While the room itself was perfectly to the advertised description and is gorgeous and comfortable, we were not aware that this was one room in a house of 6 rooms until after the transaction was completed. This was seriously misleading, as we were under the impression that this was one room in a house with only the host and her husband as the other tenants. Instead, this was a house with 6 other rooms, in which 10 to 12 guests plus the host could be staying at the space at any time. This was not what we were told, what we expected, or what we wanted. We were also very unhappy that our room did not lock from the inside, meaning anyone could enter the room while we were in it.

While the place is generally clean and kept clean by a cleaner, the pots and pans in the kitchen were often dirty. Eli relies on all of her guests to clean materials as they are used, yet many of the pots and pans and other utilities in the kitchen were already dirty, covered in spiders, grease, dust, and mold.

Eli has provided all of the services she said she would, but there were some difficulties, and she herself is kind but not highly hospitable. While check-in and out is flexible, and the house key was left for us in the designated place, she did not have keys to our room available for both me and my partner when we arrived. It took her two days to provide a second key. Eli responds to texts and messages relatively quickly, but is not quick to resolve problems as they arise during the stay.

The neighborhood is safe and becoming gentrified, but Hackney is in a Tube deadzone, with only the Overground and several buses nearby, meaning it takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes minimum to get anywhere within central London. It is a fun area to explore and full of east London history.

Overall, our experience was decidedly average, with good amenities and a good room but was presented misleadingly and with fundamental flaws.