Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think AirBNBs ruin streets

101 replies

Greyrootszerohoots · 16/08/2021 19:35

We live in a quiet cul de sac, elderly couples and a few young families mainly.

One house that was an empty second home for 5+ years - never met owners - has become an Airbnb this year. Crazy prices and large groups of new holidayers (3/4 cars) coming and going every couple of days.

I realise it’s a first world problem and I actually have far serious things to worry about, but it’s really changed the whole dynamic of a very neighbourly and quiet street and I sort of feel like it takes a shitty person to cash in at the expense of the other households.

Has anyone else experienced this?

OP posts:
Lockheart · 16/08/2021 22:49

@paepoyrol

I think there should be much higher taxes on additional homes but the population won't vote for that.
Not just the general population, our Parliament is stuffed to the gills with properties developers, landlords and second home owners.
Lockheart · 16/08/2021 22:49

*property

KilledByWitches · 16/08/2021 22:50

Are you my neighbour?
Exactly the same situation, only outside of holiday season they let to contractors who usually bring home whatever digger they have on a trailer etc. Vans and equipment are all over the street, they have churned up verges, even destroyed a neighbours Christmas tree by running over the verges.
The nearest neighbour is selling up. Most nights through summer they have BBQS with music going etc. Explaining their holiday is her life falls on deaf ears. Owners don't seem slightly interested.

Not even sure it's licensed as the council don't seem to want to answer the question.

paepoyrol · 16/08/2021 22:52

@Lockheart yep & those that don't have additional properties aspire to it so won't vote for penalties.

romdowa · 17/08/2021 06:02

They've massively inflated the rental market. More than 75% of the vacant properties in my tourist town are now air bnb or some other type of holiday let. Nobody can afford to rent here any more and businesses wonder why they can't find anyone to work for them. The local people have left!!

newnortherner111 · 17/08/2021 06:58

Less homes for rent or to buy, impact on the housing market, and I suspect a lot of tax dodging. Don't blame those who take advantage but the laws on short term lets should be changed. Wouldn't be too difficult to do in a reasonably simple way.

Fizbosshoes · 17/08/2021 07:26

It's tricky. I can understand that it may be difficult to live near a holiday let, but at the same time I use (or used, pre Covid) holiday lets a lot.

I don't like hotels so if we're travelling I look for cottages or apartments - which undoubtedly have neighbours. So it would be hypocritical of me to object to one in my street!

I've used air bnb a couple of times in the last 3 months staying for 2-4 days at a time because we live pretty far from the sea and wanted to take the kids away.
I dont know what the answer is - I see, and read on here about the impact on towns with a high number of second homes or holiday rentals. The lack of community and services available for the small number of permanent residents , low paid jobs mean they can afford to compete in the housing market...but unsure how it can be stopped or regulated? And is there a degree of tourism that is beneficial for a town?

With regard to parking though, for us we take one car (family of 4) and park considerably in the space provided...and go out and come back at various times of day . (We would normally be back by early eve) How does that differ from someone living in a house (and using their car) and why does it cause parking problems?

Dongdingdong · 17/08/2021 07:34

They ruin communities. There's a massive housing shortage where I live and a LOT of Air B&Bs.

This.

EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 17/08/2021 07:55

With regard to parking though, for us we take one car (family of 4) and park considerably in the space provided...and go out and come back at various times of day . (We would normally be back by early eve) How does that differ from someone living in a house (and using their car) and why does it cause parking problems?

I’d guess it’s more groups of adults who bring multiple cars / park less considerately?

PomegranateQueen · 17/08/2021 08:06

They ruin communities. There's a massive housing shortage where I live and a LOT of Air B&Bs.

Something needs to be done to put a stop on this, people shouldn't have recreational second homes or holiday rentals before local people have a first home.

SirSamuelVimes · 17/08/2021 08:13

There was a study showing the impact of air BnB lettings on crime rates. It's not good.

It's a long term impact, so its not that the people renting the air bnbs are directly causing or committing crime, but that over time the community cohesion of the area is destroyed and that then pushes up crime.

