Double room for 1 or 2 people who are 100%nonsmokers, but the room has my belongings (I will need occasional access during the day), it's on the 3rd floor (no lift) and there are cats (cats can come in to this room). The space IF YOU DO NOT READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, YOU WILL BE DECLINED AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY. DO NOT SEND A BOOKING REQUEST WITH PAYMENT UNLESS YOU HAVE MESSAGED WITH ME FIRST BY CLICKING ON 'CONTACT HOST' BUTTON. IF NOT, YOU WILL BE DECLINED. IF YOU BOOKED BY PAYING WITHOUT MESSAGING ME FIRST AND WITHOUT MY APPROVAL AND INVITATION TO BOOK, YOU WILL HAVE TO WITHDRAW/CANCEL THE BOOKING REQUEST WITH PAYMENT THAT YOU SENT IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT DELAY. IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL NOT BE STAYING IN MY HOME AND YOU MAY HAVE BEEN CHARGED AND MAY LOSE MONEY. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET IN SUCH TROUBLE, PLEASE DO NOT SEND A BOOKING REQUEST WITH PAYMENT UNLESS YOU HAVE MESSAGED WITH ME FIRST AND I INVITED YOU TO BOOK, AND IN FUTURE, DO NOT BOOK WITHOUT READING THE FULL LISTING DESCRIPTION OF HOSTS. AIRBNB IS NOT HOTEL SO PLEASE DON'T TREAT LIKE IT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************** DO NOT send a booking request with payment card unless you have messaged with me first. If you do not message with me first (without putting in your payment card details) by clicking on 'Contact host' button, and instead, send me a booking request by putting your payment card information, you will automatically be declined. If you do not see the 'contact host' button, that is because you are using Airbnb app on your phone. Log on from a web browser instead, or even better, use a laptop (and not [un]smartphone), and you will have an option to message me by Airbnb without paying to book. ******************** NB. Dear guests, if you are interested, please do not send a booking request with payment card unless you have talked to me here first. Unlike some Airbnb hosts, I do not operate instant booking as I need to message with you as I have a set of questions that I ask everyone enquiring first (on smoking etc.) to see if my flat is suitable for you. If you like the sound of my flat, please send a message (without payment) in the first instance by clicking on ‘Contact Host’ button. Thank you. Look forward to meeting you here. ********** Guests are informed now in advance of booking that though I try to reflect photos of my flat truly, some things could have changed such as furniture, bedding, curtains and appliances due to upgrade or changing its type, colour and position. But 99% guests who have stayed in my flat have had no trouble in that respect. Please note that there is no TV in this flat either in any bedrooms or communal areas such as the kitchen, as we do not have a TV licence in our flat, meaning that we cannot have a television set. (If you want to bring your own TV set and keep it in your room or the living room, you would need to pay the TV licence. Please search online for more information on TV licence.) Our flat comes with a spacious garden that all guests would have access to. ********** /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// IMPORTANT. - Please read this before you contact me. A). Unlike my other listings, this room is on the upper floor flat which is where I live. It is on the 3rd floor and there is no lift. If you have any kind of trouble or difficulty with climbing up the stairs to the 3rd floor, please do not contact me to book this room. B). This room is my own bedroom. Occasionally when my partner is away, I can sleep in the spare single room next to it and make this double room with a double bed (for 1 or 2 people) to be available for guests. This means that this room has my belongings and is not nicely decorated to offer to guests unlike my other listings. (That is why this room is listed at a discounted price). If you want a total privacy like a hotel, please do not contact me to book this room. C). I will need occasional access to this room during the day to get my things. Therefore this room is suited to people who would be out most of the day (such as tourists). This room is not suitable for people who would stay home most of the day. If you would be spending most of time at home instead of going out, please do not contact me to book this room. D). We have three indoor cats (and sometimes small kittens) and they can and would come in to this room and be near you and your belongings, so if you are allergic to or don’t like cats, please do not contact me to book this room. E). You will not get a key to the bedroom lock of this room. (But you will get a key to the flat so that you can come and go as and when you want, within reason. – This room is not suitable if you plan to be out to night clubs often and come home at 3am or something like that.) F). The shower room (with toilet and shower – it is not your private use as it is shared with me or my partner) that you would use is very near this room where there is the cat litter tray (cat toilet), and the shower room’s door must be left open at all times when not in use by people. Cat food is on the hallway near this room. This means that as with any homes with cats and pets, there will be some smell. If you are very sensitive to smell and need a living or sleeping environment with no smell of cats or animals (and their food or toilet), please do not contact me to book this room. