Air Bnb has ruined my life

itsafan · 2025-07-31T15:57:13+00:00

There is literally no way out of this situation 😢 other than for us to give up our jobs and relocate in the hope that we can find new jobs and a place to live. There are literally no other rentals available in the area even if we could afford the rents. A mortgage is out of the question as we would need at least a hundred grand deposit. There are at least 1000 properties listed on Airbnb within a 5 mile radius, many of them would be ideal but the rents on them are extortionate and aimed at tourists we are talking at least a grand a week. We have lived here for years in a residential complex (well before Airbnb and booking even got popular) we have jobs here and friends here and a life here. It is on the whole fine for 9 months of the year mainly local people living around us who all respect that we are living and just trying to survive. Then the Airbnb people turn up and every week it’s new people above us below us next to us. The noise is horrendous and probably the worst problem. Being woken at all hours with people rolling suitcases along floors, lifts going up and down, shouting in the corridors and doors banging. It just goes on and on like this for months. My anxiety with it all is now so bad that I’m having to take medication. The noise just feels constant. Do people even realise when they are booking Airbnb that these are people’s homes that they are disrupting? Why don’t people go to hotels anymore ? So yeah there is a huge housing crisis due to the airbnb situation and I’m just a small person in a situation that I can’t change other than to leave somewhere I call home. I suppose my AIBU is am I being unreasonable to feel like a company has ruined my life ?

Summergirl92 · 09/08/2025 14:48

No you're not being unreasonable, I really am sorry. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel!

AngelRoja · 08/08/2025 18:52

FairKoala · 04/08/2025 01:13

And to the poster who doesn’t fancy camping there are people right now living in tents on the beach in my town. They have nowhere to live because everything is a holiday home and they can’t afford €1000 a week in rent

If camping is so great then why do you talk about it in such a negative light?

Do you really believe that if people were to stop putting their house on Airbnb for €1000 per week they would rent the place out at a price that those people who live in tents on the beach could afford.

I would say that like BTL which has been reduced hugely and because demand now outstrips supply and the consequence is rents that have risen to an almost unaffordable level.

Getting rid of holiday lets in tourist destinations will have consequences too.

What happens when the shops that were kept open because of the tourists begin to close or they have to cut back on the local people who work in these businesses

What happens if the holiday let owner decides to keep the property and turn it into a 52 week per year holiday let to cover the huge council tax penalties

Those people living on the beach, they might like the idea of living in a certain area but if they can’t afford it then they have to find an area that they can afford
The concept is not new. Like everything in life, it is a compromise until you can afford to have choices

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Firstly, the people who now rent out their property as tourist rents, yes, many did rent them out at normal rents. Greed is a big factor. The ones who wont are often those who bought the places to rent out. They are not just big companies (though that is more common in big cities) they are private indivuals who have bought for this purpose, including many foreigners. They have taken reasonably priced properties and rentals off the market. Sadly a hugh percentage of these rentals have no tourist license, pay no tax and are, effectively, functioning below the radar. Their tenants however are often a hugh disturbance for others in the building, spend little money out of the house and use the public spaces and facilities.

We had tourism long before Airbnb and the like existed. Villages and towns thrived and finding staff was never a problem. People made good livings from it and tourists filled our towns and villages every summer. Now it is reversed and people living in tourist areas have a poorer quality of life, physically and financially and Airbnb style accomodation has a lot to do with it.

Secondly, camping is fine for a two week cheap holiday. It is very different being forced to live and work in one, because all available accomodation is rented out at crazy prices per day.
Thirdly, over tourism is not good for local businesses as you seem to think. Butchers, fishmongers, bakers, grocery stores, hardwear stores and normal clothing stores which people need to live are closing down and being replaced with tourist tat stores that often close in winter, if by the coast. It makes these areas unlivable and then people complain that they cant find staff.

FairKoala · 06/08/2025 19:17

itsafan · 04/08/2025 09:14

@FairKoalaare you talking about the U.K. here ? Spain already have high business taxes and administrative costs so registering as a business wouldn’t be more financially viable to them.
Not only that if the people who run the committee in the complex vote to ban short term lets there is nothing the owners can do it’s what they signed up for. If they don’t agree they can sell it or they can long term let it. To quote yourself, like everything in life, it is a compromise until you can afford to have choices. Aka until they can afford to buy the entire nearly 200 apartments it’s not their choice to make.

Yes I am talking about the UK. Don’t really know Spain’s legislation.

You did mention this though which I think is quite relevant

*itsafan · 04/08/2025 08:07

And if they don’t want to rent them then they will sell them and then supply will outstrip demand and the prices to buy will come down for locals too

This is exactly what the UK government and a lot of people thought when the legislation that BTL landlords could no longer put mortgage interest on their properties against tax .

It was surprising the amount of people who seemed to think that the resulting cost of this legislation would be paid by the Landlords themselves.

