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

Article about this in The Times today. Looks like it's the opposite, there is a shortage of properties for rent, not renters , due to Airbnb

And might be banned soon.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6f61b2e4-0725-11ec-ab20-2ce30c912e38?shareToken=f64d5254327aa804ed0c03e04610c195

Due to Airbnb my friends perfect flat in a beautiful Victorian building has become a living nightmare. The flat above is party central every weekend. Object now and make sure your flat stays as you like it. It's against the lease. End of story. I also don't believe she can't find a tenant, people are queuing for homes! She sounds greedy.

OP I would disagree just because the change in people constantly can be disruptive. I doubt that a flat in a tourist place would actually become a party flat, unlike a house, more like a base for whoever to explore the area and head home for a place to stay. You could also argue that if awful long term tennants moved in that would be worse. The set up you have where you are all in communication sounds great so whatever she does you should be able to talk openly about it.

It’s interesting that you are concerned about saying no because of the relations between you and the landlord which have always been good.

However if she turned it in to an Airbnb, there is a high chance that it would be awful and therefore relations would sour anyway. She doesn’t seem too concerned about the impact on relations.

My BIL had his apartment flooded by airbnb guests in apartment next door. It was a nightmare to get sorted with insurances and guests had disappeared.
In his building airbnbs are not allowed (he lives in a party town), some people still did it. It’s a nightmare.

I live in a big apartment block (200ish flats), with multiple separate entrances. The flat next to ours has a different entrance, but we share a wall. To be honest, it's not as bad as we feared, we never hear any noise.

However, i know there are various other Airbnbs dotted around the development, and neighbours in other parts have complained about noise, mess, drunks urinating in the lift/hallway (!), etc.

I do hate the general airbnb-ification of our neighbourhood, and really wish there were stricter rules in place.