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Hello guests! I am Kai and am here to host you or answer any enquiries you have about my apartment near New Cross and Brockley in zone 2 London UK! I speak some French (and some baby Italian!) and my partner speaks native Chinese (Mandarin) - please feel free to ask anything you need that I can help you with. I hope the 10 points below will give you all the information you need about our flat. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me. With warmest greetings from London, Kai (and Whitney) 1. LOCATION & TRANSPORT This apartment is in an excellent location for London: - New Cross station (zone 2) 9min walk (7min train to London Bridge 1 stop) - New Cross Gate station (zone 2) 11min walk (7min train to London Bridge 1 stop) - Brockley station (zone 2/3) 12min walk (11min train to London Bridge 2 stops) - Lewisham station (zone 2/3) 22min walk (or bus 10 min) - Goldsmiths College (University of London) 9min walk - 24 hour open corner shops 2min walk - Supermarkets (Tesco and Sainsbury’s open till 10pm daily) 5 or 7min walk - 24-hour cash machine 3 min walk - Green gardens and parks and sport grounds 1, 11, 22 min walk - Buses (436, 321, 21, 136, 171, 172) from 2min walk to central London (Victoria, Paddington, Vauxhall, Waterloo, London Bridge, St Paul, Liverpool Street Station etc and also to further south like Lewisham) including 24-hour night buses. (Bus to Victoria 40min, bus to Waterloo 30min, bus to St Paul 50min etc. – During busy traffic hours, add 5 or 10 min on top of these travel times.) 2. ROOM PRICE There are long-term discounts for staying for a week or a month or more. 3. AVAILABILITY & GARDEN Please check my listings and availability. I have 4 private rooms in total in the downstairs flat, plus 2 in the upstairs flat including this one (that is where we live with our cats). They are: DOWNSTAIRS FLAT (Flat A) - Double room with direct access to garden (for up to 3 people) - Double room en-suite with garden view (for up to 2 people) - Double room with a double bed (for single occupancy only) - Single room with a single bed UPSTAIRS FLAT (Flat A) - Double-Triple room (for 1, 2 or 3 people) in the upstairs flat (where I live with my partner and my cats) with a semi-private bathroom, which is in a different, separate flat (but at the same address) from the other 4 rooms which are on the ground floor flat. - Double room (for 1 or 2 people) in the upstairs flat (where I live with my partner and my cats) with a semi-private bathroom, which is in a different, separate flat (but at the same address) from the other 4 rooms which are on the ground floor flat, but it has my belongings and I need occasional access to it during the day plus cats can come in to this room. Everyone staying in this apartment (and the two flats downstairs in addition to this upper-level flat) has access to a garden and patio. 4. WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE - Price includes everything including cleaning costs so you have absolutely nothing more to pay. In your room you will find all bedding and towels (for a double bed for 1 or 2 people) and your shared shower room with toilet papers, shampoo/conditioner and shower gel (provided for those staying up to 1 month). (If you are staying for over a month, please get your own shampoo/conditioner/shower gel. Thank you.) And of course there is free wifi. I provide standard toiletries (shampoo etc) that people usually buy from normal shops. If you need a specific type of shampoo etc., or need to avoid certain types, I cannot cater for such specific needs so please bring your own. - You have full access to a shared kitchen which is fully equipped with everything you need for cooking and eating. (Please bring your own food. Breakfast or food is not included in the price. But we would offer complimentary hot drinks such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate and some ingredients such as sugar, salt and pepper.) - The room is fully furnished and has a double bed, but apart from a couple of drawers, there isn’t a place or space to put your clothes or personal items. (You can put them on the desk and floor of course, or on your bed). (The Garden and patio are for use by everyone in this flat and the downstairs flats at this address.) Please note that like many places in London, this flat does not have a lounge (also called a living room or a sitting room). But there is a dining table with chairs in the kitchen that you could use (but not in a youth hostel 24-hour common room kind of way). 