Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Airbnb neighbours who don't seem to matter

104 replies

Mudday · 23/12/2021 01:26

I live in the centre of a triple divided cottage with two toddlers who are randomly noisy, and surprisingly 🧐sometimes (not regularly) noisy very late at night. I've lived in this part of the cottage for years with no problems from neighbours, before a single (rich bachelor) bought the other side of the house and knew that there was a young family (us) next door. He's set up an Airbnb business in his new home nextdoor and is giving us hell for being a young family, as the random, impossible to control family living noise is 'affecting his business'. I respect any noise issues and understand that we all need to respect our neighbours; however, our other neighbour has never had a problem, but this new one treats us like errant staff. AIBU for being furious that I have to tiptoe around my own home so my neighbour gets a good effing Airbnb review????

OP posts:
Drunkpanda · 23/12/2021 14:13

I've stayed in a lot of Airbnb's and wouldn't ever think to complain about toddler related noise! It does make me wonder just how noisy you are being though? As there is noise and then there is noise.

Diana8 · 23/12/2021 14:28

@IamtheDevilsAvocado

Sorry I hijacked your thread...

But if he's being too nasty I'd really encourage my toddlers to run around....

What's he going to do???

How utterly stupid and PETTY.
Diana8 · 23/12/2021 14:32

You need to get of your high horse and build a civil relationship with this new neighbour. You will soon change your tune when YOUR family are kept awake by noise from the Air B&B next door, won't you? But you will be unable to talk to him about it because you have already decided to take offence at his comments about the noise from your house at night.

IntermittentParps · 23/12/2021 14:53

@Diana8

You need to get of your high horse and build a civil relationship with this new neighbour. You will soon change your tune when YOUR family are kept awake by noise from the Air B&B next door, won't you? But you will be unable to talk to him about it because you have already decided to take offence at his comments about the noise from your house at night.
I agree, in the longer term a good relationship will serve you better. Say to him calmly that there may well be noise from his side at some point, more avoidable than toddler noise, and a bit of give and take is required from both parties. I’m not sure why it matters that he’s a ‘rich bachelor’ either. You’re not better because you’ve got kids or are not as rich as (you think) he is.
Kotatsu · 23/12/2021 15:05

Very much depends what the adverts say - as it's not her neighbour that's complaining, but the people renting his airbnb

if he was saying 'idyllic, quiet, relaxing cottage in the cotswolds' then the complaints are likely, as are the bookings.

if he was realistic, and said, 'mid-terrace rental in village, surrounded by fields and families' then he'd get less bookings maybe, but probably fewer complaints about toddler noise too, as he'd warned them up front that the children exist next door.

If you are running a business, and miss-describe what you have, you will have complaints.

Georgeskitchen · 23/12/2021 15:06

Tell him to get lost. Toddlers do make noise , that's how they learn!!

appleturnovers · 23/12/2021 15:10

www.bing.com/search?q=citizens+advice+noise+children+neighbours&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=citizens+advice+noise+children+neighbours&sc=0-41&sk=&cvid=FFF240C42D424A87A2FF1A464464806E

"It’s likely to be anti social behaviour if it causes ‘nuisance and annoyance’ to your neighbour, for example playing loud music late at night or putting rubbish in their garden. It doesn’t count as anti social behaviour if the problem’s to do with normal day-to-day living, for example: the sound of you walking in your flat, your baby crying"

He can't expect his guests to not hear the general sounds of family life when his Air BnB adjoins a family home. And that includes the sounds of toddlers crying and playing.

Other PPs are right that it's in your interest to maintain a civil relationship, but just tell him you'll make every effort to avoid any unnecessary nuisance noise, such as late night partying (lol) but he has to accept that some noise from the children will be heard because that's life, and if he doesn't like it he should have bought a detached house away from residential areas.

ProfessionalWeirdo · 23/12/2021 15:16

OP, have you had any direct complaints from the guests themselves?

OakPine · 23/12/2021 15:32

Buy a banger, tax it, insure it, put it up on bricks in front of the house. Start to collect gnomes and fill the garden with them.
Hang washing on coat hangers from all of your front curtain poles.

