A residential flat operating as a guest apartment

I'm really disappointed with my experience with booking.com I booked a guest apartment in Cape Town Parklands that looked great on the site, but unfortunately, it didn't match the description. The place wasn't properly cleaned, and it became clear that it was a residential flat being rented out without any clear signage outside to indicate it was a guest accommodation. To make matters worse, there were cars being fixed on the property daily, and kids were playing outside, making a lot of noise. It was clear that this wasn't a dedicated hospitality establishment, and I felt like I was intruding on someone's home. In fact, I was surprised to find groceries and personal belongings still in the cupboards, which made me feel even more uncomfortable. When I tried to contact the owner to clarify some details, the telephone etiquette was non-existent - the owner was unprofessional and made me feel unsafe during the conversation. To add insult to injury, the address listed on the site was incorrect, and when I tried to research the business online, I couldn't find any presence whatsoever. It's concerning that a listing with such obvious red flags was allowed to exist on the platform. I feel like booking.com didn't properly vet the listing. To make things even more frustrating, I had to call the owner every single time I needed to enter or leave the property because he didn't provide me with a remote control for the gate - can you believe that? And to think I had to deal with his attitude every time I called. When I tried to reach out to *** to cancel, I was told the booking was non-refundable and I had to endure the unbearable stay at this unpleasant so-called guest apartment. I was unable to get any further assistance from them, which was really frustrating. I'd suggest checking their FAQ or trying a search online for more info on what to do in these situations. Hopefully, they'll sort this out soon and ensure that their listings are accurate and compliant with guest expectations."