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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Air Bnb has ruined my life

336 replies

itsafan · 31/07/2025 16:57

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 ?

OP posts:
AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:22

DrPrunesqualer · 31/07/2025 18:27

We hate hotels. We prefer cooking facilities etc and for families it’s more affordable

Never stayed in an Airbnb though

Really it seems your issue is tourists. Tourism brings a lot of money into the economy
People moved into investing in rentals etc because private pensions are unpredictable and if there’s a crash you lost it completely
If pensions were backed up by the tax payer like Govn pensions are perhaps we’d all feel more secure in our future

I agree having empty properties for most of the year is creating a lot of problems and shouldn’t be allowed though
I don’t agree that tourists are the problem

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.

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:08

Mirabai · 31/07/2025 18:12

I do understand the Airbnb problem. But there’s a lot of regulation now in Europe.

And tourist noise & behaviour and sky high rents in summer, & buildings dominated by holiday lets was always an issue in holiday areas long before Airbnb.That’s the price to be paid for living in a tourist zone. Just ask people in Cornwall or Cote D’Azure etc.

Edited

When you work in a tourist area, you dont have the choice to live in any old place where rents are cheaper. Then people wonder why they cant get staff. Our teachers cant find places to live, nor our doctors. And forget low paid staff for the hospitality industry.

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 11:03

Nichebitch · 31/07/2025 18:09

I’m Spanish and in my city is virtually impossible to get an Airbnb license - specially in flats. This is the rule now, I’m pretty sure it’s going to get to your city sooner rather than later

I'm afraid you are being overly optimistic. Although renters and residents are complaining bitterly, most town halls are ignoring the issue, including the hugh amount of non registered illegal rentals. I live in a costal village and our town hall just couldn't care less. If they wanted to they could clamp down, but they have a very short term outlook and worship at the altar of tourism. By the time they wake up and realise that noone can get staff because of the lack of housing, it will be too late.

AngelRoja · 04/08/2025 10:47

DH001 · 03/08/2025 20:03

what a drama queen... just move girl

I think you get an award for the dumbest comment on this thread. If you have a job, you dont just move to another place and become unemployed.

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
FairKoala · 04/08/2025 08:55

itsafan · 04/08/2025 07:34

@FairKoala they won’t be allowed to turn them into 52 week a year holiday lets. They will have to either live in them or rent them out for a fair price to local residents full time so that they are occupied.

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

Original poster
itsafan · 04/08/2025 08:37

@EdisinBurgh Thank you 🥰 you are explaining this far better than I am.

OP posts:
EdisinBurgh · 04/08/2025 08:29

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

Show quote history

@FairKoala ”Those people living on the beach” are the people who live work in and run the holiday destinations you are pricing them out of.

Are you really comfortable renting AirBnB apartments for your holiday which consequently forces the priced-out locals to live in tents on the hot beach - just to serve you on your hols, while their town becomes an empty shell of holiday lets or at best an ageing greying population.

It seems that’s what you’re advocating for - and it’s the locals’ own fault for choosing to stay in their home town in the first place.

No compassion at all, let alone recognition that you’re part of the problem.

Original poster
itsafan · 04/08/2025 08:09

@FairKoalayour compassion for the homeless honestly astounds me.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsafan · 04/08/2025 08:07

@FairKoala 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.
As for the businesses some of them have been here from the 70’s they aren’t relying on tourism to stay open they are supported by local people. They did very well in covid when tourists could not come. Some of the big chain places that have opened in light of the boom will unfortunately probably shut because locals can’t afford their prices.
Lots of the local people simply do not visit businesses during the summer months anyway because of the lack of parking, crowds and a lot of the time drunken behaviour. I think the multi billionaire companies will probably see a gap in the market and build more hotels to be honest.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsafan · 04/08/2025 07:34

@FairKoala they won’t be allowed to turn them into 52 week a year holiday lets. They will have to either live in them or rent them out for a fair price to local residents full time so that they are occupied.

OP posts:
FairKoala · 04/08/2025 01:13

itsafan · 03/08/2025 09:33

Not talking about me here because I am way more fortunate than some people in the area.
But why do some of you think your need for a holiday is more important than their need for housing ?
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.
I don’t blame the individual holiday maker for this situation but to be totally oblivious to the impact it has is astounding.
On the whole it’s the government and the multi billionaire companies that are to blame.

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

samthepigeon · 03/08/2025 23:24

RubieChewsDay · 03/08/2025 22:40

I'm rolling my eyes at those saying they can only stay in AirBnBs because they want self catering and a washing machine. I've stayed in plenty of serviced apartment type hotels where there is a kitchen, washing machine etc. They also come with added bonus of them not annoying people just living their lives or pushing up people out of the neighbourhoods they've always lived in just so you can have a cheap holiday. Despite your protests about how quiet and considerate you are, you are a massive part of the problem.

