Holiday Cottage Nightmare

[AuntySandrasDauphinois]

Please can someone tell me what you would do in this situation?

We arrived at our (much anticipated) holiday cottage yesterday to find that it absolutely stinks. I have febreezed every surface so many times and it still stinks. It's worse downstairs but still absolutely awful upstairs, so bad that I struggled to get to sleep last night. We have been out all day today and just got back and honestly I want to cry. More than £1000 we've paid for the week!

I spoke to the woman in the local shop (when I was buying the febreeze!) and she told us some of the local lads had been putting fish through the letterboxes of any known holiday lets. There was nothing to suggest that's what it was but the smell is very fishy/putrid. The village doesn't feel very welcoming to visitors- she also said last year someone had the wing mirrors broken off their car outside overnight!

The Cornish cottage company have been no help whatsoever- the woman laughed down the phone and told us the fish were an urban legend. There's no way to take a photo of the smell to try to claim a reduction. I don't even know if I can last the week. Currently sat in the garden having a glass of wine but I'm dreading having to go inside.

If anyone has any suggestions bar more febreeze please please let me know. I'm trying to be lighthearted about it but I'm devastated. We drove for 6 hours to get here, I'm so exhausted with it.

If the Cornish people think they are the only ones unable to afford property they are idiots. Why do they think everyone in London is swilling around in vast amounts of wealth? They must be insular and stupid as well as unwelcoming if that’s how they really think. They must hate being so dependent on tourism.

Does the cottage have a wood burning stove type thing ? Could be something deceased inside it or the flue causing the smell ?

I live in a really popular tourist area. Have to say, without the tourists where we would live would be absolutely dead for some decades by now.

Does not stop people moaning though. We have one massive summer festival here and people moan about that too. Even though that single week probably keeps the local businesses alive for the year.

As for me I really love seeing tourists. I love seeing people wandering around with their cameras and happily enjoying their holiday. I hope they enjoy their holidays! i have no skin in the game as I do not run a business or a holiday let.

Morning everyone just trying to catch up. Sorry I can't answer questions individually I keep getting lost in the thread. Managed a bit of interrupted sleep.

Woke up at about 2am to barking dogs and a car revving it's engine. Strange in a quiet village, you never know what goes on. It made me realise how intimidated I am by everyone's unfriendly attitude, I feel so far from home.

Then awoken this morning by an angry teenager who thinks the smell has soaked into her jacket. Stupidly we'd hung it on the coat rack by the door where the smell is worst. She never wakes up this early at home!

Building up to ringing the company again this morning, I will follow up with email as someone suggested.

Is there not a maintenance person who is responsible for the property. We go a few times a year and there is always a number for somone to call if there are problems.

And no-one moves to London to price out the locals of course..
I don’t hear many on Mumsnet worry about those displaced Londoners when their adult children move to the capital. You can substitute London for Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol etc. It’s not just a seaside village issue.

Also is there a visitors book ? Has anyone else mentioned a smell ? or online review ?

Phone the company back and ask to speak to the CEO, and insist they send someone to smell the cottage. They should then move you or refund you. Laughing at you is simply not acceptable. Good luck.

Which village is it OP?

@Antarcticant not cheap in my experience! We've had a week in Devon at half term, it was £1400 and that was cheap in comparison with some. In the summer months the same van is nearly £2000 a week. Xx

I would go back to the letting company and say you want it sorting. I am sure they don't want bad reviews on their website etc. Not nice having hassle when you are trying to relax.
We had a situation like this at a cottage in Northumberland which stank of wee. From the cans and bottles if drink outside I thinl it was a mens trip away. The owner came out and cleaned the bathroom.

Two things I'd suggest straightaway: insist the agency get someone down to the cottage to understand how bad it is. Contact environmental health and trading standards at the local council because this is potentially a risk to health and the lack of action from the agency which is letting an unsuitable property is not acceptable.

Check all the radiators and curtains for whatever is causing the smell. Check all cupboards, drawers and radiators. If you paid by credit card (and this is one of the reasons you should always use a credit card for this kind of thing if you have one) then contact the credit card company to get a refund.

Bicarb and lemons are very efficient. So sorry, one week on holiday only in this !!!

If the smell is worse by the door, have you chucked out the doormat if there is one? IF kids did put fish through the letterbox, that's where it'll have landed, so concentrate on cleaning that area. But definitely demand – yes, don't ask nicely, demand – someone from the company comes round today. Also, are there any neighbours nearby/delivery people/post man? Ask them to pop in to gauge the smell so you have witnesses. If the company is still sniffy, tell them if you're forced to abandon the holiday you'll be taking them to small claims court.

Totally unacceptable. And despite all the suggestions there's no way I'd want to spend my holiday cleaning and sorting a bad smell.

Keep on at the company that's awful...some holiday hey! We live in a tourist place and there are multiple holiday let's yes some locals don't like it but they are still very welcoming and friendly! Cornwall has a rep for this shit and it's pathetic I'd personally cut my losses and either find a cheap caravan or go home and fight for your money back. Sounds like the engine revving was deliberate as well

Definitely insist someone from the company comes today to check it out themselves.
We had this at Centreparcs, the lodge had a revolting smell which hit us as soon as we walked in. I know it’s slightly different to your situation as they are all on-site but I went straight to reception and asked if someone could come and have a smell. They sent someone over (mind you, it took 6 hours!) and they found that the toilet had leaked and spread through to the bedroom. They upgraded us to an executive lodge!
You shouldn’t have to put up with this op, this is your holiday, your relaxing time. The cottage is not fit for purpose. If they can’t fix it ask if they can put you in another nearby cottage, surely they can’t be fully booked yet we aren’t yet in the school holidays?

Sending strength OP .Not all of us find it easy to demand not ask etc . Friend of mine ,trying to get help for her son ,used to stand on a chair when she had to make tricky phone calls .

I agree about getting an indep .third party to have a sniff .Where's the vicar or WRVS .Or a neighbour ? If it's electrics (and you can always say this is your concern)I imagine it's in their intersts as well as yours for it to be investigated .

Good luck this morning. Cornwall is beautiful, not everyone is against tourists but I do think there is a massive issue with locals being priced out due to holidays/2nd homes

Where abouts are you? I have a good friend just outside Bude who might be able to help .

Twitter the hell out of them!

If no joy with the holiday cottage company, get on Social Media…or threaten to. That usually does the trick!

It's dry and hot, not a cloud in the sky, forget weird chemical masks, open the windows!

I bet its a dead mouse /rat , it permeates the whole house and the smell doesn't neccessarily lead you to the culprit . If it a rural cottage its quite likely .

Contact local newspaper ? "Holidaymaker asks for help with mystery smell !"

I wouldn't mention Sykes .

You think they won't be interested ?I've seen whole columns about stolen hanging baskets .