Not quite what I expected. My experience with this host was different from what others have posted. The listing stated check-in was at noon and I initially had planned to get in late, after 11PM. I messaged the host at 12:10 PM that I was taking an earlier flight (I was worried about the train strikes), thus arriving around 7:30 PM -- so she had over 7 hours notice of my arrival, which was still well after check-in time. The listing stated there was a lockbox for self check-in so I didn’t think my arrival time mattered. Little did I know that this change of plans would set the stage for such a hostile interaction.
Upon arrival, I found the lockbox and attempted to open the door closest to the house number I was given. The host swung open the door with a scowl and scolded me for being at the wrong door and failing to follow her instructions. Sorry I didn’t know what an “architectural porch” is.
The listing stated: “On all stays also included: Tea, Fresh Coffee and Milk / bread / butter / granola / eggs / fruit / basics / bottle wine on arrival.” It only said to give her prior warning for “any special food requirements.” I assumed the listed items would be in the unit, but the host told me it was “too late for basics” because of my early arrival as she had to cancel her “evening cleaner” (scheduled after 7:30 pm??), and was cleaning the unit herself. Poor planning on her part should not be my problem since I paid for the unit starting at noon, but she was obviously punishing me for throwing her off her schedule. Airbnb agreed the unit should have been ready at check-in time regardless of my arrival time. That was her risk.
A few amenities were missing, there was no hot water in the sinks/shower had weak pressure, the fan was coated with black dust, the pans had food residue, and there was mold in the bathroom, but the biggest issue was the window above the door with no blackout blind. The listing advertised: “blackout blinds for a great night’s sleep.” The host doesn’t seem to comprehend that you can’t advertise a room as having blackout blinds unless they are on all the windows — one window letting in sunlight renders any blackout blinds useless. To make things worse, every time a double-deck or truck drove by, it momentarily blocked the sun, so it was like trying to sleep under a strobe light. I messaged the host first thing in the morning. I waited nearly 8 hours for a response and asked Airbnb for assistance, then she finally responded with: “Thank you for the suggestion of a black out for this and I shall attend to this for future guests.” She also suggested I sleep with an eye mask. And in retaliation, she claimed that I “violently slammed” the door upon my “abrupt arrival” the night before. The unit’s door does not have an outside knob and the inside knob was locked so, unless you keep the key in the keyway, the door has to be pushed or pulled closed and makes noise. She obviously has had door issues with previous renters because she has instructions in her check-in guide “to close doors quietly & with care.”
After continued negotiations, she offered 50% off the remaining nights (unacceptable) or to refund the first night if I left the unit while she covered the window. By that time I had already covered it with my only bath towel, plus I was working and wasn’t going to leave the unit and play into her drama. She then rescinded her offer because I found a temporary fix myself. Airbnb agreed that her listing was misleading and gave me a refund for the first night plus a $100 voucher.

As others have noted, the neighborhood is not great. There’s kind of a park view if you walk out the door, but describing "lovely views of open green space" and putting “lake view” under amenities is a joke. I think there’s a lake in the park somewhere. I disagree that the unit is quiet or like some serene sanctuary. It is on a very busy street. Day and night, trucks and buses frequently pass, sometimes shaking the unit. People stand on the sidewalk in front of the door talking late at night. An ice cream truck playing music makes frequent rounds and sits on the corner across from the unit next to the playground. A dog groomer across the street attends to a waiting line of cars where she grooms dogs outside, so there is barking and yelping during the day. I could also hear the adjoining neighbor’s TV late at night. The unit has very thin walls and poor soundproofing. The host is obviously aware of the issues since she provides a large jar of ear plugs on the shelf. The noise issues aren’t her fault of course, I just want others to be aware when considering this rental.
I did not make any other complaints to the host after my one complaint was met with dismissal and hostility. Sally is extremely argumentative and after a while I simply ignored her messages because I was starting to feel harassed. After I left, I looked at the listing description again and just had to laugh.