Instead some landlords evicted their tenants when their lease was up and turned their place into a holiday let, getting a holiday let mortgage where they could put the interest element of their mortgage against tax

Those that stayed in BTL passed on the cost of this legislation to their tenants when their lease was up + raised the rental cost even further as there were less rentals and more people wanting to rent
If you didn’t pay the new rent then someone else would.

Very few rental properties ever became available to FTBs. Those that were sold more than likely were put into a property auction where FTB’s could buy if they didn’t need a mortgage

Without Airbnbs in a tourist area there won’t be as many tourists so some businesses will fail or not need as many staff and as a consequence some of those local workers living on the beach won’t have jobs

The hotels rooms in the areas will be like the BTL landlords houses. Demand will outstrip supply and hotels will become more expensive but unlike the tenants who need a roof over their head in a particular area for work/schools etc if hotels put their prices up too much the tourists will go elsewhere

What I am trying to say is that whilst you are thinking that goverment and local governments (even in Spain) can do X Y and Z and that means the owners of these properties will do A B and C, the chances are they won’t do as you think and it could end up costing you more or putting you in a worse situation

DrPrunesqualer · 05/08/2025 20:50

itsafan · 05/08/2025 20:38

My original reply that got deleted was to @DH001 not to you @DrPrunesqualerand it got deleted because I swore when I called them out. They told me to just move (like it’s that easy) and replied to where ? And they said Bolton and I replied saying are there jobs for my Spanish speaking partner in Bolton then and then called them a name because that’s what I think of them. I don’t expect any pity from you at all. I don’t mind that my comment got deleted it made me look an idiot like you say so it’s better it did. The good thing is my original comments about over tourism and the devastation it is causing to many communities still stand, if just one person reads them and changes their mind on Airbnb etc then that’s a good thing.
If you read my update you will see that the community I live in and the government are taking some steps to ban short term holiday rentals anyway due to the lack of housing for local people.
I had a moan about things in the heat of the moment after another restless night. A llot of people do this on Mumsnet. I blame the tourists for their awful behaviour sometimes, not for where they have booked to stay because they can’t afford anything else.
The overwhelming majority of comments realise that there is an issue and were helpful and actually re framed my mind into doing something about it.
The thread has probably reached a natural end now. So I won’t keep commenting.
Thank you for your comments and to the people who are going through similar I hope things change for you soon

I’m aware your deleted comment wasn’t to me. That’s why my subsequent post reads as such.

I hope your local authority can find a solution that keeps everyone, locals and businesses etc, happier moving forward

Original poster

itsafan · 05/08/2025 20:38

My original reply that got deleted was to @DH001 not to you @DrPrunesqualerand it got deleted because I swore when I called them out. They told me to just move (like it’s that easy) and replied to where ? And they said Bolton and I replied saying are there jobs for my Spanish speaking partner in Bolton then and then called them a name because that’s what I think of them. I don’t expect any pity from you at all. I don’t mind that my comment got deleted it made me look an idiot like you say so it’s better it did. The good thing is my original comments about over tourism and the devastation it is causing to many communities still stand, if just one person reads them and changes their mind on Airbnb etc then that’s a good thing.
If you read my update you will see that the community I live in and the government are taking some steps to ban short term holiday rentals anyway due to the lack of housing for local people.
I had a moan about things in the heat of the moment after another restless night. A llot of people do this on Mumsnet. I blame the tourists for their awful behaviour sometimes, not for where they have booked to stay because they can’t afford anything else.
The overwhelming majority of comments realise that there is an issue and were helpful and actually re framed my mind into doing something about it.
The thread has probably reached a natural end now. So I won’t keep commenting.
Thank you for your comments and to the people who are going through similar I hope things change for you soon

OP posts:

schnubbins · 05/08/2025 20:23

Maybe you should make the Airbnb guests stay a little unpleasant.There are plenty ways to do that .just copy what they do .

DrPrunesqualer · 05/08/2025 20:08

itsafan · 05/08/2025 17:26

@DrPrunesqualer @DH001 has been goady on the discussion they are not adding anything to it. Telling me to move my family to another country is not very helpful is it ? They wanted a reaction and they got one.

I didn’t tell you to move

I simply pointed out you can’t blame tourists. You do seem a bit obsessed with blaming them. Challenge your local authority, that’s who’s to blame.

Think you don’t like people not agreeing with every word you say. It’s called democracy.
My comments have been constructive. Apologies I didn’t swoon all over you with pity….

Think you’re not happy getting deleted.

That’s on you really

Original poster

itsafan · 05/08/2025 17:26

@DrPrunesqualer @DH001 has been goady on the discussion they are not adding anything to it. Telling me to move my family to another country is not very helpful is it ? They wanted a reaction and they got one.

