11/26/21
The location of this rental is perfect for someone visiting NYC to take in Broadway shows, the Metropolitan Museum, and Central Park. It is a short walk to the 86th St. station which will get you just about everywhere up or downtown. Every amenity is at your fingertips in this wonderful UES neighborhood (a corner deli/mart, laundry/dry cleaner, a singalong piano bar, restaurants and pubs at a variety of price points, and Chinese reflexology for tired walking feet). One day into my stay I liked everything so much I was planning my return.
My stay would have been perfect but for a few things that have never happened in the times I have used Airbnbs several times a year since 2014. Janet had friendly communication but follow through was inconsistent and sometimes selective. Right after I was sent the check-in instructions I messaged Janet that my flight was arriving too close to the check-in deadline. She assured me it was not a problem. She instructed me with an easy alternate plan to get the keys, but when I arrived there were no keys. I called her and she apologized. She told me to wait and keys would be delivered as soon as possible. I waited on the sidewalk with my luggage. It was cold and I was very tired from my flight, but Mickey pleasantly delivered the key and helped me get into the rental. That wait was an hour and I had to alter my evening plans because of the delay. The next day I had another problem when I was locked out again, this time right outside the apartment. Another tenant tried but could not get the door to the apartment open either. The building super was reached and he taught me an easy trick to get the door unlocked.
Both of these things could have been overlooked as one-offs, but the next problem was more problematic: Two days into my 8 night stay I found two fleas on my ankle after feeling a bite. This happened when I was sitting on the bed. Over the remaining 6 days I continued to find and kill more fleas throughout the apartment. I was waking up to fresh bites on my torso and legs every morning. 2 fleas jumped on me in the living room. I was bit while I stood in the bathroom. I saw at least one new flea on the bed every day throughout my stay. All told I caught and killed 6 and saw, but could not catch, another 2 or 3 fleas. I sent Janet photos of the close to 40 bites I received. I sent photos of the fleas. I shot videos of two different fleas on the bed but Airbnb does not allow video clips to be attached to messages.
I first contacted Janet the morning after the first flea sighting/bites. I did not get a response until two days later after I requested a response. In her response she suggested that I may have brought the fleas with me in my luggage. She expressed sympathy but no mitigation efforts were ever offered.
I have consistently gotten excellent reviews. I have good communication skills. I leave a place the way I find it. I operate in good faith. For example, during this stay I offered to purchase more dish soap when I discovered the bottle in the kitchen was empty. And when Janet requested that I check out earlier than the check out time because of a quick turn-around time with her next renter I complied and vacated the premises two hours early, though I could have used the time there.
There was never an apology for the fleas. I was never offered any mitigation to treat the problem. I would have liked to have the apt. treated in some fashion as I was staying for 7 nights. I was not offered any financial compensation. I have been patient, I have been understanding but it has been nearly two weeks since I checked out.
After being home a few days I sent Janet a follow up DM on 11/20/21. She responded saying she would get back to me. It has been 6 days and the window of time to leave a review closes in 24 hours. I have waited as long as possible to hear back from Janet before posting this honest assessment of what I experienced at this rental.
I am disappointed with how the flea problem was handled, how it impacted my vacation, and of the selective communication I got from my host.