When air BnB started up I thought it was a great idea. I think for the first couple of years it probably was. But now it's too big and it's a disaster for locals. I will never stay in one.

Buttons294749 · 17/08/2021 08:21

Short term lets are banned in my leasehold contract (london). Someone let out anyway and there was an awful and destructive party. I wouldn't mind having weekly renters (I don't think!) But nightly definitely not

paepoyrol · 17/08/2021 08:23

Something needs to be done to put a stop on this, people shouldn't have recreational second homes or holiday rentals before local people have a first home.

How would that work in London?

Saidtoomuch · 17/08/2021 08:28

I'm probably part of the problem as I always holiday in the UK and we always use self catering cottages. I can't see how going on holiday to a tower block in Spain is more responsible? I don't want to camp or go to a British holiday park, so can't really see an alternative.

KittenKong · 17/08/2021 08:28

Pushing up rents. People can rent in our block for one night the price of two weeks long term rental.

tootingbeclido · 17/08/2021 08:42

The housing situation in the uk country is just totally fucked up and there seems little political will

tootingbeclido · 17/08/2021 08:42

to change it

Hardbackwriter · 17/08/2021 08:48

But by hiring an airbnb you're part of the problem. You may not like it, but you're fuelling the demand.

We need our houses to be homes, not second homes or holiday lets or investments to be left empty.

If you don't have long term or permanent residents then not only do you lose communities but also services that are essential - doctors, schools, hospitals, shops (tourist shops not included) etc.

Mass tourism destroys the destinations people claim to love and turns them into hollowed out theme parks with a mono-economy on which towns become entirely dependent.

We need to holiday in a much more sustainable way, even in our own country.

...and what is that? Are you saying there should just be no self-catering holidays?

crossstitchingnana · 17/08/2021 08:55

We live next door to one. Thankfully, so far, there has been no late evening bbqs etc keeping us awake. Few parking issues. Found out there's another one in our road. Guess what? House prices are now rising. It's because the next town is nearly all second homes and airbnb and it's got too dear, so they're buying round where I live.

Lockheart · 17/08/2021 09:10

...and what is that? Are you saying there should just be no self-catering holidays?

There should be much fewer of them, yes. Every self catering cottage you see is a home that's been removed from a community.

Ultimately we all need to holiday away from home much less than we do now (but that will never happen).

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 17/08/2021 09:16

Think there is a film about this set in Cornwall - Bait?

Original poster
Greyrootszerohoots · 17/08/2021 09:25

@Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin - yes, great film!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greyrootszerohoots · 17/08/2021 09:30

It obviously adds a lot of complex issues around social cohesion and community, particularly in small towns and villages where people are out. I’m sure a lot of hospitality staffing issues in this area would be eased if people could actually afford to live here.

I think the earlier Airbnb model of staying with a host was great, but the whole house format is destructive.

My experience is just one house on one street but the change in dynamic is huge. Our neighbours are mostly elderly - everyone looks out for and helps one another but now don’t know who is coming or going. I can see how there would be a link to crime rates.

I sound like a real curtain twitcher here, but the day to day is that it just makes the street feel less lovely than it was, and on a practical level I’m concerned about kids playing out because of the driving of those who don’t realise they’re about to hit a dead end!

OP posts:
Mantlemoose · 17/08/2021 09:32

@TulipTuloo

Stayed in an air b n b this weekend and thought the exact same thing. We are a very very quiet family with no dogs or fast cars and I still felt bad for the neighbours whose street is coming and going with strangers week in week out.
Did this last week, 5 of us with 2 cars and 2 dogs. Can honestly say I didn't think about the neighbours at all, why on earth should I - wasn't doing anything wrong, no loud music, no parties, most annoying thing was probably the kid with the football and he stayed in the street!
grey12 · 17/08/2021 09:36

@FangsForTheMemory

They ruin communities. There's a massive housing shortage where I live and a LOT of Air B&Bs.
True! But like OP said, the house was a second house to the owners and empty!!!! They weren't selling it for a reasonable price to a young family to be able to live in a nice safe and quiet cul de sac Wink
Swipe left for the next trending thread