OP posts:

Winter2020 · 05/08/2025 17:25

Cinaferna · 31/07/2025 23:31

Please don't let ignorance feed your prejudice. A hotel near us was used to house refugees. The staff were laid off which is not good for local employment, I agree, but that's not the refugees' fault. But there was no food on offer and they couldn't cook in their rooms, obviously, so they often went hungry as they had very little money and couldn't afford to eat out. No one was cleaning the place and they had no access to cleaning products. The people housed there were very young men, often in their teens, who had been through absolute hell, losing loved ones - parents, brothers, cousins murdered by armed militia. Then travelling thousands of miles frightened, starving cold and alone. Imagine your own son doing that in his mid teens, knowing you or his beloved grandparents had been murdered by thugs, the family home torched to the ground.
Please find some compassion before you make comments like this.

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What happened to the mothers, daughters and grans in your story? Did they leave them behind on the scorched earth?

DrPrunesqualer · 05/08/2025 15:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Why the personal attack on a poster. It’s very demeaning and adds no weight to your discussion

itsafan · 05/08/2025 08:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

itsafan · 05/08/2025 08:26

@DH001 Like the tourists who can’t afford a hotel ?

OP posts:

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 23:14

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 20:16

Correct, but that says nothing about tourists expectations to pay the prices that were around 20 years. They complain about it daily on most social media and off it.

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I’m really at a loss as to understand the point of these posts
Who cares that tourists are complaining about the cost. They can complain all they like, we are a democracy.
You’re complaining and blaming tourists. You have that right, we are a democracy.
Meanwhile the world moves on run by Governments

DH001 · 04/08/2025 22:47

yes you do... good places go bad and bad places go bust. If the OP now doesn't like where she lives, she can move. And get another job. The woman clearly has a sense of entitlement that exceeds her budget.

DH001 · 04/08/2025 22:42

Bolton

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 20:16

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 19:57

That’s the governments problem. central and Regional
As I said.

Although it’s not their fault the cost of hotels is high. That’s a supply and demand issue essentially

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Correct, but that says nothing about tourists expectations to pay the prices that were around 20 years. They complain about it daily on most social media and off it.

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 19:57

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 18:33

Since everyone complains about the cost of hotels, which has gone up to european levels, I dont see how. The government does need to bring in stricter controls , but most autonomous regions (the majority of which are controlled by the opposition) who have the legal responsibility to operate and finance them refuse to cooperate as they are idealogically opposed to "controls" and dont give a damn about working people if it is going to hurt their pockets.

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That’s the governments problem. central and Regional
As I said.

Although it’s not their fault the cost of hotels is high. That’s a supply and demand issue essentially

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 18:33

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 16:11

Again this is a Government issue. As I said. It is up to each country to control their housing stock and how it is used.

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Since everyone complains about the cost of hotels, which has gone up to european levels, I dont see how. The government does need to bring in stricter controls , but most autonomous regions (the majority of which are controlled by the opposition) who have the legal responsibility to operate and finance them refuse to cooperate as they are idealogically opposed to "controls" and dont give a damn about working people if it is going to hurt their pockets.

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 16:11

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 15:14

What is a problem is that everyone has the expectation that they have a right to cheap holidays in Spain. Spain used to be a very poor country and stuff for tourists was cheap compared to their own countries. Times have changed. Spain is now a modern democracy (with its faults). People need decent wages. Their food and lodging is no longer "given away" . It's no longer a third world country. Of course its more expensive. So is France and Italy, to name but two. Allowing every mother and their son, not to mention businesses, rent out private dwellings for tourist profit (often not declared) is not the answer.

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Again this is a Government issue. As I said. It is up to each country to control their housing stock and how it is used.

Goldenbear · 04/08/2025 15:52

FairKoala · 04/08/2025 08:55

If the local council are already charging an inflated council tax to people who choose to let out their houses for holiday lets.
This could back fire spectacularly on the council if they start bringing in different restrictions
The owner could decide to register the property as a business then they become liable for business rates and not the inflated council tax and depending on the type and size of property this could be reduced by 50% or even to £0
In order to qualify as a business then the place would more than likely be rented out for holiday lets more days per year not less.

I think the decision making in councils and in governments is based on what they “think”people want, what they think will get them re elected. They impose penalties thinking that those the people these penalties are directed at will just pay and do as they are told because that is what the council/government wants.

Councils and governments don’t take account of tax or mortgage implications. They don’t put themselves in the shoes of someone who is facing these penalties and look to see if there are solutions and what those solutions could mean for the council/government budget or the long term implications for the general public

I would question if councils have the power to demand who an owner of a property can rent to, would these beach dwellers be considered locals given they haven’t an address in the town, don’t pay council tax and aren’t on the electoral role

Even if the property is rented to a local family, the mortgage restrictions would mean they would need to have well paying jobs to be able to pass the owners btl mortgage restrictions

Edited

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You may question whether councils have the power but in this country, MPs can lobby the government on behalf of the concerns raised by their constituents and the councils and call for the law to be changed. In fact, that has been done where I live and it seems elsewhere in the country as a bill is being debated in parliament to address this problem; if the bill becomes law, it would license and regulate the sector as the current free-for-all leaves a £6 billion tax shortfall. These are the issues that the government needs to address if they want to see wealth inequality reduced.