5. AIRPORT PICKUP I have often given a lift to and from airports (or stations or any address within the Greater London area) in my car to our Airbnb guests flying in/out of London UK for a petrol cost contribution. (Given the time it takes to drive to and from airports, I am not really making a profit by doing this. I just recover petrol costs and I do this to help our Airbnb guests feel welcome and comfortable. Picking you up from a London airport for example can take 5 hours of my time. You see, I do this not to make money, but to help and welcome my guests in the Airbnb community.) Sometimes I have meetings, work commitments and can be away - I can usually confirm my availability for doing this for you 3 or 4 working days prior to your arrival or departure into and out of London airports. (If I am not available on the date of your flights, I can recommend or book minicab - licensed private hire taxis - firms for you.) The petrol cost isn't cheap but that is because in UK and Europe (unlike North America for example where petrol costs are between 30 - 40% cheaper), driving is very expensive as petrol costs are very high in most of western Europe. Also as of '2, there is a ULEZ (emission enforcement and taxes) charge to drive in London in addition to Congestion Charge fees that drivers face, in addition to spiralling cost of anything from electricity/gas costs and butter and bread to taxis and petrol cost that has rocketted and is now (as of mid-'22) record high ever per inflation adjustment since car was invented. You may find Uber or minicab taxis about the same or cheaper than me, but if you want me to pick you up from or drop off at your London airport station or any other address in and around London in my car for petrol cost contribution, you can talk with me, as I would look to see if I can help you. My car is an 8-seater SUV. It can have up to 8 passengers with no or little luggage, or up to 4 or more people with some suitcases/backpacks and bags/boxes. SUVs' petrol costs are already high, but now (as of mid-'22), it has really rocketted since the invasion of early '22, in that in the UK, the price of fuel has gone up from £1.35 per litre of petrol to nearly £2.00 per litre of petrol. SUV (8-seater): 1 passenger: - City Airport £45 one way - Heathrow Airport £85 one way - Gatwick Airport £85 one way - Stansted Airport £95 one way - Luton Airport £105 one way - Southend Airport £95 one way 2 passengers: - City Airport £55 one way - Heathrow Airport £95 one way - Gatwick Airport £95 one way - Stansted Airport £105 one way - Luton Airport £115 one way - Southend Airport £105 one way 3 passengers: - City Airport £65 one way - Heathrow Airport £105 one way - Gatwick Airport £105 one way - Stansted Airport £115 one way - Luton Airport £125 one way - Southend Airport £115 one way 4+ passengers: - City Airport £75 one way - Heathrow Airport £115 one way - Gatwick Airport £115 one way - Stansted Airport £125 one way - Luton Airport £135 one way - Southend Airport £125 one way If you are interested in my airport (or station or any other address) pickup, I will need to know; - Your pick-up (or drop-off) location; - How many passengers there are in your group; - How many pieces of luggage you will have with you and approximate size of them in cm. I would then be able to confirm my availability and confirm the petrol cost amount in GBP £ for taking you to or bringing you from airports (or stations or any other address within Greater London or neighbouring counties). Please feel free to enquire about airport transfers as I will be there to answer any questions you have in order to help you and find a competitive solution for you. 6. SHOPS, PARKS & AMENITIES NEARBY There is a 24-hour family-run corner shop just 2min walk from the flat (you can buy food and drink from there), and small supermarkets (Tesco/Sainsbury’s) open from 6am or 7am till 10pm and 11pm everyday just 5 or 7min walk. There is a large supermarket (Sainsbury) open until 8pm weekdays 13min walk (behind New Cross Gate station). 