UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN. DOES NOT COMPLY WITH NSW FAIR TRADING SAFETY GUIDELINES RE: BALCONY.
1. Upon arrival, a group of 8 men were in the middle of an aggressive and physical fight blocking our entry into the driveway. The real estate suggested we phone the police.
2. Once we made it inside, the balcony did not lock internally and my five year old was able to easily open the balcony sliding door six floors above ground and make her way onto the balcony. The Host suggested I use a flimsy plastic lock to keep toddlers out of pantries to secure the door, it was broken anyway but also suggested the Host was well aware of the balcony’s failure to lock and had not rectified the situation beforehand. The Host suggested I ‘do not leave my children unsupervised’ during our stay. She did not acknowledge that the apartment failed to adhere to NSW Fair Trading safety guidelines and refused to negotiate a part-refund as I was attempting to be fair in the process even though I am entitled, because of failure to adhere to safety regulations, to a full refund. The Host rather than negotiate with me referred the matter to AirBnB despite videos of my five year old opening the balcony door with ease and a copy of the NSW FAIR TRADING SAFETY REGULATIONS regarding balconies and internal lock requirements - any window or balcony above two metres must have an internal lock.
3. We were thoroughly disappointed that we had to find alternate accomodation on the afternoon of our arrival, that our Host refused to acknowledge the apartment did not comply with safety regulations, refused to negotiate with me even though I am entitled to a full refund for offering a service that is faulty/does not comply with safety regulations. I am $700 out of pocket but any parent would not risk the safety of their children for any amount of money. Fifty children a year in NSW fall from balconies suffering serious injury and death, it was a risk my husband and I refused to take. AirBnB have been good to deal with while this investigation is underway, and I hope to receive a full refund.
4. The matter has also been referred to NSW FAIR TRADING as I would hate for any other family to stay at the apartment and have their child fall six storeys above ground.
5. Additionally the apartment is old and has a faint damp smell from age, if you are a couple without children and are not concerned about old buildings it might be for you but until the balcony door is fixed please keep your children safe and stay elsewhere.