Florence Beach House

Reviews (5)

• Nicholas

  The rooms were big and it was clean, but that is really all the good we can say, our holiday made us very stressed and the damp conditions very ill. The property advertised a games room/cinema/library in the cellar room. There was a toilet, sink and shower down there too, this cellar reeked of damp and mould, it hit you as you walked down the stairs. The room was not useable. It only had table football, a few jigsaws and half a dozen books, so not much to do down there anyway. It was cold and horrid. The bedroom was ensuite, which reeked of mould and damp, it was rising from the cellar. It wasn't pleasant having to use this. The shower cubicle had 2 showers, the white power one wasn't even connected or broke the other one had no hot water. We only once had warm water our entire stay, so keeping clean was difficult. The shower in cellar was cold too, not that you'd wish to shower down there and make it more damp. The bed felt damp, we both have health problems, my partner slept in lounge as wasn't comfy in bed with her back and immune problems. I stupidly used the bed and shouldn't. We couldn't get the central heating to work, housekeeper said she turned it on in flats above! This is a holiday let, but boiler is in totally different building. The heating didn't work, the damp and the wet weather made us cold. We got soaked a few times and coming back was miserable as no heat or comfort. She said an engineer was coming out but never did. The plumbing and electrics were a mix of old and new, wires and pipes everywhere. There was no light in utility room or toilet room and the water heater in there was unusable and dangerous even if you could as was plugged into a socket. The en suite lighting was dangerous as had exposed bulbs above the sink. The place had recently been decorated, there was thick artex over the walls, obviously trying to hide the rising damp. Never seen artex on walls the 30 years been in the building trade. It's called a beach house, yet there is no outlook, from the bedroom a brick wall and kitchen, on to a carpark and backs of run down buildings. My partners back got increasingly bad with damp and no heat and we both had sore throats/glands, plus my chest was very bad, I have emphysema and these conditions were exacerbating things. The day due to go home, my partner could barely walk and I very weak, we have to use public transport and couldn't cope with the journey, so had to fork out money for accommodation until well enough to travel. We rang the owner, but after saying he was concerned and he'd investigate and get back to us within a few days, he didn't. I did say if we heard nothing then we would have to contact Sykes. Sadly he reneged on his promise, so we contacted Sykes, thinking as they are supposed to be a reputable letting agent they would help. They said they would open a case, but as soon as they did, they closed it, no help whatsoever. Then had a message from owner saying he wouldn't refund us or enter into talks, cos we had gone to Sykes. However he promised to get back to us, but didn't so had no choice. On the phone he said he knew nothing of damp, yet he'd had 2 complaints already of the state of the place, to which he had replied to! We were both ill because of this holiday let, my partner is still housebound. I lost a weeks wages as too ill to work, plus the money spent on a hotel for 2 nights, so we could rest. I am shocked Sykes even has the property on their books, it's a health hazard. It could be a nice place, the damp sorted out properly, a boiler in the property etc. One of the reviews we've read a little boy with allergies had his holiday ruined and made ill. I wonder how many more holidays and peoples health will suffer, before you do the decent thing and get this property up to standards. We are sad and frustrated that neither you as the owner doesn't care nor Sykes. We have booked with Sykes in the past, but never again. Maybe you'll start to consider others before making money in the future, it's bad and shameful.

• Anthony

  It had a lot of space so we didn't feel cramped in at all whatever we were doing inside the apartment. Only downside was there were a couple electrical issues in the house upon arrival, but they were resolved very soon after making contact with the staff, who were all very friendly and helpful.

• Ian

  There was a real personal touch with the whole experience and it was so welcome by us. Thanks for a lovely stay ! All the best x