I am interested to know if these apartments are available in the UK please.

RubieChewsDay · 03/08/2025 22:47

Glad you have a mostly positive update @itsafan

I wouldn't worry about triggering people with your use of airbnb, those that object are only doing so to divert their minds from having to consider that their actions can have negative consequences for other people.

RubieChewsDay · 03/08/2025 22:40

I'm rolling my eyes at those saying they can only stay in AirBnBs because they want self catering and a washing machine. I've stayed in plenty of serviced apartment type hotels where there is a kitchen, washing machine etc. They also come with added bonus of them not annoying people just living their lives or pushing up people out of the neighbourhoods they've always lived in just so you can have a cheap holiday. Despite your protests about how quiet and considerate you are, you are a massive part of the problem.

Original poster
itsafan · 03/08/2025 22:27

Just a little update for the people who gave me advice when I was venting and feeling a bit down (thank you so much 🥰) I should have said over tourism instead of airbnb as that has been a little triggering for some people. The sign in the hallway has worked a little bit and the noise has been a little better today.
I also have spoken to a lovely lady who I know in passing, we always exchange a friendly hello but haven’t really had a good chat before. She also feels the same with regards to the noise (the tourists next to her were having a party last night playing loud music). She also mentioned the lack of parking and congestion on the roads. There is a huge problem that the infrastructure in the area as a whole.
She has lived here for 68 years 😱 not in this complex but in this town. She said it never used to be like this and that the tourists used to mainly go to the hotels there are 5 or 6 large ones here. She said it’s got worse year on year.
Anyway the good news is she is involved in a small part with the committee. She said it has been spoken about and the plans are to eventually remove all tourist licenses if they can get that passed through (it could take years obviously). She said there are 168 apartments and only 40 odd have someone living in them permanently. She said most of the ones used for holiday lets are owned by foreign investors and the government are hoping to put higher taxes on these people. There are also many more planned demonstrations against mass tourism planned in the next few weeks.
So all in all a positive day I think.
Most people on this thread seem incredibly educated on over tourism (more so than me in fact) and I thank you so much for your support and advice. To the odd couple of people who you are always going to get when you write something like this (probably the same people who are incredibly disrespectful to the locals when they go on holiday) who have said I’m creating drama or just move. Do you realise you can’t just wake up one morning and go “oh I know let’s move house today, no don’t worry about your job we are going”. Not only the lack of housing but also the actual logistics and cost involved in that ?. I admit it made me angry but that is probably what you wanted. I think on the whole from what I have observed mumsnet is a kind place, you just get the odd couple of people who like to stir things up for a response it’s such a strange way to live your life.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsafan · 03/08/2025 21:51

@DH001 Where to moron ?

OP posts:
DH001 · 03/08/2025 20:03

what a drama queen... just move girl

AngelRoja · 03/08/2025 16:21

joliefolle · 31/07/2025 17:29

@itsafan This is absolutely shit for you but if you are saying you really have no right to prevent it and you've been there for years, the only way to deal with this is to see it as an opportunity to try something different, a change is often daunting at first but is good for us. Your health and peace of mind is more important, for you and your daughter. How old is she? Is a totally new school and area a possibility? If not, what are your other options?

It's a major problem for most people living in popular tourist cities and costal regions in Spain. There is the legal optio for town halls and autonomous comunities to declare areas as "high tensioned" and bring in strict controls of tourist lets, but the vast majority are not interested in implementing it. Recently the government have introduce a law required ALL tourist and temporary lets to be included in a national register and the tourist ones have to have a licence. Airbnb has recently had to take down 65,000 listing because they had no licence but that leaves all the non licensed ones on facebook and all the other platforms, adverts in other countries and classified ads .
Now, for new tourist rents, there has to be the agreement of 3/5ths of the owners to be able to get a licence, but the existing ones are still there.

The biggest problem is the woeful lack of inspectors to sort out the legal lets from the illegal ones. My costal village has easily half the rentals dedicated to holiday lets and there are nothing like that number of licenses. The legal ones have much more work and pay taxes, but the rest is just easy money.
My answer is strict controls and taxes which would reduce the number considerably, but it's not a popular opinion as everyone seems to want to jump on the bandwagon.

