This was one of the most disappointing Airbnb experiences we’ve had after staying in accommodations all over the world. The apartment is approximately 500 sq. ft., constructed of concrete with single-pane windows, and the only provided heat is a small wall panel heater that is far too small to adequately warm the space. We ended up buying our own portable electric heater just to keep the apartment around 65°F. The hot water was equally inadequate. After one normal shower, the hot water was exhausted, and even two hours later it had still not recovered. In practice, the apartment only provides enough hot water for one shower every 6–8 hours. The bigger issue, however, is the electricity. The apartment operates on a prepaid power meter, something that was never adequately disclosed. We were instructed to notify management when the remaining credit dropped below 5 kWh. When we did, we were told we could either pay for more electricity ourselves or go without. After explaining that electricity is a basic utility that should be included in an $80-per-night rental, management reluctantly added a small amount of credit—barely enough for another day. The following day, when the meter again approached zero, they refused to help unless we purchased additional electricity ourselves. Faced with the prospect of spending our final night with no heat, no lights, no hot water, and no refrigerator, we had no choice but to pay. The cost involved was small. The principle was enormous. Holding paying guests responsible for essential utilities after they’ve checked in is simply unacceptable. We’ve stayed in countless hotels and Airbnbs across the world and have never encountered a host who effectively held basic services hostage over a few dollars’ worth of electricity. “Until the heating, hot water, and electricity policies are fundamentally changed, we cannot recommend staying here.” Their 1–2 kWh per day claim is absurd for a 500 sq ft cold concrete apartment. Basic scale: Their wall heater alone: 425 watts × 24 hrs = 10.2 kWh/day Your portable heater: 1,000–1,500 watts × 8 hrs = 8–12 kWh/day If it ran near-continuously: 24–36 kWh/day Normal apartment usage estimate in your situation: No heat, very light use: 4–8 kWh/day With hot water, fridge, lights, kettle, Wi-Fi, TV: 6–12 kWh/day With electric heat in 50°F weather, concrete, poor insulation: likely 15–35+ kWh/day Hot water alone can easily use 2–6 kWh per shower cycle, depending on the unit. Management claimed normal usage for this apartment is only 1–2 kWh per day. That is not remotely realistic. The provided wall heater alone would use over 10 kWh in 24 hours, and that heater still cannot adequately warm the apartment. Add hot water, refrigerator, lights, kettle, cooking, Wi-Fi and basic living, and realistic usage is many times higher—especially in a cold concrete apartment with single-pane windows.
