We stayed at Mattia’s flat for 6 weeks- while we were studying in Florence. We liked the actual flat, as it is very spacious and authentic, and catered to our needs. Location is great, within walking distance of everything in Florence…
HOWEVER we had many issues with both the host and the flat itself, including:
1. When we moved into the flat at advised check-in time (we had agreed this time with Mattia before), the flat was dirty, it had not been cleaned since the previous tenants had moved out. The sheets were dirty, the bathrooms were disgusting, and there was used cutlery and plates in the kitchen sink… hair/ water bottles/ tissues etc.
2. On our first night we experienced the flat fusing… leaving us into the pitch black. We weren’t instructed on where the fuse box was, or how to use it. This was the first of many. We worked out that you can not use the kitchen appliances (oven/ kettle/ microwave) at the same time, without being plunged into darkness… The electricity felt very unsafe, and we were not advised on this before our arrival.
3. The hot water was very intermittent and unreliable, the boiler in the bathroom had a panel missing, exposing wiring in the bathroom… so dangerous!
4. NO AIR CONDITIONING. Despite the fact that air conditioning was advertised and installed in most rooms… the host withheld the remotes and refused to give them to us… despite it being 36 degrees. When the heat was unbearable, he told us that it was not time for the air conditioning to be on- and we should simply open the windows… IN 36 DEGREE CELSIUS HEAT.
5. The flat is also extremely NOISY in the 2 main rooms… which is a major problem when we have to keep the windows open for ventilation. We understand that this is a part of living in the centre of the city- but we were both woken up regularly by people and vehicles outside the flat all through the night.
6. One morning we woke up to loud building works outside the flat, which we then found out would last 3-4 days. As a result of this, one morning, MY FLATMATE WOKE UP TO A STRANGE MAN IN THE FLAT outside her bedroom door at 9am!!!!! After contacting Mattia, he then told us that he knew of the building works, and that they would need to enter/ had the key to enter our flat- WITHOUT CONSULTING US. We later found out it was the owner of the floor wanting access to the windows which were being repaired, but it was extremely shocking for my flat-mate to wake up to a stranger inside the flat.
7. After what was a very stressful morning, we then received a very abrupt message from Mattia, who had also entered the flat UNANNOUNCED AND UNBEKNOWNST TO US. That day, not only did he enter without our permission, he also went through our rooms and made outrageous assumptions. We had 3 friends to stay for those 3 nights- which we now recognise that we should have informed him about (although it does not say on the house rules ‘no guests’). Mattia challenged me on this and after I gave him very clear explanation of the situation, he then did not respond to me for over a week…
ONE SUNDAY EVENING, I get a text from Mattia saying that if we needed to pay him 720 EUROS CASH IMMEDIATELY (a number he made up in his head), HE WOULD EVICT US THE FOLLOWING MORNING!!!!!!! This does NOT comply with airbnb rules, and after I had a very informative and lengthy conversation with airbnb support, the support team informed me that Mattia’s actions were totally against airbnb regulations, and that he had no right to demand this money in cash, or evict us. To ensure that we had somewhere to live, we agreed to pay for the 3 nights that our guests stayed for- 200eur. Mattia attempted to take total advantage of us being young girls, and we felt very uncomfortable communicating with him from this point onwards.
We left the flat in perfect condition since moving out, although we were not given check-out instructions.
In reflection, it is such a shame as we liked the property, however, a lot of the time we were nervous for our privacy and did not feel comfortable, nor safe. We had no idea who had the keys, or who would walk in through the front door next.
Think twice before booking this apartment.