Don’t leave keys with cleaners!

As an owner of a flat in Ballito that apart from us, we let close friends and family use from time to time. We also use a local cleaning agent. I would like to advise you of just what goes on when the keys are left in other people’s care.

In 2014 when the keys were in the cleaning agent’s care, I omitted to let her know that they needed to clean the flat prior to a close friend’s week-long visit. On their arrival on a Sunday at about 5pm from Johannesburg, they found our parking space taken by another car.

They drove around to the entrance of the stairs – our unit is on the third floor – and parked to offload. Going up the stairs they saw a party going on in the middle floor flat. On entering our flat it was clear that people had just left the flat in a great hurry! They had all four plates burning on the stove, alcohol and cooldrink bottles and glasses everywhere, the floor was sticky and full of spilt drinks and food, beds used and unmade, the bathrooms in a disgusting state and a fresh cake still with a knife it it about to be cut! I could go on and on but hope that you get the state of our flat.

Our friends, after a long trip now had to clean the flat before they could even unpack their car.

Please home-owners, beware that this is going on in rented houses and flats. Keys should not be left unattended in others’ care – it’s not their property and due care is not their concern. Cleaning companies should never leave keys in the care of the cleaners – they have spare keys cut!

I hope that this assists other holiday home-owners.

IRENE EASTES

Gauteng