“This 'luxury cottage' was tired, grubby & very disappointing.”
Arrived to find the leather sofa contaminated with crumbs & a nail clipping. Carpet was dirty, long-hair rug covered in hairs & dross. Dust, dirt & detritus under furniture hadn't been cleaned in days if not weeks. Food waste on kitchen floor & under hob, something like scrambled egg stuck to chair. We could go on. We took photos (stopped at 14). Didn't want to stay but no choice. Left at first light, 200 miles home - that says it all. Owner advises to use water filter due to spring water supply. We were not confident it was fit for purpose. Suggest future customers bring their own filter. The idea the cottage had been 'deep-cleaned' for Covid is risible. Tried to raise these issues with owner, no reply to texts or emails. We chose this cottage due to previous reviews. What went wrong?
Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear of the issues that you claim to have experienced. The concerns mentioned do come as a surprise as prior to your arrival I was confident that our long-standing cleaner ensured the property was cleaned up to our usual high standard. On the evening of your arrival, you emailed me some concerns to which I responded quickly in offering you an immediate inspection of the property and the correction of any issues found, an offer which you have not taken up. When I arrived at the cottage shortly after your departure, I was shocked to find that, not only had you been smoking in the cottage, but there was ash left over the windowsill and window frame, burn marks, cigarette butts and melted plastic in the window frame, and several discarded cigarette butts outside next to our oil feed and boiler which was a clear fire hazard. This is completely unacceptable; I remind you the cottage is a non-smoking property. I can only assume this is why you refused an inspection by our cleaner while you were there. The reason I have not replied to your emails and text after your departure, is because we have passed on this matter to Sykes Cottages agency.
With regards to the water supply, our water comes from a 90-metre-deep private bore hole and is filtered, and UV sterilised prior to entry into the house. It satisfies all necessary checks carried out by South Lakeland Council authority. It is wholesome and perfectly safe to drink from the tap. I only ask guests to use a Britta filter for water going into the kettle to remove hardness and help stop the kettle furring up, as per cottage information provided.
I pride myself on the standard and quality my cottage boasts and believe other past and recent reviews support this.
Property Owner