Sing loud songs all day. Preferably loud songs involving lots of repetition and clapping. Encourage the children to join in with kazoos and drums. Get them a recorder.

Movinghouseatlast · 23/12/2021 17:20

@ivykaty44

Id also count the number of nights during the year paying guests stay in the property and date the occurrence - if its less than 140 nights then its liable for council tax and not business rates (the later is far far cheaper)

also take a look at this webpage

www.frettens.co.uk/site/library/frettensnews/Do-you-need-permission-to-run-an-Airbnb-solicitors

contact the district or local council and see if all the permissions were sought and implemented etc

If you are on business rates you get 100% debate as part of Small Business Rate Relief, as long as you only have one property.
Movinghouseatlast · 23/12/2021 17:42

Rebate not debate!

ivykaty44 · 24/12/2021 09:47

If you are on business rates you get 100% debate as part of Small Business Rate Relief, as long as you only have one property.

exactly

Movinghouseatlast · 24/12/2021 11:01

To be in business rates you do have to prove you let for the required amount of nights- the amount is pretty low, too low in my opinion, so if it is being run as a holiday let then it is very achievable.

thestaffy · 24/12/2021 11:32

Remember as it is a commercial undertaking, remind the council to charge him commercial rates. Also commercial prices for bin collection etc. Also mention to health and safety, the tax office, and his mortgage company(he will have to have a commercial mortgage on the cottage, otherwise it is mortgage fraud.). There's lots you can do.

Figgygal · 24/12/2021 11:41

I'm really surprised at these responses
If youd said our neighbour is complaining my children are too noisy people would-be telling you to be more considerate but because its an airbnb noise is fair game??

Offmyfence · 24/12/2021 11:49

@Larryyourwaiter

I’d shrug and report him for running a airb&b for more than 60 nights.
Is he?

Op I'd be firm and tell him to stop contacting you!

1dayatatime · 24/12/2021 13:58

@Figgygal

I'm really surprised at these responses If youd said our neighbour is complaining my children are too noisy people would-be telling you to be more considerate but because its an airbnb noise is fair game??
The OP and her family should behave at the standard of neighbourly respect and noise levels that could be expected of a normal neighbour.

Now if those levels are too much for the operation of an Airbnb "business" then I'm sorry but this is a business risk that the owner took.

Movinghouseatlast · 24/12/2021 13:59

You can run an Air BnB for more than 60 nights unless this is London.

Also commercial rates are zero so not a lot of point reporting him for that is there?

1dayatatime · 24/12/2021 14:02

Also given that it's an Airbnb I wouldn't be surprised if the owner is not declaring the income or certainly the income in full for tax purposes.

If he persists then a call to HMRC might be in order.

And don't even feel remotely bad about this, tax dodgers like him mean that everyone else has to pay more tax and children go without free school meals during school holidays.

1dayatatime · 24/12/2021 14:06

Oh and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a normal buy to let mortgage which excludes holiday letting.

So if you check the land registry (cost £3) you can find out the name of his mortgage company and you can let them know as well. They will probably then pull the mortgage from the property.

In short you hold a lot of cards here... enjoy.

Deadringer · 24/12/2021 14:08

I would tell him to fuck off. In fact, i would send him this.

Airbnb neighbours who don't seem to matter
RedRobin100 · 24/12/2021 14:18

Fuck him

RedRobin100 · 24/12/2021 14:19

@RedRobin100

Fuck him
Not literally…

Tell him to do one

Ask him if he’s laying tax on his rental income

RedRobin100 · 24/12/2021 14:20

Yes and the mortgage angle - is Airbnb permitted?

Offmyfence · 24/12/2021 14:22

@1dayatatime

Oh and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a normal buy to let mortgage which excludes holiday letting.

So if you check the land registry (cost £3) you can find out the name of his mortgage company and you can let them know as well. They will probably then pull the mortgage from the property.

In short you hold a lot of cards here... enjoy.

Good luck with that! I can't see any lender taking one bit of notice.