The property itself was as described, well heated, decent size for two couples, a little basic and needs some TLC in areas, but for the time we spent there it was more than adequate and was only about a 15 minute walk into the town centre.
It was just the area of the property that let it down for us. Just not located in a very desireable area and not somewhere we would stay again.
The first thing to greet us on arrival was a letter from the Northumbria Police on the doormat asking for witnesses to a serious assault in the area, we therefore only returned back in the evening via taxi as didn't feel it was safe to be walking about in the late evening.
We felt quite vunerable when we popped out to the shop in the afternoon of our arrival, it was quite intimidating as large groups hanging around and we obviously didn't fit in to the area so clearly stood out like the proverbial sore thumb.
I completely understand why you are told to ensure that all windows and doors etc are securely locked when you leave the property, we definitely made sure that everything was secure while we were sleeping by barracading the door !! Might be a bit extreme but that's how the area made us feel.
On a positive note communication from Emmanuel was good and all instructions clear, could not fault that at all.