After informing the host 5 days before check in that we would be arriving at 7.30pm and then informing them again on the night, that we were going to be a bit later, we arrived at 8.30pm.
After knocking on the door and messaging the host via the airbnb app, I realised there was no one there to greet us. I found the host's mobile number on airbnb and started to call their number, leaving answering messages etc, without any word back. This was particularly distressing as my friend was running the London Marathon the next day and staying at this property was the main reason for that.
I waited a full hour before hearing from anyone and started to look at alternative accommodation for my friend and I.
At which point the next door neighbour popped her head out of the door and said she was just coming round to put the lights on for us.
There was never any mention of going over to the neighbour to be let in, which meant I had to wait outside for an hour.
Later that night, I eventually got a message from the host who mentioned her phone had broken, and this was the reason she hadn't got back to me earlier. I accepted this, but still felt I could've been told earlier on in the week after my correspondence that all I had to do was knock on the neighbour's door to get into the house.
Once I was checked in by the neighbour, I was incredibly relieved and happy to be inside. She didn't seem to mention anything about the mix up, but mentioned she couldn't get hold of the owners either.
The location and house itself was perfect for what we needed, I was just very unhappy with the way we were received.