The location of this apartment is fantastic. Much of what Berlin has to offer can be reached by walking; the rest by local public transportation. Shopping for food and everyday items is close by and convenient. Our contact with the host was very positive. Up to now: five stars!
Unfortunately, the day-to-day interactions with the local management was a catastrophe. They appear determined to save Euros wherever they can. The building's stairs and hallways are shabby and, in spite of weekly cleaning, appear dingy. In spite of our repeated requests to replace the battery in the smoke detector, the tube light in the upstairs bathroom (the one with the broken mirror that had an aging piece of Scotch tape on the edge to prevent cuts), and the poorly functioning vacuum cleaner, nothing happened during our 30 day visit. The smoke detector peeped every 5 minutes, day and night. There were no cleaning supplies, no broom, no dish cloth, etc. Key basic ingredients to a functioning household were missing. The largest drinking glass held about 4 oz (100ml). There was no cover to the frying pan, there were no serving dishes, no toilet paper holder in the upstairs bathroom. Typical for the "must be cheap" mindset, our elegant but leaky coffee machine that matched the other appliances and the kitchen decor was replaced by a much inferior one. Our communication with the team entrusted with the day-to-day management of the apartment was annoying. One star for them!
Bottom Line: A beautiful apartment, pleasant owner, but unacceptable custodianship.