Only several days before we left for Italy we were informed that construction work was being undertaken on the building where the apartment is located. The construction required that the exterior of the building to be scaffolded and to our surprise when we arrived we discovered that the building was also tented. (The construction crew later told us that construction had started over a month before we arrived.) Also, the apartment was damp and there was no heat. I called Maria Federica and ask if the heat could be turned on. She told me the apartment did not have heat because of Italian law that heat could not be provided until November. My friends who live in Florence did confirm that yes there was an old heat law but that they all had heat in their buildings. I finally insisted that the heat be turned on which she then agreed to do.
After our stay I called Maria Federica and asked for a discount for the inconveniences. She told me that she was not responsible for the construction. Instead of even apologizing for our problems she also told me that she did us a favor by turning on the heat. She also added that I was a "tough" person because she did not like the tone of my voice when I insisted that we needed heat to get rid of the dampness, and that no discount would be provided.
On a positive note, the apartment is beautiful and in a excellent location.