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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don’t want our neighbour to keep running her airbnb

206 replies

airbnbby · 21/08/2022 10:43

We live in a 6 house cul de sac, have been living here for years and get along great with our neighbours. None of the houses even have fences separating the back gardens.

A few months ago we started seeing different cars and people showing up to this one house for 3-4 days at a time. Another neighbour asked what was up and owner said they were just friends visiting. Well that’s a lot of very organised friends as they always show up hours after the other one has left!

Anyway I just don’t like it, this is the house next to ours and every time someone new comes in and parks they can see right inside our kitchen and it’s just uncomfortable as it’s multiple different people every week.

I also definitely do not like sharing our outside area with total strangers. They literally could be anyone! I have tried finding the listing on all websites but can’t seem to find it and even if I did there’s no way I could bring it down but it still annoys me

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 21/08/2022 12:03

PritiPatelsMaker · 21/08/2022 11:37

Perhaps it's not AirBnB and they're swingers. Have you checked the Swinging sites?

You beat me to it!

Original poster
airbnbby · 21/08/2022 12:03

We do have blinds in the kitchen but we can’t just have the blinds shut all day everyday as it gets dark inside. We also have like a small front porch type thing where we hang out sometimes or have breakfast/tea. I get it is the easiest solution but how practical is it to open and shut blinds multiple times a day? The kitchen windows are in fact two big sliding doors into the porch so they’re not the regular sized windows

They are definitely renting it out to non friends at least on some occasions. We have never ever seen the same people twice and I even heard someone the other say something like "I cant find the code for the key pad I'll have to ring the host" so definitely not friends. Our neighbour doesn’t seem to live there anymore, have only seen them a couple of times in the past months and their car is never parked outside

I get there’s nothing I can do and it is a legitimate business but it can still annoy me . We don’t have any children but our neighbours do and have raised their concerns about safety issues having strangers come in and out.

Also, no one here has dogs so fences haven’t been a need. I guess we’re just a different housing area to others like we’ll share our lawnmower, bbq and other outdoor items because we are almost our own separate community.

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 21/08/2022 12:05

I guess we’re just a different housing area to others like we’ll share our lawnmower, bbq and other outdoor items because we are almost our own separate community

It doesn't sound like a separate community anymore OP. Things have changed.

EmeraldShamrock1 · 21/08/2022 12:07

There isn't much you can do about their property.

I'd hate an Airbnb next door too.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/08/2022 12:09

airbnbby · 21/08/2022 12:03

We do have blinds in the kitchen but we can’t just have the blinds shut all day everyday as it gets dark inside. We also have like a small front porch type thing where we hang out sometimes or have breakfast/tea. I get it is the easiest solution but how practical is it to open and shut blinds multiple times a day? The kitchen windows are in fact two big sliding doors into the porch so they’re not the regular sized windows

They are definitely renting it out to non friends at least on some occasions. We have never ever seen the same people twice and I even heard someone the other say something like "I cant find the code for the key pad I'll have to ring the host" so definitely not friends. Our neighbour doesn’t seem to live there anymore, have only seen them a couple of times in the past months and their car is never parked outside

I get there’s nothing I can do and it is a legitimate business but it can still annoy me . We don’t have any children but our neighbours do and have raised their concerns about safety issues having strangers come in and out.

Also, no one here has dogs so fences haven’t been a need. I guess we’re just a different housing area to others like we’ll share our lawnmower, bbq and other outdoor items because we are almost our own separate community.

I'm not being funny, but you can't be as close as you claim if one of just SIX properties/neighbours is doing stuff like you're going on about, and carrying on doing it, and not consulting you or telling you what's going on.

Also, close friendly neighbours or not, it's batshit for all the neighbours to have no back fences. Just really odd. Are you all in a row? Or is it 3 houses facing another 3 houses? Do you really ALL have no back fences? Every one? Confused

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/08/2022 12:10

PritiPatelsMaker · 21/08/2022 12:05

I guess we’re just a different housing area to others like we’ll share our lawnmower, bbq and other outdoor items because we are almost our own separate community

It doesn't sound like a separate community anymore OP. Things have changed.

Pretty much what I was trying to say. They are clearly not as close as the OP is claiming.

Original poster
airbnbby · 21/08/2022 12:13

I imagine they just won’t admit to it as it is possible they’re not following regulations for whatever business/activity is going on in that house.

It doesn’t matter how close you are to someone, we all have secrets or you’re gonna tell me you say every single one of your secrets to all family meme era and friends and keep nothing to yourself?

OP posts:
WhimsicalGubbins · 21/08/2022 12:13

I mean, I sympathise, because I don’t think any of us in all honesty would like a string of strangers constantly turning up.

But in reality, it’s actually none of your business. There’s no laws being broken and you haven’t stated that they’ve actually done anything such as wander onto your property or use your facilities.

