The Bay Hideaway - Lovely 2bd house - up to 6 people

Everything was perfect

Very clean and well presented home. It was easy to find via google maps and parking was a reserved spot for the property. Very quiet neighbourhood, great for sleeping with the windows open. The area felt safe and easy walking to the nearby harbour & cafes

Floorboards are a little bit on the creaky side in the front bedroom & stairs are a little too narrow but these are just minor annoyances really and more to do with the infrastructure of the house which can't be changed

Great space for visiting the city. Well stocked kitchen. Kitchen and bathroom clean. Previous bathroom problem in reviews is now sorted. Would visit again.

Everything is starting to look a little tired. Some of the mattresses might want replacing before too long. Paint work needs a touch up in places. Things like doors and frames could do with a clean. All things that are easy to rectify.

The house itself was clean and tidy on arrival, and generally presented well inside. The location was convenient, and overall the interior of the property was comfortable. The coffee machine appeared dirty, but this was only a minor issue in comparison to the wider concerns we experienced during our stay.

The main issue was the condition of the outside area. The property advertises a “garden view”, which gave the impression of a pleasant outdoor space, especially as I was travelling with two small children. Instead, the garden/storage area contained ripped and opened bin bags, rubbish, visible rats, and rat faeces, including directly outside the back door. The storage bin appeared to have no bottom, making it easy for rats to access the rubbish, which seemed to be attracting them. There was also a strong smell of rat urine when opening the kitchen or twin bedroom window/door, which made the situation even more unpleasant. A neighbour advised they had previously reported issues with rats running along the fences, suggesting this may not be a new problem. While the host eventually arranged for the rubbish to be removed after it was reported, I was disappointed by the initial response, which felt more focused on explaining that the garden was “not a guest amenity” than acknowledging the seriousness of the hygiene concerns directly outside the property. Given the visible rats, rubbish, faeces, and smell, particularly whilst staying with two very small children, the issue significantly impacted our stay and made the environment feel unhygienic and uncomfortable from arrival.