“Very handy to the main A1, Shepherds Nook was a good base to explore the North East.”
I got the impression that the owners employ someone to clean the property between rentals. This was because there was a cleaning checklist on the noticeboard in the utility room and one would not normally need a checklist if you were doing the cleaning yourself. That being said, I also came to the conclusion that the cleaner merely vacuumed and changed the bedding. Looking at the general level of cleanliness, it appeared that the cursory clean undertaken by the holiday makers, was the only clean that the property received. For example: there was a smell of dog urine in the living room, when the door had been closed overnight or during the day; the crockery, cutlery and saucepans had not been checked for food residue, we had to clean items before we could use them; cooker hood is filthy with a brown greasy residue and needs cleaning; sink plughole needs cleaning with bleach to remove staining; dining table was sticky and remained so despite wiping with a damp cloth; bathroom roller blind is very mouldy; windows need cleaning inside as well as outside; handrail is dirty and sticky, it looks like it has not been properly cleaned for some time; the dishwasher needed salt and rinse aid, neither were available. The worst evidence of the lack of cleanliness was the oven, oven trays and shelves. It had not been cleaned for a very, very long time. This is surprising as it states on the cleaning rota that the cooker/oven should be checked between rentals; secondly there was a bottle of Oven Pride in the cupboard in the utility room. When I contacted Louise prior to arrival, she advised me that she did not supply towels since Covid. This would seem fair enough, but it appears that the level of cleanliness does not reflect the same level of concern for the clients. I do understand that sometimes standards can slip due to time constraints and pressure, but in this instance it would appear that the property has not had a thorough clean for some considerable time. Because of these cleanliness issues, I felt it was necessary to take photographs to support my feedback. They are available upon request.
- Frances, September 2023
