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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To advise anyone not to move next to an AIR BNB

120 replies

Beggingforsilence · 27/06/2021 19:49

NC as don't want linked to my other posts.

I think IABU, I don't know. I recently moved into a beautiful old house in a coastal location rented. I've been here about eight months. It's lovely and spacious, and is close to my work and has fields behind it to walk my dog- the issue is the air bnb next door.

I wasn't aware when I moved in that next door (adjoining) was an air bnb, estate agent even said a nice lady lived there. Turns out yes, it's an air bnb and a popular one as we live 10 minutes from a large town, and 20 minutes from a big city one side and another 10min to the coast.

The issue is that every day the noise from the air bnb is unbearable. The owner has redecorated and the property has a bar with snooker table, sound system etc- also a large garden with bbq and hot tub. It looks lovely from the photos on air bnb. The issue is that every night including weeknights until 2/3am, there's hottub laughter, and music and bbq's and in the day time as well.

I wouldn't mind if this was just a neighbour, as would expect them to be at work in the week, so only use it during the evening or maybe on weekends, but as this is a holiday home and those using are on their holidays, it's every single day and night with no let up.

I'm a young-ish person 32F, so I usually put my headphones in or watch TV a little louder or go out, but it's becoming completely unavoidable now and I never really know whose going to turn up :( . A few nights ago, I was getting into my front door and a few guys at the air bnb were outside and they were making jeers and being leary drunk. I just locked my door and went up to bed but was a bit weary.

Sometimes it's partiers, other times it families or single couples. I did message my neighbour, who owns the property and lives 200 miles away and she said that everyone is vetted by air bnb, there's house rules etc but I doubt she'll give up the air bnb as it's currently on the site for 220 a night, so for a week over a 1000 pound.

I'm going to have to move aren't i? I feel so much guilt as these people are on holiday and trying to enjoy themselves and have paid a lot of money, at the same time- I can't really enjoy my house which I also pay a lot for even though it's everything I've always wanted. It accepts my dog, and has great space. I just feel so gutted.

I did have an important exam last week, and opened the window at 4am to ask one group to keep it down as I needed sleep, and they just laughed. I guess they're not bothered as once they check out they don't have to see me again?

Not sure, what I want from this just wanted to vent :(

OP posts:

RandomMess · 27/06/2021 20:48

I'd be asking the landlord for reduced rent as you were misinformed about the neighbouring property! You wouldn't have taken it on if they had been honest that it was an unattended airB&B

Timeandtune · 27/06/2021 20:51

A friend of mine was forced to sell up and move after over 20 years in her flat. Of 8 properties in the building 6 were given over to Air B’nB. All had absentee landlords One weekend she counted 28 people leaving a flat that supposedly slept 6.

pasturesgreen · 27/06/2021 20:53

Move as soon as you can. It won't get better.

ohwhattodowithmylife · 27/06/2021 20:54

Problem is for people saying she should give her notice and move is that it's not that easy.
I live in a seaside village and it took me 4 months to find a rental property. I'm the rental market is just non existent

osbertthesyrianhamster · 27/06/2021 20:55

@Timeandtune

Very common in many cities. A lot of Edinburgh has been ruined by this as so much of the housing stock is tenements and other attached properties.

memberofthewedding · 27/06/2021 20:57

Make sure HMRC are aware that the owner has a rental business! She may not be declaring it.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 27/06/2021 20:57

@ohwhattodowithmylife

Problem is for people saying she should give her notice and move is that it's not that easy. I live in a seaside village and it took me 4 months to find a rental property. I'm the rental market is just non existent

She could probably rent another bloody AirB&B until finding another one.

OrangeSamphire · 27/06/2021 20:58

Sounds awful OP.

Airbnb is a scourge on communities. Really needs reigning in.

The cottage next to ours is a second home, mostly unoccupied through the year. It’s just been sold to an investor from London.

We really wanted to buy it to knock through from ours but prices have gone up so much here since covid it would have been financially a stupid decision.

God only knows what he will do with it. Airbnb it probably.

Summertime21 · 27/06/2021 21:00

We had this, I reported to owner every time so did other neighbors. After a bad summer a few years back he sold up I was so pleased

Sadsiblingatsea · 27/06/2021 21:00

Can you complain to your landlord and maybe he can take it up too.
He will have trouble finding tenants once people realise they have to live next door to that.

spongedog · 27/06/2021 21:02

@memberofthewedding

Make sure HMRC are aware that the owner has a rental business! She may not be declaring it.

This is an excellent suggestion. Keep filing complaints this way.

I think HMRC have more powers than anyone!

JemimaTab · 27/06/2021 21:03

@AintPageantMaterial

We have a long term plan/dream to move to a zone 1 London flat and this has been preoccupying me. The chances of there being a flat (or some flats) in any block which is occupied by a succession of hen/stag parties and holidaymakers must be quite high and there is no reason why any of them would care about neighbouring occupiers. I did know whether there are blocks with covenants that might cover this but, if there aren’t, I think we’re going to need a new plan. You have described my nightmare OP and I think you are right that there’s is no solution except relocation.

