Scarborough Apartments

There's plenty of space, with two double bedrooms, a TV, and a kitchen with a microwave and hob but no oven. We bought a pizza and had to laugh when we realised there was nowhere to heat it. The location is fabulous, though the Perth boys like their noisy cars, and being right on the main road means you hear everything. After a few days I started tuning it out. Scarborough has a food market out front every Thursday, with music, food, and a chilled vibe. Go have a look.

The price is low for a spot so close to the beach, but there seemed to be no effort to make the place livable even though it should be easy to fix. On our first day we found a cockroach and lots of dust. The food stuff was old and dirty, and the bathroom smelled really bad. There was nobody to complain to or ask for help. Checkout is at 10am, too.

This place is absolutely horrible, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially families. On our first night, other residents came back and fought, screamed, and banged on doors around the building. In the morning there was more abusive language outside. The rooms have so little in them that sound bounces around like a train tunnel. The bedroom blind didn't quite cover the window, so people outside could watch you sleep. The lounge blinds also left a 150mm gap for people to see in. The apartment was bare bones and under-furnished, with a filthy floor, walls and trim that looked unpainted since it was built, and cheap, prison-quality tables. The queen bed was two singles pushed together and extremely uncomfortable. Our family of four had only three blankets when we arrived. We asked administration for another, but it took a good hour because they couldn't find the storage shed key. There wasn't a drop of hot water for a shower. The small system needs to be manually refilled, and even after doing that the water stayed cold. We went four days without a shower. Nothing good to say.

I couldn't wait to get out. The smell was horrendous, like cigarettes and alcohol mixed with a hundred-year-old carpet, and the window was locked so there was no way to get fresh air, even though I'd asked for a non-smoking room. The bin hadn't been emptied and still had rubbish from previous guests. The shower and toilet were disgusting, with the smell of pee everywhere. I would rather pay to shower at the Scarborough pool. The kitchen was no better. As soon as I arrived, I tried to find somewhere else to stay, but it was late and I had no luck. I can't understand why the owners don't look after this place when it's in such a good spot.