7. FREE PARKING, PARKS AND GYM/SWIMMING POOL NEARBY - If you are driving and arriving here to my apartment by car, there is free off-street parking just outside our building. (It means you can park anywhere on this street free of charge.) Usually there are plenty of spaces to park cars. (I myself have 2 cars! – Plus I have several bicycles!) - There is a communal neighbourhood green area (like a garden for the entire street) right behind the flat (1min walk) and there are parks (such as Hilly Fields) 20min walk. Hilly Fields gives a panoramic view of London including a nice view of Canary Wharf and the Shard of London. - There is a public leisure-sports centre with a huge swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and exercise classes just 10min by bus or 22min walk from our flat. (Glass Mill sports centre in Lewisham.) 8. NUMBER OF GUESTS, OTHERS IN THE HOUSE & NEIGHBOURS This room is for maximum 2-people occupancy. (It has a double bed – and not twin beds – for two people.) You would have 1 shared shower room (with shower and toilet but no bath) shared with other either my partner or myself in the apartment. There are 3 bedrooms in this apartment including this room. The other double room (for up to 3 people) tend to have other Airbnb guests or short or long-term tenants, and the spare single room is where I (or my partner) would sleep in during your stay in this room (our room) when my partner (or myself) is away. This apartment is the 3rd floor flat (Flat C) of 3 flats at this address in this building, and has a shared entrance that you share with the neighbours in the flat underneath (Flat B) who are a young Latin American-Spanish family with two small children. (Like us and our Airbnb guests, they are also all non-smokers. They don’t have a spare room so they don’t have guests staying over.) 9. SMOKING Our flat is for NON-SMOKERS ONLY. (100% non-smokers only. We don’t take electronic cigarette smokers either. Also people who smoke weeds such as cannabis and marijuana, as with those who smoke e-cigarettes, are counted as smokers who smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes.) We do not take smokers who will not smoke in the house, whether they are the kind of smokers who only smoke outside or need to smoke in the house as well. For smell, hygiene, fire risk and home insurance requirement purposes, we can only take people who never smoke - regardless of whether they promise not to smoke in the house. If you are not a complete, 100% nonsmoker, we cannot help you, so in that case please kindly look elsewhere and do not contact me, and I wish you good luck in your accommodation search. If you are a total 100% non-smoker, please get in touch as I am here to help you and answer your questions.) 10. DEPOSIT There is a security deposit of GBP £150 which will be activated if there is a damage or non-compliance with property rules such as non-smoking and no-drugs policy. ***** ***** 11. COVID QUARANTINE RULES IN MY FLAT If you are coming to the UK from a non-quarantine exempt country and thereby you need to self-isolate for 14 days, please note that I only take international traveller guests entering the UK and quarantining in my flat who will do the 14-day quarantine at home (at my flat) without going out for the whole 2-week period. ***** I do not take guests who will do a privately paid COVID test on their 5th day of quarantine or later. If you plan to pay for a private COVID test during your quarantine, you cannot stay in this flat, so please do not book, and instead, please look elsewhere and stay somewhere else. You cannot stay in my flat in that case. ***** !!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!! Please note that by proceeding to book my place, you confirm that you will not do a privately paid COVID test, and instead, you will do the entire 14-day quarantine and comply by the UK authorities' rules. ***** !!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!! If you book by saying to me and writing in your Airbnb message to me that you will not do a privately paid quarantine but change your mind before moving in, by proceeding to book, you agree now in advance to then cancel your reservation at that time, and this will be legally binding. (Not I cancel but you cancel your reservation to stay in my home.) This will result in you losing some or all of your money that you would have paid to make a reservation to stay in my home. ***** !!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!! Please do NOT book to stay at my place unless you are 100% sure that you will not do a privately paid COVID test, and that instead, you are 100% sure and decided that you will quarantine in my home for 14 days without doing a private COVID test during your stay in my flat. ***** !!