I'm unsure how to start this as I’ve usually had great experiences with previous Airbnb’s. As far as location goes, it was serene, exactly as was advertised. Additionally, the hosts we're relatively prompt in replying to questions or queries.
Unfortunately, this is where the positives end. As a group we’re a pretty easy-going bunch but considering the steep price we paid for this stay we had a very reasonable expectations regarding the quality. Whilst there we’re many issues, we’ll tackle the main ones in this review.
Upon arriving, we noted a large amount of rubbish around the exterior of the property, including empty bottles, cans, and rubbish bags. There was also broken glass located in the backyard, which could be very dangerous for younger children. The overall maintenance and cleanliness of the house interior was disgusting and looks nothing like the photos. As a group we understand that it is an older house and as such some weathering is to be expected, but when you’re paying $1300 per night, you’d expect a higher standard of cleanliness. The showers we’re filthy and there was also black mold present in spots throughout the house.
Upon walking around in the backyard, we discovered the sewerage pipe under the house was totally exposed, causing a malodorous smell to permeate through the house. The plumber in our group cautioned that this setup was potentially illegal and should be addressed immediately. The timber on the balcony’s safety balustrades was rotting away. The billiards table was completely unusable as the table’s netting was ripped, the balls were pitted, and all the cues were missing their tips. Some of the tiles in the lower level were also broken, resulting in members of the group cutting their feet. The pool gate was falling apart and clearly unsafe. The spa heater was cutting out all night, meaning a member of the group had to keep going outside in the cold to reset the system. The ‘temporary’ indoor heating system (small portable heaters in each room, which we were informed about after we booked), kept shorting the power throughout the house, leaving us without lights, running water, fridges, and reliable heating, in turn causing some of our food to spoil. The main pool heating, fireplace, and central heating we’re all ‘under maintenance’, which really just means they can’t be stuffed fixing it. Finally, the limited range of kitchen utensils provided we’re all filthy, and all needed to be thoroughly cleaned before we could use them.
It's such a shame because the house clearly has such incredible potential, which appears to have been wasted by poor maintenance and neglect. This Airbnb is extremely unsafe in its current state. The owners need to either spend some time and money fixing all the pitfalls or change the price drastically to reflect the true condition of the home.