Conditions at the property in Ramsgate (Image: Colin Yexley / SWNS)
Colin Yexley, 61, and his sister Jackie, 70, were enticed by online images of a property in Ramsage, Kent and booked a two-week stay.
However, their excitement turned to dismay when they found the place in disarray, with rubbish strewn about and overflowing bins. Shocking photos reveal a backyard cluttered with discarded food and drink containers, while inside, the freezer was broken and the washing machine was nowhere to be seen.
The three-bed holiday let cost them £1,300 for the fortnight. The owners of the holiday home blamed seagulls for the mess but claimed that all issues were promptly addressed. They also highlighted their track record of positive reviews across multiple properties.
Yet, Colin recounted the grim scene: “When you book something, you expect it to be to at least a good standard, but this was diabolical – it basically wasn’t fit for purpose.”
He detailed the extent of the neglect: “The garden was full of rubbish, black bags everywhere, sanitary towels, nappies and broken bottles.
The overflowing bins at the property (Image: Colin Yexley / SWNS)
“The light was on in the fridge, but when I went to the freezer, it just stunk as soon as I opened the door.”
Colin and Jackie, a couple residing in a mobile home in Ripple, near Deal, are subject to the caravan park’s annual two-week vacancy mandate. Over the past four years, they’ve always found alternative accommodation, each time to their satisfaction – until their recent discovery left them in tears.
Colin said: “My sister thought it was all her fault, that she had done something wrong, but it looks absolutely lovely on the website. We have been crying our eyes out.
“You expect if you go on holiday, wherever it is, for it to at least look a bit like the pictures.
“If I bought a car I’d expect there to be doors and wheels on it.”
Conditions at the property in Ramsgate (Image: Colin Yexley / SWNS)
Although the troubling circumstances were eventually remedied by clearing away the debris and installing new appliances, Colin feels such interventions should not have been necessary from day one, let alone day six.
He gratefully acknowledged the comprehensive fixes made: “The chap they sent round has done everything – a new washing machine, a brand new fridge freezer and a vacuum.”
But he pointed out this came to a higher cost: “It’s a lot of money for pensioners. We accept we have to go away for two weeks every year, and we’ve got dogs – we expect to pay a bit more – but there should be a standard people have to stick to.”
Where the washing machine should have been at the property (Image: Colin Yexley / SWNS)
The holiday let owners said: “Unfortunately, there was rubbish and seagulls had got to the bin before he arrived, so obviously no one had been there on the day Mr Yexley arrived.”
They also commented on the fridge freezer incident, saying, “Regarding the fridge freezer, we have never had an issue with it before, but it did, unfortunately, die.
“This was addressed as soon as possible.
“He wanted a welcome pack but that’s not something we do.”