Conflicted on how to write this review as it will really be the first time we can’t leave a fully positive one. The flat is obviously well loved and cared for, and the owners seem very kind. However our almost 2 week stay was marred by few factors that made it difficult to truly enjoy our time.
-If you need stable and accessible wi-fi, this flat is not for you. The router for the wi-fi is in the locked away third room, and the front half of the flat is not able to connect. There is one flat surface in the house suitable for working (the dining table). The wi-fi does not regularly connect in that area, and not at all in the sitting/couch area, rendering no constructive place to work in the unit. The only area that gets a fairly stable connection is the rear bedroom, but there is no place to work (no desk, table, etc). This was extremely challenging and we ended up scrambling to find alternative places that were quiet enough to work in just for stable connectivity. The owner did come by one morning to try to balance the connection which we very much appreciated and did minimally improve it, but the bottom line is between the unstable wi-fi and no place to really work, this was a challenge. The lack of stable internet connectivity should really be disclosed in the listing.
-The rear (2nd) bedroom shares a wall with the neighboring apartment, and that occupant is up all night. The bed in that rear room is pushed against the shared wall to his bathroom, so you will be woken up in the middle of the night by his singing and be privy to all of his bodily functions, so it is not a restful place to sleep. We understand the owner can not control the neighbors, but if you have a child that needs to sleep in that room, it is not a quiet space, though could be improved if the bed was relocated to the opposite wall.
-The management company communication is incredibly frustrating. While very prompt on responses, there were many lapses in information. We found out the night before our planned arrival that come 9pm, the gates to the property are shut, making you unable to drive in to drop off your luggage. We cut short our vacation in France and rushed to make it before 9pm, to get a text from the management company day of arrival that we could not check in until after 10pm. This was not true…we called and they said that because we put on our arrival time that we would be arriving late, that that is what they put as our check in. It was a little ridiculous to be told we maybe would not be able to access our unit as we were hurrying to accommodate a last-minute timeline. Additionally, the gates do not shut until after 10pm. There was also a noted disparity in check out times. The listing says 11am, the management company sent us many messages hustling us out by 10am. Not to mention lapses in cleanliness by the cleaners (molding items left in wash mashine, dirty dishes, thick dust, etc), communication issues when trying to address the internet problem among a couple other minor questions. We would not likely stay at a Houst managed AirBnb again due to the frustrations here.
Without the above issues, the place has potential to be enjoyable for a brief holiday. The flat is located in a location that has plenty within a one mile/15-20 walk or under-10 minute drive in every direction…East Sheen, Richmond, Richmond Park, North Sheen train station. The neighborhood parking is free and plentiful, local cafes and restaurants are lovely. The curation in the flat of artwork is interesting (could though be a problem if you have small children or are clumsy, lots of breakables on most surfaces) and you get the idea the owners do love their property, which is nice. We again appreciated the owner attempting to bridge the internet issue. In general, it really just did not lend itself as an ideal situation for a lengthier stay, especially if you need to work are not on holiday. We wish them the best for future lettings.