VACATION RENTALS WATCHDOG

We have rented luxury properties around the world and have NEVER encountered a problem like this one. Billed as an executive compound on exclusive Lake Joseph, owner charged us $500 a week above the posted asking price of $7500/week (2008) and would not provide interior photos of the cottage (said his "hard drive" had broken). Good reason: the place was falling apart and had not been upgraded in 30-plus years. Imagine Austen Powers in the Great White North. The septic tank blew up, toilets and cupboards were broken, the outdoor lights did not work for our first week (electrician said the wiring was antiquated), chairs broken, etc. The owner rents the sheets but does not provide second sets nor make arrangements for laundering. He did not service his boathouse between tenants. Nor did he service the advertised hot tub--it was a filthy cesspool. After some investigation on my part, found out that local service companies will no longer deal with the owner as he doesn't pay his bills. We are also not the first tenants to be unhappy with the property. We had the cottage serviced by a local housekeeping company four times while we were there (we paid). Despite this, he refuses to return our $1,000 security deposit. We shall now have to go to small claims court. I took interior photos as evidence should anyone want to see them. Despite the lovely (exterior!) location: STAY AWAY!