To not agree to flat neighbour air bnbing her flat? (Any one live above/below a flat on air bnb?

[Marni83]

Would really appreciate your thoughts.

I have lived in my flat for 6 years. It’s a beautiful, large flat in a conservation area. Very happy. The upstairs owner has rented out her property for the last four years. Generally, it’s been absolutely fine and even when there’s been an issue - it’s been very mild and resolved itself swiftly.

She is struggling to fill the flat with new tenants. So she has emailed me to say that she plans to start air bnbing the flat.

We live in a very popular tourist town, so I have no doubt it would be a success.

However… I am not at all keen. Firstly, I checked the lease - and it’s actually forbidden for any of the 3 flats in the block to be used for any purpose other than a private dwelling for one family.
So I know i have the law on my side.

But it is not quite so straightforward as that. The other two owners and I get on well and have all contributed to individual costs to flats and generally just a nice and pleasant relationship (the third flat is also tenanted and has a private entrance so wouldn’t be so impacted in any event) and I suspect my refusal will cause tension.

I am reluctant because I have two children, and currently our home feels so safe and secure. The idea of us sharing an entrance and staircase with a steady stream of different people, and the potential noise / issues with rubbish and general potential hassle…. Is very unappealing

Does any one live in a flat above or below a flat that is on air bnb? If so, what is your experience?

Thanks

Where the hell on the country is she where she's struggling to find a tenant?

If you have the legal right to object then why not do so. Have heard many bad things about having air BnB place as a neighbour.

Absolutely object it's a nightmare at the best of times!

She won't be struggling to get tenants.

She's after a higher return on her investment...

Sucks.

All I would need to say is “no, sorry, it’s against the lease agreement”,
And she wouldn’t pursue

However… I am worried about relations

So if the experience of living above or below and air bnb flat is actually absolutely fine - then I would like to say yes.

I don’t want it.
But I don’t want to spoil a long standing positive relationship when I know she’s desperate

@RandomMess

Absolutely object it's a nightmare at the best of times!

Do you speak from experience? How so?

I’d push back. Noise issues, the rubbish generated - unless they get a commercial collection at the end of each break the domestic bins/recycling might not be sufficient.. Every changeover you’ll be worrying about whether you’re going to be dealing with hassle. Can’t you just say “wouldn’t that be in breach of the lease?” It might invalidate the freeholder’s insurance on the building If there’s a fire/flood and it turns out it started in the holiday let?

If they’re a pain in the arse, they’re probably gone in a week. It’s better than an awful tenant, but worse than a good long term tenant. It’s risky for her and for you.

Ask her for 10% of the fees.

Seriously, I would just point out that it violates the lease. Air B&B has gotten so bothersome in some cities that it's been heavily resctricted.

I lived in a block of four flats. All the other three above and two directly next to and above me ended up as Air BnBs over time (all the same landlord) and it was no problem at all. Over about two years never had any issues. Once asked someone not to smoke outside the main front door (as wafted in through my window) - they apologised and moved.

Say no. It could become a party house. Who owns the freehold.

Our friends live in an apartment complex with loads of Airbnb apartments apparently it’s miserable over weekend, they’ve had to noise complaints and had the communal areas trashed.

Once had a father and late teenage/young adult son stay above me. Father dropped a note through my door on day two saying he was working during the day, but to give him a ring if his son is noisy at all along with his mobile number. But again no issues whatsoever. Also no problem with rubbish. The air bnb lot produced way less than normal neighbours, so actually ended up having the communal bins pretty much to myself.

@PinkFootstool

Where the hell on the country is she where she's struggling to find a tenant?

Agree that she is b*llshitting, same as my friends LL when he told her he was kicking her and her 3yo DD out because his friend wanted to buy the house, when really LL wants to air BnB it.

There was a thread on here saying never move next to one. Can't imagine living under one!!

There is a rental shortage so is she asking too much???

Definitely say no - I live next to an air BnB in a terrace, and it can be terrible. Most people are ok, but there are weekends we’ve been kept awake until 4am. It’s also stressful psychologically never knowing who will turn up and whether you’ll be able to sleep (or not). You have a solid reason to say you won’t support it so I don’t see that she can get too annoyed with you.

My daughter lives beside an Airbnb house.Constant noise.Parties mid week.Food deliveries and taxi cabs at all hours. .Tenants using other neighbours bins.
No way is your neighbour struggling to get tenants.
She wants to make more money.
Just remind her it violates the lease.

There may be other factors as well

1. if she has a mortgage will short term letting/Airbnb go against the contract?
2. does she have the right house insurance, in some cases hosting your home invalidates a policy?

Link below gives guidance including having freeholder permission and cites an extreme of flat being taken by freeholder for breach with no compensation for the owner.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/airbnb-hosting/

@saveforthat

Say no. It could become a party house. Who owns the freehold.

We each own a share of the freehold

@Whataboutye88

Definitely say no - I live next to an air BnB in a terrace, and it can be terrible. Most people are ok, but there are weekends we’ve been kept awake until 4am. It’s also stressful psychologically never knowing who will turn up and whether you’ll be able to sleep (or not). You have a solid reason to say you won’t support it so I don’t see that she can get too annoyed with you.

Ok so I have decided on basis of this

Will refuse

Thanks so much.

I would do everything you can to prevent this. ...especially like others posters say. .she is bull shitting you.

My sister lived in a building with an airbnb. There was a gated entrance to the street and she had a private garden in the inner courtyard. Bit complicated but it was in Germany if that helps at all...... Airbnb guests constantly left the gate open which meant her cats could get out and compromised security. She frequently found guests in her garden as they thought it was communal and their children used the courtyard as a playground (most of the residents were older and childless) . Drove her mad.

Oh yes - recycling - Germans are fairly fastidious in their recycling - non-German visitors not.

I work in letting OP and at the moment properties are flying off the shelves like hot cakes. I don't believe for one minute she is struggling to find longer term tenants unless there's a real problem with area or the property itself. It is likely just to be more profitable and less onerous from a legistlative point of view to go down the AirBnB route.

If it was me I would object.

I use Air BnB when I travel and am very respectful to the property/area/any neighbours. AirBnB hosts and users both 'reviews each other so the owner could be very picky about who she let's stay.
That being said, I do think there's always a risk of noise/dodgy behaviour and not much you can do to stop it without objecting to the whole AirBnB situation.
As I said, I use AirBnB when I travel and absolutely LOVE it, but if I were you I would object as you never know who you're going to get and not ad much recourse as a long term tenant

I briefly rented in an apartment block that had a few Air B n Bs and the weekends were awful and noisy. If you have the ability to stop this happening, I really think you should.