Hi everyone
Im new on here, and wanted to find somewhere to have a gripe>>>> let me know if any of you have had similar experiences
Weve just had a 3month stay in Calpe, all paid for upfront in UK pounds because we'd booked 6 weeks before going, to someone living in England. On arrival the place had grubby rugs, windows & floors.There were no safety measures in the house such as fire blankets, fire extinguishers, height measurements on the DEEP pool, & no hand rail for the steep steps down to the garden. We also had to handove 500€ as a deposit against utitlity bills- still awaiting refund after handyman read the meters when we left as the agent didnt bother to come out.
On arriving, we met the "agent" who had opened the windows and made the beds but obviously hadn't done any checks or inventory as the microwave was missing (took 10days to replace), and the gas fire didnt work. It had been advertised as heating system which turned out to be 2 inadequate fan heaters & a calor fire with a faulty connector (2 nights without heat in January).
Any complaints to the agent about the cold and draughts etc, was met with the comments "yes its cold in my apartment". When we contacted the owner in the UK, we were met with " well no-one else has complained and the heating is adequate". We since found from their handyman who built the house in 1986 & the neighbours who live there permanently, that its never been let for the winter before. During the stay we had to replace the heater which stopped completely as the agent wasnt able to get us a new one, she just refunded our outlay. we had collect & pay out for 6 gas bottles, havent had any refund or costings for the water or electrics used, as the agent wasnt able to visit us before we left. We had to continually ring or text the agent for washing to be collected & returned altho included in the price.
The electrics were old & not suitable for most of the appliances and after complaints the owner allowed 2 sockets to be replaced within the house, so the microwave & fan heater could be used
We tried visiting OMIC to report this but as a private rental they have no jurisdiction, altho advertised as rentcostablanca.uk it is for private advertisers using someone in the arrear to "manage " the house
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE PITFALLS OF RENTING EVEN WHEN APPEARS TO BE THROUGH AN AGENCY