Amazing Seaview House

The house wasn't ready when we got there. We arrived 30 minutes earlier than expected, but there was no key in the lockbox. After I tried contacting the owner several times, she replied that she was on her way and asked us to return in 30 minutes, maybe an hour, so she could bring the key and vacuum. I didn't know the area, so we waited nearby, and got in about an hour later. Even opening the door was difficult, and things didn't improve over the next few days. The property had a lot of problems. The upstairs bathroom sink leaked and caused an accident. The wheelie bin was full, so we had nowhere to put rubbish, and the garden hadn't been maintained. The sofas were broken, and the screen for the downstairs data projector was missing, so it couldn't be used. There were cigarette butts in the ashtray, just one toilet roll in each toilet, and we couldn't find a working vacuum. We did our best, but a pillow kept shedding and making a mess. We managed to wash the towels, though the dryer didn't work. I'd originally booked for my 4 nieces to attend a basketball tournament, but after several covid-related reschedules the owners declined a refund, so we went ahead with the stay.

The location worked perfectly for us, and the house itself is amazing, with spectacular views. But it was dusty, dirty and generally unkept, and the grounds weren't maintained either. We even found the mop outside in the garden. Don't expect a reply once they've got your money. The worst of it was the cleanliness. There was hair throughout the bathrooms, on the floors and in the showers, even on a toilet seat. One bathroom had no toilet paper, and a used bar of soap was left in a shower. The showers had grime and mould built up, the mirrors were filthy, and there was blood on the en-suite door. Hair was everywhere, including on a very dusty, grimy plater on the dinning room table. The en-suite tap was broken and unusable, and a bathroom handle was so loose it looked ready to fall off. The fridge smelled strongly of old fish. Cupboards were filthy, with crumbs and grease on the kitchen counter, and there was no dishwasher powder or tablets, so we couldn't use it. There were no rubbish bags or bin liners either. The tea towels stunk and couldn't be used. Bedding was old and threadbare, some pillow cases and duvet covers were dirty, and some towels were stained. We also found a dirty sock in a bedroom. The TV remote could change channels but the volume button didn't work, so we couldn't use the TV. Some outdoor furniture was too mouldy to use, and there was broken furniture and ornaments everywhere. One power point in a downstairs bedroom didn't work. I've never stayed somewhere so poorly presented or maintained.

The sea view was lovely, especially at night when you could see the skytower and city lights. The place was clean, neat and tidy, and I felt we paid little $$ for a bit of luxury. The team were very friendly and humble. My kids and I had a great stay, and the kids were so excited. Free Wi-Fi kept the teens occupied, and my toddler had toys to play with, which I've never seen at other accommodation. They loved the bike so much that I'm going to buy the exact same one. Thanks, Hellen. The only downside was that there was nowhere to put rubbish. I'd definitely book again and recommend it to everyone.

The house was well presented, but there weren't enough towels for the multiple people staying, and we didn't get fresh ones the next day during our 2-night stay. The owner's mother was there and couldn't speak English, so we had to ask her to leave. It felt like she expected to stay the night with us. The next morning, people came over and peeped through the window looking for her.