and email provider: to run this site and receive your messages.
Our housekeeping team and the owner of the home you book: the details needed to prepare for and look after your stay.

We may also share information where the law requires it, for example with HMRC, or with the police where there is a legal basis to do so. Some of these providers are based in, or process data in, the United States. Where that happens, the transfer is protected by safeguards required by UK law, such as the UK–US Data Bridge or approved contract terms.

How long we keep it

Bookings: six years after the end of the financial year of your stay, to meet tax and accounting rules.
Messages and enquiries: up to two years, unless they lead to a booking or an agreement.
Spam and security checks: a matter of minutes or hours.

Cookies and similar technology

This website does not use analytics, advertising or social media cookies, so we don’t need to ask for cookie consent.

Saved homes: if you tap the heart on a home, it is remembered in your own browser’s storage on your device. It is never sent to us, and you can clear it at any time in your browser settings.
Checkout: Stripe’s payment form sets cookies needed to process payments securely and prevent fraud.
Maps: map views load map images from OpenStreetMap, which receives your IP address to send them.
Photos: some property photos are loaded from our booking system’s image storage, which receives your IP address to send them.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct it, delete it, restrict how we use it or object to us using it. Where we rely on our legitimate interests, you can object at any time. Some information we must keep by law, such as booking and payment records.

To use any of these rights, email peter@mcdougallholidayrentals.co.uk. We’ll reply within one month.

If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your information, please tell us first so we can put it right. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Changes to this notice

We’ll update this page if the way we use information changes. Last updated: October 2026.