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT !!!!!!!!!! If you change your mind after you move in to my flat and do a COVID test, by proceeding to book, you agree now in advance that you will pay a £3,000 compensation. This part of the house rules will be communicated in my message to you before you book. If you cannot agree to this, do not book. Once you agree, it becomes legally binding, and if you change your mind later, that sum will come off your payment card, and if you attempt to stop it, not only Airbnb management will be involved, but separately of Airbnb, you can be sued and be served with court papers. ***** If you are wondering why I do not take privately paying COVID testing guests on their 5th day, I will explain: It is because if you stay in my flat with 4 other guests or with your host and their family living/staying there and do a private test and the result is positive, not only you have to quarantine for 10 more days, but everybody else in my house have to then quarantine for 14 days. This is not acceptable for me as a host as I could be sued for their loss of earnings etc. /////// /////// /////// Before you criticise me with this in case you thought I should accept privately paid COVID testing guests, I ask you to put yourself in my, my tenants’/other guests’ and my family’s and house-mates’ position first, and ask yourself what you would do if you were me. Please put yourself in my position (and the position of other people living in my flat) and imagine this: /////// /////// /////// Say that you are not subject to quarantine, say that you have been living in my flat with other people living there for a long time, as you live in London such as for 2 years for a postgraduate masters degree study that you have been paying £10,000 a year for, and you have your final exam next week. Or say that you came to London 2 months ago for a 4-month internship, but you want to continue to live in London in future and you have a job interview scheduled next week for your dream job, and you have been working hard on your internship as doing well with it can make or break your career, and you have an important project delivery with colleagues and clients next week. Or say that you booked flights and hotel and paid £1,000 to spend a week in Canada or Japan for a wedding. /////// /////// /////// Now imagine that I take in an Airbnb guest booking to stay for 2 weeks or for a month to stay in my flat where you have been living/staying for many months or for many years, and imagine that this new guest does a privately paid COVID test on their 5th day (or later before the 14-day quarantine ending) and the result is positive, meaning that you, like everybody else living in my house, now have to stay home for 14 days and cannot go out. /////// /////// /////// (If not and you went out, not only you are committing an illegal act, but according to the UK authorities - it is their words not mine - you are committing a criminal offence that puts other people's lives at risk, and you would be subject to between a £1,000 and £10,000 fine in addition to possible appearance in court for prosecution with a police criminal conviction record to your name.) /////// /////// /////// Now put yourself in their position. Imagine you paid £10,000 a year for a few years to do a masters degree study in the UK and your final exam is next week, and after all this hard work for many years, you have to miss that exam because I took this guest doing a privately paid COVID test. Imagine that you spend 2 months of internship as part of your work experience, you have an important project to deliver with your colleagues and clients next week plus a job interview for your dream job next week, but you have to miss them all because I took this guest doing a privately paid COVID test. Imagine that you paid booked flights and hotel to the other side of world with £1,000 of your own money for a wedding, anniversary, special family occasion, a sibling’s new baby etc., but now you can't go, you cannot get a refund from your airline and hotel, you are losing all that money, you can't do that dream trip of your life and see your relatives that you haven’t seen or a long time, and instead, you now have to be stuck at home for 14 days, all because I took this guest doing a privately paid COVID test. /////// /////// /////// How would you feel? See, you would also not take quarantining guests who will do a privately paid COVID test on during their quarantine either if you were me, would you? That is why I only accept guests quarantining for 14 days in my flat where I live or other people are living or staying, and why I do not take guests doing privately paid COVID test on their 5th day, as you would do the same if you were me. ***** ***** That is about it! I hope this will have answered all the questions you have about this room and this apartment. If you have any more questions, please get in touch. English, French (and even Chinese Mandarin) languages are OK to communicate with us (my partner and myself). With warmest regards from London, Kai (and Whitney)