Florence Beach House

6 Customer Reviews

• "We were looking forward to this break, after a difficult few months."

  The rooms were big and it was clean, but that is really all the good we can say, our holiday made us very stressed and the damp conditions very ill. The property advertised a games room/cinema/library in the cellar room. There was a toilet, sink and shower down there too, this cellar reeked of damp and mould, it hit you as you walked down the stairs. The room was not useable. It only had table football, a few jigsaws and half a dozen books, so not much to do down there anyway. It was cold and horrid. The bedroom was ensuite, which reeked of mould and damp, it was rising from the cellar. It wasn't pleasant having to use this. The shower cubicle had 2 showers, the white power one wasn't even connected or broke the other one had no hot water. We only once had warm water our entire stay, so keeping clean was difficult. The shower in cellar was cold too, not that you'd wish to shower down there and make it more damp. The bed felt damp, we both have health problems, my partner slept in lounge as wasn't comfy in bed with her back and immune problems. I stupidly used the bed and shouldn't. We couldn't get the central heating to work, housekeeper said she turned it on in flats above! This is a holiday let, but boiler is in totally different building. The heating didn't work, the damp and the wet weather made us cold. We got soaked a few times and coming back was miserable as no heat or comfort. She said an engineer was coming out but never did. The plumbing and electrics were a mix of old and new, wires and pipes everywhere. There was no light in utility room or toilet room and the water heater in there was unusable and dangerous even if you could as was plugged into a socket. The en suite lighting was dangerous as had exposed bulbs above the sink. The place had recently been decorated, there was thick artex over the walls, obviously trying to hide the rising damp. Never seen artex on walls the 30 years been in the building trade. It's called a beach house, yet there is no outlook, from the bedroom a brick wall and kitchen, on to a carpark and backs of run down buildings. My partners back got increasingly bad with damp and no heat and we both had sore throats/glands, plus my chest was very bad, I have emphysema and these conditions were exacerbating things. The day due to go home, my partner could barely walk and I very weak, we have to use public transport and couldn't cope with the journey, so had to fork out money for accommodation until well enough to travel. We rang the owner, but after saying he was concerned and he'd investigate and get back to us within a few days, he didn't. I did say if we heard nothing then we would have to contact Sykes. Sadly he reneged on his promise, so we contacted Sykes, thinking as they are supposed to be a reputable letting agent they would help. They said they would open a case, but as soon as they did, they closed it, no help whatsoever. Then had a message from owner saying he wouldn't refund us or enter into talks, cos we had gone to Sykes. However he promised to get back to us, but didn't so had no choice. On the phone he said he knew nothing of damp, yet he'd had 2 complaints already of the state of the place, to which he had replied to! We were both ill because of this holiday let, my partner is still housebound. I lost a weeks wages as too ill to work, plus the money spent on a hotel for 2 nights, so we could rest. I am shocked Sykes even has the property on their books, it's a health hazard. It could be a nice place, the damp sorted out properly, a boiler in the property etc. One of the reviews we've read a little boy with allergies had his holiday ruined and made ill. I wonder how many more holidays and peoples health will suffer, before you do the decent thing and get this property up to standards. We are sad and frustrated that neither you as the owner doesn't care nor Sykes. We have booked with Sykes in the past, but never again. Maybe you'll start to consider others before making money in the future, it's bad and shameful.

  Reviewed by Nicholas2.2★Sep 2023

• "We came on Friday the 18th of Augustto Florence beach house, everything was fine until we woke up on Sunday morning with an overwhelming smell of dump from the basement and the game room."

  The walls were painted recently but that couldn't stop the cracks and the black patches to show. We managed to get my kids to sleap in the sitting room as my youngest has allergies. But the biggest disappointment was on Monday morning just before 8am builders carrying out work next door.the walls are connected so we felt as they were inside the buplex . I sent the host a message to see what he can do. He sent his caretaker to deal with our needs, she brought a number of scent plugs to musk the smell of the damp but that made the situation worse as the smell became toxic and Nothing can be done about the builders. I found that very insulting, this host must know the building works is going to happen and when. At least he should have notified us and let decide what to about it. To stay or to cancel the stay. Anyway spoke to sykes but NO joy. Although I paid for insurance still nothing from them we stayed 3 nights and we left in the morning of the fourth. I asked for a refund of at least 2 nights and still nothings. So I decided to share my experience with sykes in Florence Beach House.

  Reviewed by Bouchaib1.3★Aug 2023

• "Both showers and games rooms had a very strong smell of damp to the point we could not go down stairs and had to run the shower a bit before using to get rid of the smell enough to shower."

  Also you can not control heating the owners control it so if you want heat you have to ask for it....not good when you have a child and its cold in the evening

  Thanks for your feedback. The smell was caused by the macerator being somehow being turned off - we now check that this is always on for the w/c downstairs. The heating is controlled centrally and on a timer. As this was during August, the heating is turned down lower and less frequent used but when requested, like you did, we turned this on. Thanks for your feedback and your final score as any feedback is greatly appreciated as it helps us get better. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Tina5.0★Aug 2023

• "Lovely apartment, lots of space, everything we needed and more, loved the finishing touches from dishwasher tablets to welcome gifts abs the use of your Grand Pier card: The games room was a hit with the children along with all the games."

  There was a real personal touch with the whole experience and it was so welcome by us. Thanks for a lovely stay ! All the best x

  Thanks for your wonderful feedback. We are pleased that you and your family enjoyed the Beach House and the games. We would love to see you again! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Ian5.0★Aug 2023

• "Place was just as advertised and within very close proximity to the beach and marine lake, which is the best part of the beach to go to if you have children with you."

  It had a lot of space so we didn't feel cramped in at all whatever we were doing inside the apartment. Only downside was there were a couple electrical issues in the house upon arrival, but they were resolved very soon after making contact with the staff, who were all very friendly and helpful.

  Thanks for your feedback, it is greatly appreciated. We are pleased that your stay. If there are any issues, we get on it straight away to fix it. Hope to see you again! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Anthony4.7★Aug 2023

• "Very satisfied with the accommodation, very helpful staff and good location."

  Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We would love to welcome you back to Florence Beach House! Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andrew5.0★Jul 2023

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