The property was attractively presented and comfortable, the location was quiet and scenic. While the owners apparently live nearby they did not introduce themselves.
After our stay we were very surprised when they communicated that they were retaining half of the deposit on two counts - a stain on a single mattress (not sheet) and water being in the vacuum cleaner that was giving off smell and noise. Neither of these issues - if they existed at all - related to us.
The owners said that they had ‘noticed’ a sheet being dried during our stay, and that is true. My daughter’s monthly cycle started unexpectedly and that we dealt with. She was in a double room and that was the sheet they ‘noticed’ being dried. They raised no issue with that sheet, mattress cover or mattress - quite rightly - because there was none. Not all the single beds were even slept in and we left no stain on sheet or mattress in any of them. The vacuum cleaner worked fine when we used it and there was no unusual noise, smell or water issues.
A later email said that the wood stove front glass was cracked and that this was our fault. The glass was cracked as we noticed when first using it, this did not affect its function and so was not a problem that needed raising by us.
We left a very positive written review in the visitor book and separately communicated some areas where improvement could be made directly to them. This was done in good faith to support the unseen owners business.
The owners did not engage with our rebuttals and decided to retain the nice round deposit number anyway. In doing so they have lost our respect. We left the property in good order, taking time to clean and tidy the place, even though a fee for cleaning was part of the rent. I do not know how to account for the attitude and action of the owners, it has rather ruined the holiday experience being disagreeable, disappointing and a bit creepy.