I just wanted to pick this up as you refer to London zone 1. Actually some of the London councils have pretty strict rules about AirBnB etc. (including Westminster Council which covers a big chunk of zone 1). I live in central London in a mansion block of 120 flats and the leasehold to my block outright bans AirBnB type letting. (In practical terms, any suspected breaches can be reported to the management company to the block, who will take the necessary action). Also, we are allowed to rent to residential tenants but no sub-letting is allowed. I think that’s now quite common for larger London blocks. So I wouldn’t despair, just make sure you check the terms of the lease, plus local council restrictions, as and when you are looking for a flat.

On the wider issue of noise, if the owner is being useless, it is probably best to go to the council. If it’s at anti-social levels, the police may come out (I know they’ve come out to loud parties in my road before now, including pre-Covid).

StrongArm · 27/06/2021 21:03

I would raise it with the neighbour, your council and also with your landlord. The landlord will be interested because if there is a dispute with your neighbour, it will impact the property if it goes on the market. The council can be surprisingly responsive about late night noise.

Not that we would ever make a noise at that time, but if we've ever stayed in an air bnb in a residential area, it's been made v clear that noise can't be made after a certain time.

Poor you though :( and with school holidays still to begin (. Maybe it will be quieter once summer has gone?

frumpety · 27/06/2021 21:05

He will have trouble finding tenants once people realise they have to live next door to that

They might also have trouble selling it if there are lots of neighbour dispute issues, and if OP is contacting the council on a regular basis, there will be a record of that.

fruitbrewhaha · 27/06/2021 21:10

We have a long term plan/dream to move to a zone 1 London flat and this has been preoccupying me.

AirBnb is the least of your worries, Zone 1 is noisy. Traffic at all hours, people wondering around, deliveries to businesses happen very early, delivery bikes zipping around, bars, restaurants etc. Don't move to Zone 1 unless you can cope with the hubbub.

Heyyeahyouwiththesadface · 27/06/2021 21:17

Are you not tempted to leave for work and leave a stereo blasting to ruin their lie in being as they kept you awake so late?

Maybe if enough Airbnb guest leave bad reviews about the neighbours they will stop getting bookings & rent it out long term.

Davros · 27/06/2021 21:19

I thought Airbnb had a limitation on how many nights a year are allowed for rental, or maybe that depends on the council. If you find out and count up how many nights it's rented, it sounds like it would be more than allowed.
I'm not convinced that all of Zone 1 is noisy all night. Some parts of London are surprisingly quiet

SmallPrawnEnergy · 27/06/2021 21:20

I do think more councils need to rule that airbnb or these temporary lets are classed as change of use so from residential to whatever hotels fall under, the same as if you were to buy a house a try and turn it into a shop, it should have to go through whatever planning permission it needs. The right to enjoy your home should trump greed.

waterrat · 27/06/2021 21:23

You are being too nice op. Complain every single time you are disturbed with loud noise ie. After midnight on week nights. Complain direct to Airbnb and tell your neighbour you are going to continue to Complain until they change their listing. Many Airbnb properties do not allow people to visit and have parties.

headintheproverbial · 27/06/2021 21:24

You know YANBU.

You have to up the ante on the complaints. I've stayed in numerous air bnb properties and some have WAY stricter rules than others. You'll have to incentivise the owner to take it seriously!

waterrat · 27/06/2021 21:24

My mum lives in zone 1 it's silent at night !

JemimaTab · 27/06/2021 21:27

I agree about zone 1 too. It really depends where you are. If you’re on Edgware Rd or in the middle of Soho it’s going to be noisy, but if you get off the main roads lots of it is surprising quiet.

Thewinterofdiscontent · 27/06/2021 21:28

It’s exactly why Barcelona bought in tough rules on tourist rentals. It was massively detrimental to the residents.

I also think the “ housing shortage” needs to be be looked at in relation to the rental market. So many houses are effectively businesses rather then homes.

Tistheseason17 · 27/06/2021 21:29

@Heyyeahyouwiththesadface

Are you not tempted to leave for work and leave a stereo blasting to ruin their lie in being as they kept you awake so late?

Maybe if enough Airbnb guest leave bad reviews about the neighbours they will stop getting bookings & rent it out long term.

Exactly this 👏 Make the Air BNB unrentable.

Titterofwit · 27/06/2021 21:36

Is neighbour noise only a problem in the UK? I would be interested to know what happens in other countries.
I only know that when we stayed in small cabins on a greek island any noise after 11pm I think was complained about by the neighbours immediately.Just sitting on the balcony chatting and laughing loudly was enough and I heard that properly annoying noises like music and high jinks brought the police along with their own way of dealing with nuisances.

Here it seems you have to put up with noise of all sorts for months on end just to get an acknowledgement from the council.
Well, thats what it is in this area ( west midlands)anyway.

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