We were very disappointed with the state of the flat. The walls were dusty, and we found a cockroach.The double bed had a stained mattress, and was provided with single sheets which could not be tucked in. There were four pillows but only two pillow cases. Towels were frayed and ragged. Equipment had not been checked: the hair dryer was not working; one of the bedside lamps was faulty; and one of the wall lights was not working in the bedroom. The wardobe had not been assembled completely, and gave the impression that it might collapse at any moment. Despite its generous proportions, the flat felt dark and claustrophic. It had no windows onto the street, but was lit by two lightwells. That at the rear would have lit the bathroom and the kitchen, but the blinds there could not be raised, and we had no choice but to use artificial lighting during the day. Work was being undertaken on the storey above the flat, which resulted in a partial blocking of the lightwell towards the front of the flat, so it is dark here as well. What were previously service stairs to the rear of the flat were not secured, so we did not feel safe. Between 0630 and 0730 every day the neighbours immediately below the flat were in the habit of conducting loud conversations in their kitchen, which carried up the lightwell. The neighbours further down like to drill, hammer and saw in the evening.
