@Inna22
This question was not along the same lines, but I recently received an enquiry from an older lady asking if my area was safe. She seemed a bit confused as to where it was or about the geography of London in general and was also taking advice from friends and random internet articles.
Okay, fine. I have no problem with that. It was more the fact that she mentioned in this message that she was 'white'. I mean she was mentioning that she was white in the context of 'is it safe?'. This was a major red flag to me. My listing clearly states that my neighbourhood is multi cultural and please do not book if you are uncomfortable with that.
Normally, if a guest just asked if it was safe, I would tell them that I have lived in this neighbourhood for 12 years and never had any problems and that none of my hundreds of guests have ever had anything bad happen to them while staying here, but that one should exercise the same caution that anyone should in a big city.
This time though I felt I had to go a bit further:
"Hi X, thank you for your message and nice words about my home.
RE the location, Lambeth is a borough of London and very large. It includes Brixton and many other neighbourhoods. Brixton is lively and popular with young people but I wouldn't describe it as the safest place.
The house itself is in Stockwell, which is near Brixton (one tube stop away). You can find more information on the area under the 'where you'll be' section of the listing. I would describe it as a very multi-cultural neighbourhood with a mix of income groups, e.g. valuable houses right next to social housing blocks, which is not unusual in London. The house is in a conservation area full of beautiful old homes, but it's also opposite a large council estate.
It's 0.3 miles (approximately a six minute walk) from the underground station along a fairly busy road. I certainly feel safe walking back and have never had any problems. One thing I have noticed more recently though is more people begging for money near the station, especially at night, which never used to happen as frequently before, so that's something to bear in mind if it makes you uncomfortable.
I have personally never had any bad experiences here and neither have any guests but, for some, the area feels too rough around the edges. While most love staying here because the transport links are very convenient, a few have expressed concerns that they felt unsafe. I would say that it's neither particularly safe nor unsafe, just average, and that one should exercise the usual precautions when visiting an unknown, large city.
I've only had three guests (out of hundreds) who had safety problems whilst visiting London. Each time it was with theft/pickpockets (please be sensible RE how you carry your valuables, as they were not!) and in areas with a lot of tourists. These incidents occurred in London Bridge, near Oxford Street and also Kings Cross. So yes, it is wise to take more precautions when out sightseeing.
I would hate for any of my guests to feel uncomfortable, so if this is a concern, you might want to think about a quieter, less urban location than mine. Unsurprisingly, the areas reported as the safest in London are very, very far from the centre. However, you might consider parts of Kensington and Chelsea or Hammersmith and Fulham that are closer and have relatively low crime rates.
Do let me know if you have any other questions.
Best wishes,
Huma"
Of course it is not as witty as @Robin4 's brilliant response, but it still did the trick. The guest messaged me back thanking me for taking the time to respond but that she had decided to postpone her trip until next year...