Oak Tree Cottage — Hotel in Eastern Cape

This e-mail was sent to the owner the next week and I received no response.||||I was quite surprised to learn that my daughter and I would be the sole occupants of the guest house property this weekend, and quite honestly, would have preferred to know that in advance. I was nonplussed also, to hear from Mavis (who was very friendly but not easily negotiated with) that it would be a problem for me to pay by credit card (since I had been assured this would be in order when booking) and she requested me to settle in cash instead - most inconvenient. ||||One of the bedside lamp bulbs had blown and Mavis first suggested that a new light bulb could be purchased on Monday, after we had left , (she did not seem to have access to supplies in the house) until I suggested that she find us another lamp, which she did. || ||My daughter requested a poached egg, which, when it came, could have been used to play tennis. She asked if we would like fruit, and offered slices of apples and pears (?), and then produced tinned fruit salad, which was fine.|| ||When I requested breakfast at 8.30 on Sunday, Mavis tried to talk me into 8.00 am instead, until I explained that my daughter was not well and needed her rest. However, we were awoken much earlier by one of the cats meowing urgently at our door!|| ||The package of ear buds and cotton balls contained a used ear bud - very definitely. Our pillows had a definite musty and unpleasant smell.|| ||We liked the setting in the garden, but did wonder why, out of 10 rooms, and with us being the only guests, we were given a dark room, with a damp bathroom, and no table and chairs, stuck away behind the swimming pool wall?|| ||We did not seem to have access to any other DSTV channels besides...

We stayed in the 2 bedroom/2bathroom cottage at the rear of the property. We stayed for 1 night in early January (hottest and muggiest time of year). There were no fans or aircon in the rooms. We couldn't sleep with windows open as gardens were quite overgrown and Mosquitos were in abundance. One bathroom had a leaky toilet which made the place smell of sewage. The shower head was broken and unusable. The other bathroom had the previous occupants hair everywhere. Self catering facilities were average - we had to rinse dishes in the bathroom basin as there are no other washing facilities. The blinds in the one room were broken so you couldn't roll them up. Furniture VERY dated as well as decor. Overall I found the place pleasant but a bit expensive for what was on offer. The manager was new so we can't blame him, but the place seems...

Not a guest house. Landlord subdivided house for tenants.

My experience (2 month stay): Landlord forced me aside for an unannounced inspection. Landlord and wife regularly passed by looking into unit. He has cameras outside and instructs tenants over what he sees. Heavy cigarette smell inside. Reprimanded for closing windows. Landlord tried to take deposit by accusing me of stealing, yet ended the conversation when I sent pictures showing item never existed. Landlord told me to be out of sight when a new tenant views. Refusing, he angrily told me to stand outside. (he would cover up smell with spray beforehand) Mould on walls, green fungus on fittings. Property24 post falsely offered domestic service and...