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 15:14

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 13:07

Tourists are using a facility provided to them.
It’s the lack of Government clamp downs on numbers that’s the issue. If it was more regulated there would be less
So. No. I don’t blame the tourists

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What is a problem is that everyone has the expectation that they have a right to cheap holidays in Spain. Spain used to be a very poor country and stuff for tourists was cheap compared to their own countries. Times have changed. Spain is now a modern democracy (with its faults). People need decent wages. Their food and lodging is no longer "given away" . It's no longer a third world country. Of course its more expensive. So is France and Italy, to name but two. Allowing every mother and their son, not to mention businesses, rent out private dwellings for tourist profit (often not declared) is not the answer.

DrPrunesqualer · 04/08/2025 13:07

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:22

If you dont think tourism is a problem, you clearly dont live anywhere where there is a lot of it. Tourism, Airbnb style, does not bring in vast amounts of revenue. Firstly because half those rentals (or more in some areas) are tourist lets and sadly attract "cheap" tourism which doesnt spend much in the area. They dont eat out much and only use the big multinacional supermarkets. Secondly a large number are notlicensed and so no tax revenue comes in. Thirdly local people can no longer afford to live in the place they come from and work in, so we have serious staff shortages, including teaching and medical staff. Quite apart from that, tourism brings brings noise and insecurity in the buildings they use.

Thankfully the new laws allow Communities to ban new tourist flats if 3/5ths dont want them. Hopefully our own building will vote to forbid them.
If there were designated areas where they were permitted, it would help, but there is little political desire at local and national level to implement restrictions.
It's a mess.

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Tourists are using a facility provided to them.
It’s the lack of Government clamp downs on numbers that’s the issue. If it was more regulated there would be less
So. No. I don’t blame the tourists

ICareNothingForYourCameras · 04/08/2025 12:02

Aparthotels exist but they are usually smaller and cost more than a normal flat on Airbnb etc so families looking for self catering would generally go for the cheaper option with more space (eg 2 bedrooms on Airbnb rather than 1bedroom and a sofabed in an aparthotel)

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:47

Tatty247 · 31/07/2025 19:21

We love staying in Airbnb's, there are so many great options and we always get somewhere with a kitchen. We are always very respectful. At the same time I 100% think they should be banned/much more strictly controlled in many cities and islands as they take housing away from locals. I wouldn't blame governments at all for doing that despite the fact that I love using them.

I do think though that living in a flat is often difficult whether the neighbours are Airbnbers or people there full time. I have had many bad experiences of flats without airbnbers, including people up at 5:30 being noisy getting ready for work, bottle bins being emptied vey early and smoking in the bathroom and all the smoke coming into our bathroom through the vent.

Edited

Whatever happened to aparthotels where you rent in a dedicated building with kitchen and living facilities? They are the solution in many areas

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:44

Athreedoorwardrobe · 31/07/2025 18:57

You see i don't agree at all. Airbnb started out as a small enterprise to let people make some extra cash by renting out spare rooms to holiday makers..
The issues with people trying to run whole businesses via that platform are caused by local government not regulating the use of buildings well enough.
As I said before airbnb is one of many ways this issue occurs. If it wasn't airbnb it would be something else. It's slum landlording but just via a modern platform. The government needs to crack down on it but it's not a popular move amongst the upper classes is it? Let's be honest this is how a lot of money is made
You can point the finger at airbnb but it's just a smokescreen
The real issue is that it's legal to buy up multiple properties that you have no intention of living in.. no one individual or company should own entire streets of housing. Yet in some places they do!!
Rent control is also important. Zoning.
We need to put more pressure on government to implement these things.

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Airbnb has changed since it's inception. It is now big business owned by a multinacional which only cares about the bottom line. Companies buy up whole blocks and Chuck out the tenants to turn them into Airbnbs. Private individuals are now buying up properties to rent out to tourists instead of residents as it is profitable and that includes people from outside the country who are speculating with local properties. Airbnb does have responsibility to ensurecthat only legal tourist rental are included on their platform, but have ignored it for years. They also make money from it, so yes they have to take responsibility.

The good news is that Airbnb have just had to remove 65,000 listings as they are not licensed. The other good news is that all tourist and temporary rentals will have to be registered on a national register so that should stop some abuses. The bad news is that noone wants the money spent to increase the number of inspectors to enforce the law, so it's going to be slow.