So in that sense, yes yabu. You’ll have to grin and bear it, it’s their business what they do with their property, not yours

Cats23 · 21/08/2022 12:15

Just get a fence, problem solved.

JustlookingNotbuying · 21/08/2022 12:17

I’ve only used Air bnb’s which are shepherds huts and the like and in the middle of nowhere, I would hate it to be right beside where I live.
We stayed in a shepherds hut last week, the owner lived onsite, she told us that she is only, legally allowed to rent it for 28 days per year.
If you can’t find it listed on the website it’s probably not a regulated rent out.
Have you had a word with your local parish council, see if it’s all above board?

Quanticom · 21/08/2022 12:22

I sympathise as well and I suspect most people, despite what is being said here, also would.

And whereas actual laws may not be being broken, there may well be clauses/restrictions in the neighbours’ mortgage (if they have one) being contravened.

Also, the housing arrangement sounds unusual. Is there some sort of management committee or overseeing body involved who would want to know about this?

Fairyflaps · 21/08/2022 12:25

A friend of mine has just found out the flat above hers is being made into an airbnb. It's a house subdivided into 2 flats, and they share a front door, and hallway. She's not happy. She is an anxious person anyway, and as woman living alone, she is worried about sharing this hallway with endless strangers. There is apparently nothing she can do about it.

fruitbrewhaha · 21/08/2022 12:29

I see, so you don't think the original owners are living their either.

It doesn't sound like you are that close to them if they have moved out. I get how it has changed the dynamic of the group of houses, but as long as the people staying in the house are respectful there's no much you can do or should feel able to do.

notanothertakeaway · 21/08/2022 12:30

I sympathise, but unless you're in an area where holiday accommodation requires planning permission for change of use, I don't think there's much you can do

Apart from get a noisy dog, so guests leave bad reviews and bookings dry up

Wonnle · 21/08/2022 12:30

Cheeseandlobster · 21/08/2022 10:57

Send them a letter saying what? It's annoying but not up to you op. Its their property not yours

Show quote history

If they own it outright yes , but if it's still mortgaged the company may not allow letting out/renting of the property

Helleboring · 21/08/2022 12:33

I'm sorry, OP, I would feel the same.

but there is a different way of looking at it.

your neighbours could have sold to one of the many nightmare new neighbours posters tell us about every day. And you would be stuck with them. At least if some guests are a nuisance you can take comfort in them being gone in a few days.

so I would put up a few translucent blinds which screen without blocking light and focus on the positive.

If you can’t change something, change the way you think about it.

miri1985 · 21/08/2022 12:34

I sympathise with you OP, I lived next door to an airbnb and it was awful. You didn't sign up to live next door to a business.

Have you done a really thorough search on airbnb not just the address? Our NDN had the address listed differently so that it didn't appear on our street so was more difficult for people to associate with the property. Have you checked the other popular sites, booking.com, tripadvisor, VRBO, expedia etc for the listing?

Kerrrmieee · 21/08/2022 12:37

I'd go knock on door and ask strangers if everything's okay? Explain live next door if they need anything and get them to spill about why they are there. Diff people so you only need to be annoyed by one set if they do need any 🤣

Novum · 21/08/2022 12:39

Does it really matter if people who are coming to your area for a holiday or similar purpose can see inside your kitchen? If it does, put blinds up. Likewise, fence off your back garden. Problem solved.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 21/08/2022 12:39

If they are not living there then that makes a difference, surely? That's like opening a hotel in your own home.

Element4056 · 21/08/2022 12:40

I also live in a 6 house cul de sac and one of our neighbours runs his entire house as an air b&b. I actually managed to find the listing online!

We had some issues with his guests parking on our driveway (leaving us with no parking for our own car) and loud noise but these were easily resolved by speaking to the guests.

I would suggest blinds too for the kitchen. It hadn't been as bad as I thought it would be and you soon get used to it.

Novum · 21/08/2022 12:40

DesertOrchi · 21/08/2022 10:55

Airbnb should be banned.

That would achieve nothing. People could still rent properties out as holiday cottages. That is never going to be banned.

Original poster
airbnbby · 21/08/2022 12:43

I mean I know they’re not stalking me but we kind of lose our feeling of privacy in a way. I don’t mind our neighbours cause we’ve known them for years so if they see inside the house from the outside that’s fine but there’s just something about making eye contact with 10 different people a week when you’re in the kitchen and they’re just standing outside trying to get in the house next door

OP posts:
Original poster
airbnbby · 21/08/2022 12:44

@miri1985 I hadn’t thought about this, I originally only looked using the map option and into our street but I will give this a go on all the websites. Thank you

OP posts:
Novum · 21/08/2022 12:44

I get there’s nothing I can do and it is a legitimate business but it can still annoy me . We don’t have any children but our neighbours do and have raised their concerns about safety issues having strangers come in and out.

Good luck to your neighbours with that one. If that were perceived to be a genuine risk, no hotel could take children as guests, and there could be no guest houses in residential areas.