Noisy Airbnb neighbours - we are the airbnb!

[han254]

I have just moved abroad with my husband, we have rented an Airbnb flat for 4 months while we get settled etc.

The issue is that the downstairs neighbour is playing loud music daily. It's so loud that it fills our entire flat and we can feel it through the floor. We can't hear any other noise from them like talking/TV so I don't think the soundproofing is that bad, they are just playing the music so loud. I can feel the music vibrating under my feet as I type this. Last night they were also drilling at 11.30pm which again we can hear and feel.

My DH is of the 'ignore it' mindset as he hates any kind of confrontation/fuss but I am struggling and it is really affecting me, especially while I am trying to navigate the mental headspace needed when taking a big leap and moving to a new country. It's at different times of day, every single day so I'm starting to feel on edge and dread being here.

Obviously we expect noise when city living (we are in America), we have lived in flats in cities before so are well aware of what to expect. But this is really starting to affect me as it's so loud and fully fills our living space. We are out and about as much as possible but are also having to spend a lot of time indoors to sort out life admin/work, and into the evenings when we want to relax indoors we just can't.

By what we have seen of the Airbnb host he seems to own a lot of properties and we know of at least one other in this building (it's one building turned into 4 flats)

Would I BU to message the host and ask if he is the landlord of below flat and mention the music? DH is making me feel like we don't have the right to complain as we're just Airbnb guests but I'm at my wits end, we paid a lot for this Airbnb and have 3 months+ left until we leave.

Christ yes. I manage an Airbnb and we have guests complaining about far less than that. If the host isn’t helpful you can contact Airbnb, who should be able to mediate and/or find alternative accommodation.

Definitely complain to the host. I live in the US and any american would complain about this.

Why on earth are you even hesitating?

You don't really have many options; contact them or buy a drill.

I'm also in the US and yes, I'd complain. I could understand your husband's point of view if he just has a different perception of the noise or a different idea of "normal" noise level than you do, but to say you don't have a right to complain because it's an AirBnB is an unusual perspective, especially as it's a relatively long-term rental for that platform. I'd definitely start by contacting your AirBnB host; there may be some history of complaints and they've likely dealt with these neighbours before even if they don't also own the unit.

I'd explain to the host that you expect routine noise and necessary short periods of elevated noise any you do use earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones, white noise etc. when possible but the ongoing level of vibration is impossible to block, and the noise is loud enough to disrupt you from having conversations, watching television, etc. in your apartment. Do specifically mention the drilling at late hours; that may actually violate local noise ordinances if it's prolonged, repeated, and non-emergency in a residential area. Good luck!