Smartrips Apartments - The Hub

It's a great place, perfect apartment

In the summer, the apartment gets very hot

The apartment is well located in the city center with much restaurantes.

The apartment was small, old, and in urgent need of renovation! When we arrived, the glass bathroom door was already leaning against the wall in the middle of the living room, posing a risk of collapsing and injuring someone. The TV in the living room wasn't working either. We asked the owner for help, and he brought another one two days later. After that, the Wi-Fi wouldn't connect to the new TV he brought, so we were without TV for another two days. I asked him to come and connect it, but we received no response. He wanted to do it over the phone, but since my English isn't good, he lacked patience, even after I told him it was better for him to come and connect it himself... and he hung up on me. The toilet was soiled with feces when we arrived. The apartment was completely dirty; there were no cleaning products for me to clean the apartment, and the kitchen cabinets and pans were dirty. We left on a Sunday, and only five days later, after many messages sent to the owner, did I receive the security deposit back. I don't recommend it; instead of relaxing, we only had trouble.😌

There was no breakfast. The apartment was spacious with a good view.

The logistics of obtaining the key and the opening tag were formidable and I ended up staying the first night in another place. An exchange of emails was unhelpful. Why were not efforts made to contact me by WhatsApp? Detailed instructions were withheld until I had paid a deposit (interestingly after I explained the difficulties making the transfer of 150 pounds, the information was in fact emailed - so this is an inconsistent policy on their behalf). In any case, having to pay an extra deposit of this nature in as well advance full 2 nights’ accommodation seems unreasonable if not illegal. By then my mobile battery was running out and it was getting late. It was very stressful. The emailed instructions were suboptimal in any case. The following morning someone contacted me by WhatsApp and helped. It was of note that there were three sets of lock boxes in what was a somewhat dilapidated area (pictures) behind a carpark. The photo of the lockbox was out of date, which also made locating the appropriate lock box difficult. In addition the locking technology was very antiquated being the same that I used to lock my bicycle chain 30 years ago! The biggest problem with the property (not that the above is a small problem) was the extreme heat. The maximum outside temperature on the day I gained entrance to the property was 27 degrees. The temperature in the lounge room of the property was 33.5 degrees in the evening. The temperature was marginally lower in the bedrooms but even lying naked on the bed the heat made it difficult to sleep. The next morning when the temperature outside was below 20, the temperature in the lounge room was still 29.5 degrees! The bottom line is that the apartment is a greenhouse and is uninhabitable if the maximum temperature is much over 25 degrees. Air conditioning was not present. The curtains in the lounge room were old and did not keep the light (nor the heat) out . The furniture was worn out with one of the table chairs being broken.

Only the parking

One room electric wasn’t working No switches were working No lamps Toilet got blocked and then wouldn’t flush Beds were un comfy and the bedding was not clean

Location was great, secure parking.

Arrived on the 7th floor of the building, stepped out of the lift and i thought i was in Jamaica (the heat). Cant speak for the whole buiding but Its under some sort of construction on the 7th foor and it looks awful and didnt feel safe. Large gap on the bottom of the front door, botched flooring in the hallway feels soft and unsafe in some parts. Cleaning of the property was not very good. I had to go to sainsbury for rubber gloves, bleach and antibacterial wipes and give the place a clean so we felt comfortable. I definitely left it cleaner and more presentable than how it was received. Iron was filthy, mould inside the water compartment, cracked mirror, cracked windows, toilet in main bathroom broken, black stains on bedroom and living room carpet and they got the audacity to ask for £150 deposit, for what exactly? You clearly dont maintain the property. Oh and almost forgot the batteries in the remote dont work! Beds were presentable and clean, although didnt check the mattress. Also blinds need replacing a load missing, people in the apartment opposite are able to see into the apartment.