First, I start by saying that we have rented extensively in the Orlando/Davenport, FL area for over the last 10 years. Therefore, we are well-experienced with the area. Never has any property been a total disaster, and although this property was on the worst side of our rental experiences, it was not a total disaster though I warn anyone considering this property to proceed with extreme caution for the following reasons:
1. Communication with the property manager/owner was poor. He did not keep to the 24 hour return. It sometimes took weeks before the rental, and he did not respond to issues after day 1 during the rental.
2. The owner rations heated water, air conditioning, and lights. As stated in previous feedback from other renters, there were problems with having enough hot water, the air conditioning unit is set to go no lower than 73 degrees, and the recessed lights in the downstairs kitchen seem to be on some sort of timer.
3. The property was really dirty and broken down. Aside from the fact that property is older and needs updating, the main issue is that it had not been cleaned properly in seemingly quite a long time. Here is a list of just some of the issues:
a. the carpets were stained and not cleaned or vacuumed
b. the pool area was really dirty—the patio could use a good pressure washing, and there were three piles of dirty pool toys
c. the linoleum in the kitchen was torn and dirty
d. the toilet in the downstairs bath, the kitchen sink, and the primary room on-suite bath sink all leak
d. there was feces on the tub in the downstairs bath
e. the patio door seems to swell and does not open easily
f. the alarms are not functioning properly
g. there were cigarette butts in a drawer in the primary bedroom
h. there was lots of dust and lint throughout the home (behind the washer and dryer, above the doors, in corners)
j. there is mold around the bathtub in the downstairs bath
k. we were told to stay off the lawn as one of the rules of the house, yet there was very little grass—mostly weeds—the yard had not been tended
The owner could be more attentive as well as less concerned with how much utilities people use. If he cannot afford to allow people to have hot water, set the AC to their comfort, and run the lights within reason, he should not rent his property.