Complain to individuals owners if you can. You have all my sypathy. What started out to enable people to stay in a room in a private home as a comunity project has been taken over by the professionals and it has wrecked a good idea. Best of luck

Letskeepcalm · 03/08/2025 16:07

auderesperare · 02/08/2025 12:18

I’m so sorry to hear this, OP. It sounds hellish. I’m sorry you need medication to cope with the stress.
In no way do I mean to be patronising but I wonder if a slight shift in thinking might help.
Firstly, I agree you should do everything you can to ameliorate your position. Complain to the council. Put an emotive and heartfelt message in the communal hall explaining what you are going through. Write to Air B&B. There must be others going through the same thing so team up with them, join a FB group, lobby. At least you will have ongoing support. Try to get the landlords of the other apartments to sound proof the communal hall or add different flooring. They may be up for this if the alternative is endless complaints to the council. Complain to Air B&B every single time the disruption is too great. Document everything. In time there may be legislation or a government enquiry you can feed into.
Regarding the mind-shift. You clearly live in a beautiful part of the world. The climate is good. One that attracts lots of tourists. It probably feels spoiled for you now but can you recover anything of the joy in the place you must originally have felt? Can you get into nature from where you are? Is there an outside space you can carve out for yourself (even a public park or beach) where you can go when you are overwhelmed by the apartment? Remember that in a wet or cold part of the world this would be more difficult.
You say that things are bearable for nine months. I’d start with that. Many many people have terrible neighbours. They can’t get away from them ever. Outside of the peak season, it sounds like life is better for you. You could move only to discover you have terrible new neighbours and they are permanent.
Accept that a degree of noise comes with living in an apartment block. This is inevitable whoever your neighbours are. Do everything you can to use carpets and textiles to soundproof your home. Use noise cancelling headphones or play your own music to distract from the noise. Do everything you can to relax and learn relaxation techniques.
Trade offs- can you find something you do for yourself which is a treat which you can only do in your home town? Take an early morning dip, walk along the beach at sunrise, a special coffee or breakfast in your favourite cafe. Something that brings joy and allows you to associate the place with happiness?
You sound like you feel trapped and hopeless. What can you do to improve your lot? Can you do anything to earn more money? Can you take your holidays when the absolute peak of the season is on, so that you get some respite in the middle. Can you house swap with someone who is in a quieter area but who would enjoy your home in peak season. Can you offer to house sit, pet sit or plant sit somewhere quieter but still within travelling distance to work, during peak season?
You always have options, OP, even if they are not immediately obvious. I live in Scotland where new legislation makes it v difficult for people to rent out their homes. This is mainly in response to the situation in Edinburgh. In the Highlands, where I live, many crofters have a B&B or a yurt in the garden to try and supplement a meagre living. Many are no longer able to afford to do this because the new listening laws make it impractical and unaffordable so fragile communities which rely on tourism, are struggling to survive.
Good luck. I hope you find some peace.

What a wonderful response. Wish you were my mate 😊

YB1985 · 03/08/2025 13:58

I didnt say it was all in your head.i mean theres clearly more going on here that you maybe need to sort out too

EdisinBurgh · 03/08/2025 13:07

Holiday accommodation needs a massive reset

It’s not possible for everyone who wants to to stay in apartments and houses in their holiday location of choice. There simply isn’t capacity. It doesn’t add up.

AirBnB has created a false impression that it is possible by playing around with markets and allowing anyone to be a landlord. But the fall out shows it’s not sustainable.

The answer is AirBnB to go and a substantive percentage of tourists who use them to be obliged to use other accommodation namely campsites and hotels. Or to take fewer holidays. It’s tough but it’s only way if these beloved holiday destinations are not to become hollow ghost towns in future.

Original poster
itsafan · 03/08/2025 12:55

And yes it does bring up other “issues”. Such as my daughter’s schooling at an important time. And my elderly mother in laws failing health, who should we leave wouldn’t have our support. So it’s a lot to think and worry about. However I am by no means ready for being taking to a mental hospital just yet 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
itsafan · 03/08/2025 12:50

@YB1985 Well you are being mean aren’t you by insinuating it’s all in my head. Why does the city matter ? And I’ve explained why we won’t speak to the landlord there isn’t another long lease property for us to move to for miles around, because they are all for tourists. The landlord could easily ask us to leave and quadruple their rent.
These people are not my neighbors btw they are here for a week gone and then rinse and repeat.
im not even sure why you felt the need to comment and please elaborate on my other issues ?

OP posts:
YB1985 · 03/08/2025 10:58

I dont mean to come across mean in anyway but you maybe need to get out your head a bit?
the constant noise sounds annoying but the fact ur too scared to speak to your land lord (who clearly is fine with you staying there long term) and mentioning what city youre in gives you anxiety?

I think you maybe have more issues than just noisey neighbours?