First things first - if you are going to rent this flat to be in the city, you have to be prepared for all that goes along with inner-city life. That includes lot of noise from construction, sirens, neighbors, etc. We came prepared with earplugs, but this is just a caveat, and certainly nothing the owner has any control over.
The flat itself was perfect for our needs. It had ample space and was well-appointed with a well-stocked kitchen, a washer, a large bathroom, and plenty of furniture. Since I needed to work remotely during a portion of the time there I was delighted to be able to use a desk setup to be able to get my work done.
As for the location, we were within a few blocks walk of four grocery stores, which allowed us to be able to prepare meals at our flat as needed. Both the Aldgate and Aldgate East tub stations were a short walk away, which made getting around the city a breeze. We especially liked that we were within walking distance of a number of attractions, such as the Tower Bridge, the Shard (which can be seen from the deck), the Sky Garden and the War of the Worlds Experience (a must see if you are a fan of the H.G. Welles classic, and especially if you are familiar with the Jeff Wayne musical adaptation).
In addition to grocery markets the flat is within walking distance of numerous pubs, higher end eating establishments, and fun shopping experiences such as Petticoat Lane market and Spitalfields.
As for downsides, in addition to the noise factor we really only encountered a few more nuisances. First, we brought Nespresso coffee pods, but the Nespresso coffee machine was non-functioning. To the owner's credit he was unaware of the being an issue, so may been a recent issue. The kitchen was stocked with a French press, so we were still able to enjoy our coffee. Secondly, almost every utensil, cup, plate and pan in the kitchen needed to be washed. Again, this may have been the work of the previous occupant putting dirty dishes away, as the rest of the flat was spotless. Finally, we did encounter a strong, sulphuric smell in the bathroom that lasted a day and a half. This coincided with similar smells outside, so may have been an issue with the London sewers.
One thing to keep in mind is that the key fob is needed for entry into the building through two separate doors before getting to the room, so it does take some coordinating if 2+ people will be out at the same time.
All in all, we enjoyed our stay here.