Brend was excellent about promptly communicating before our rental as well as allowing us to check in one hour earlier, at noon since we were coming in on an international flight. We appreciated that very much.
Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the flat when we arrived as the description on the site does not appear to reflect the flat where we stayed. In Brend's description, the host clearly indicates that the flat was recently renovated. The pictures on the listing are different from the flat where we stayed.
When we checked in, the host told us that they recently had a leak, which was the reason the paint was peeling from the walls. However, we can't believe that to be the case since the paint was peeling away from the walls in the bathroom, reception area and the bedrooms. There were also cracks in several of the walls and on the ceiling. It appeared to be a long-standing issue and not recent as described. Furthermore, the flat was not clean and the headboards were stained and filthy. The dust coming off the fans was evident on the walls in each of the rooms.
There was also NO SMOKE alarm and the building is an older building so we felt our safety was compromised without the visibility of a smoke alarm in the flat.
While I can appreciate the host running a business of renting several flats, it seems to us that at the very least the listing should be genuine and honest. As we were only staying two nights and not in our home country, we did not feel comfortable to protest so we endured the two nights and avoided spending any time in the flat except to sleep. However, we felt the flat does not meet the standards Brend described in the listing and it lacked the basic necessity of a smoke alarm for security.
Finally, we are also concerned that given how old the paint was, it could have been a lead-based product. As we had kids with us, that is a significant issue for us and for future guests.
I would caution staying at this flat despite it's terrific location and the hosts initial excellent communication until the flat is truly renovated and safety features are installed.