Hello UK Yankee Forum members,
I am the London flat owner whose room was booked by Gattaca and his girlfriend for a month's stay from July 8th. It was booked several weeks in advance, and because I am a trusting woman and have had some very nice travellers stay with me, I gave this couple the benefit of the doubt and agreed not to take a deposit in advance.
I'm upset about what has happened - the couple left my flat some hours after they arrived without a word to my flatmate, no word to me - no email/text, no note, no explanation.
Apologies for the lengthy post but I feel like I need to respond to some of the points made by Gattaca about the room I was letting to them.
My flat is not "a total con"
Far from it. I had people staying here (through Craig's List), just prior to Gattaca, who loved the flat and who only moved out because the room had been taken by Gattaca. The room was clean and tidy (as supervised by my flatmate Emily).
The pictures are not "completely different" - this I double checked with a girl who came around last night to see the room (she said in fact the flat was bigger and better than it looked in the photos).
The flat does not have "holes in the wall that come through to the outside". That's ridiculous. And the suggestion that my flat "is thick with filth." and "disgusting" I find horrifying and insulting. It's a normal, lived in, loved, warm and friendly Victorian flat - I'm actually totally bewildered by these comments.
"dead ants in the bed" Excuse me???? There has never been a single ant in this flat (which I've lived in for 9 years) let alone in a bed on the third floor.
"She left our room completely packed with her stuff as well". No, I cleared one of two wardrobes, emailed to say was that okay for the first couple of nights after which I'd be home from my holiday and would remove anything else they wanted. They said fine they had hardly any stuff.
And then to find myself being called a con woman when I feel like I have been only honest, open and trusting, I can hardly bear. I feel very upset about it.
Far from being a con woman, I find myself having saved a room for these people, bent over backwards to be helpful (I sent 10 emails as well as having phone conversations in the weeks prior to the booking). I became Facebook friends so they could see exactly what I'm like (photo's etc). I really don't know what else I could have done.
I am sorry this couple did not like my room, or my flat. At £200 a week (less than £30 a night for two people in a large, lovely room in a big flat near Portobello, is I think generous).
But the point is I have lost a month's rent without warning, and received no deposit or contribution for having booked a room and not taken it. There was a nice Australian guy in the room who would have stayed. I now have to start all over again (if I can bring myself to).
I feel very strongly that Craig's List, Gumtree etc only work on trust. I have honoured our agreement, and feel very let down.
I would have asked for a week's deposit of £200, given the month's booking, and hope that Gattaca will offer me something as a way of honouring their word.
Elaine.
