The worst place I have ever stayed in with Airbnb. Below the reasons:
Safety- on a very run down part of Takzim with bad street lighting, exceedingly steep slopes and many staircases everywhere. Such a bad area that taxis refused to enter it, again and again. On two nights violent episodes directly outside, one of a young man screaming horribly while being chased by two older men with some kind of weapons. One of a woman screaming again and again for help, but we could not pinpoint which of the houses oppposite she was in.
Fraud by taxi drivers "friends" of host. He gave us the Whatsapp of two taxi drivers who share working one taxi. It was our only way in and out of the property as steep slopes make it dangerous in bad weather conditions and this is winter. Host told us they were good, honest friends who would always take us wherever we wanted, so staying at the property would not be problem. So based on this, we decided to stay in spite of access nightmare. The first journey was normal fare, about 35 TL. Driver told us next time might be a little more if he was called and was further away. Next time, he charged me about 130 TL saying he had to travel from airport to reach me and I should pay him the fare from the airport plus the fare to where I was going. He turned up 40 mins late and I was going to a medical procedure, had no time to debate or to call tourist Police. Next taxi, I made sure I spoke with the other driver, and with host, said what had happened. Farzin suddenly didnt speak any English other than to say, good taxi, good friend, no problem. He made like he couldn't understand me. Next medical appointment I called the other taxi driver and booked in advance the evening before. Checked approximate fee. Was charged 42 TL, correct price. Next taxi, with same driver, he sent me a photo of location (not location from whatsapp) saying he was at airport and I would have to pay him to drive to me, etc. I refused. After that host offered to accompany my travel companion to buy food, as the streets are so steep its really difficult to carry anything. They went and there was snow on the ground. My friend came home in a lot of pain as she stumbled on a slope and had to catch herself and host had to help her, they nearly both fell down.
In all the days there, I left the apartment twice for these medical visits. Totally impossible to go out in my buggy, the slopes began directly outside the door. This situation is not visible from photos of the apartment, all windows have been blocked with a plastic film which allows little light in and does not allow to see out. I opened the windows to look and to refresh the smell of damp inside. Outside is quite bad poverty, buildings in deep disrepair, rubbish and dirt.
Neighbours - as mentioned before, violent episodes. Also apartment below is used by a gentleman who comes and goes from very early to very late with his horse, piling cardboard and paper he collects from the streets, for later re-sale as scrap. You can imagine the noise level of these huge packages being thrown off the poor horse, rolled and thrown into the apartment below the Airbnb one, and rolled around inside. Neighbour to left of apartment throws her unpacked rubbish directly onto the street, my companion saw her being berated by other neighbours for this.
I could go on for a while here, with conditions inside apartment but I think the main points are clear.
Only good points are that heating was plentiful (although noisy and electric bars in bedroom gave off noxious smoke and had to be unplugged) and water for shower was hot and plentiful.
Farzin is not the owner, by the way. He is a runner for an agency who handle this apartment while making it seem Farzin is the owner. So they take no responsibility for problems. I eventually spoke with one employee of the agency, who also said he is only an employee, not his responsibility what happens. Farzin works in a Pide and kebab place near Takzim Square. He sent us food one night when we first arrived because no one else wanted to deliver to that address. Then we ran into his place of work when we moved to another apartment. He lies, saying it is his home.