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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Air Bnb has ruined my life

336 replies

itsafan · 31/07/2025 16:57

There is literally no way out of this situation 😢 other than for us to give up our jobs and relocate in the hope that we can find new jobs and a place to live. There are literally no other rentals available in the area even if we could afford the rents. A mortgage is out of the question as we would need at least a hundred grand deposit.
There are at least 1000 properties listed on Airbnb within a 5 mile radius, many of them would be ideal but the rents on them are extortionate and aimed at tourists we are talking at least a grand a week.
We have lived here for years in a residential complex (well before Airbnb and booking even got popular) we have jobs here and friends here and a life here. It is on the whole fine for 9 months of the year mainly local people living around us who all respect that we are living and just trying to survive.
Then the Airbnb people turn up and every week it’s new people above us below us next to us. The noise is horrendous and probably the worst problem. Being woken at all hours with people rolling suitcases along floors, lifts going up and down, shouting in the corridors and doors banging. It just goes on and on like this for months.
My anxiety with it all is now so bad that I’m having to take medication. The noise just feels constant.
Do people even realise when they are booking Airbnb that these are people’s homes that they are disrupting? Why don’t people go to hotels anymore ?
So yeah there is a huge housing crisis due to the airbnb situation and I’m just a small person in a situation that I can’t change other than to leave somewhere I call home. I suppose my AIBU is am I being unreasonable to feel like a company has ruined my life ?

OP posts:
EdisinBurgh · 02/08/2025 09:28

samthepigeon · 01/08/2025 10:25

Exactly.

Many of the properties on Air BandB are also advertised through other companies too. I am staying in one shortly that was on several platforms.

But before AirBnB you didn’t tend to have properties for holiday let that were located in residential buildings where the local workers live.

Those holiday cottages and lets were on the whole designed and organised for short term tourist stays.

And run by local companies (often from that country or at least a European company) which paid taxes and were accountable. Very different to a far away American company headquartered in Silicon Valley.

EdisinBurgh · 02/08/2025 09:30

MorningLarkEchoes · 01/08/2025 19:58

If the government really cared about the housing crisis, then they would do something about houses being used as short-term holiday lets.

Edited

Another problem European governments have in clamping down on the revenues of American companies such as AirBnB is that the US and Trump Administration won’t like it and may cause a political fuss or even worse increase trade tariffs. It’s not easy.

Simonjt · 02/08/2025 09:32

EdisinBurgh · 02/08/2025 09:28

But before AirBnB you didn’t tend to have properties for holiday let that were located in residential buildings where the local workers live.

Those holiday cottages and lets were on the whole designed and organised for short term tourist stays.

And run by local companies (often from that country or at least a European company) which paid taxes and were accountable. Very different to a far away American company headquartered in Silicon Valley.

They did, they were just on cottages.com etc, my mum has been staying in the same let for almost twenty years (no, she’ll never try somewhere new!), its an apartment in a residential block in Wales.

venus7 · 02/08/2025 10:25

CosmicScouser · 31/07/2025 17:25

I'm so sorry. There is far, far too much tourism these days

This is so true; I live in Cornwall, and mass tourism has nearly ruined it. Not just airbnb, but excess traffic...it took me over an hour to drive two miles a few days ago. Infrastructure can't take the numbers. Airbnb, unlike holiday lets where the owner is present, has made things very stressful and unpleasant for residents.

Welshgal78 · 02/08/2025 11:38

I totally agree. my DD can't move out of her abusive dad's house because we live in a holiday town and most of the places that used to be long term rentals are now Air bnb and the flats are up for rent are either too expensive or go within hours of it being advertised

drspouse · 02/08/2025 11:43

Ddakji · 31/07/2025 17:32

Nothing as bad as your situation but our neighbours in London regularly Airbnb their place out. I hate not knowing if or when there are going to be strangers next door. There’s not much soundproofing so we can often hear them. There’s been parties, barking dogs for hours on end and a house cat that kept coming into our garden (!).

So I really feel your pain as your situation sounds far worse.

I thought it was no longer allowed in London boroughs?
We have a rental flat in London which we used to let through a short lets agency (mainly single business travellers) but the legislation changed so we went over to ASTs.

drspouse · 02/08/2025 11:44

Welshgal78 · 02/08/2025 11:38

I totally agree. my DD can't move out of her abusive dad's house because we live in a holiday town and most of the places that used to be long term rentals are now Air bnb and the flats are up for rent are either too expensive or go within hours of it being advertised

Edited

Edit as either I quoted the wrong post or there was a major edit!

Ddakji · 02/08/2025 11:44

drspouse · 02/08/2025 11:43

I thought it was no longer allowed in London boroughs?
We have a rental flat in London which we used to let through a short lets agency (mainly single business travellers) but the legislation changed so we went over to ASTs.

I’ve just had a Quick Look and if it’s not for more than 90 days a year you’re good to go.

itsafan · 02/08/2025 11:50

@Snakebite61 I do blame some of the people who rent them for being inconsiderate and a nuisance.
@Welshgal78 I’m so sorry to hear that what an awful situation 😢

OP posts:
auderesperare · 02/08/2025 12:18

I’m so sorry to hear this, OP. It sounds hellish. I’m sorry you need medication to cope with the stress.
In no way do I mean to be patronising but I wonder if a slight shift in thinking might help.
Firstly, I agree you should do everything you can to ameliorate your position. Complain to the council. Put an emotive and heartfelt message in the communal hall explaining what you are going through. Write to Air B&B. There must be others going through the same thing so team up with them, join a FB group, lobby. At least you will have ongoing support. Try to get the landlords of the other apartments to sound proof the communal hall or add different flooring. They may be up for this if the alternative is endless complaints to the council. Complain to Air B&B every single time the disruption is too great. Document everything. In time there may be legislation or a government enquiry you can feed into.
Regarding the mind-shift. You clearly live in a beautiful part of the world. The climate is good. One that attracts lots of tourists. It probably feels spoiled for you now but can you recover anything of the joy in the place you must originally have felt? Can you get into nature from where you are? Is there an outside space you can carve out for yourself (even a public park or beach) where you can go when you are overwhelmed by the apartment? Remember that in a wet or cold part of the world this would be more difficult.
You say that things are bearable for nine months. I’d start with that. Many many people have terrible neighbours. They can’t get away from them ever. Outside of the peak season, it sounds like life is better for you. You could move only to discover you have terrible new neighbours and they are permanent.
Accept that a degree of noise comes with living in an apartment block. This is inevitable whoever your neighbours are. Do everything you can to use carpets and textiles to soundproof your home. Use noise cancelling headphones or play your own music to distract from the noise. Do everything you can to relax and learn relaxation techniques.
Trade offs- can you find something you do for yourself which is a treat which you can only do in your home town? Take an early morning dip, walk along the beach at sunrise, a special coffee or breakfast in your favourite cafe. Something that brings joy and allows you to associate the place with happiness?
You sound like you feel trapped and hopeless. What can you do to improve your lot? Can you do anything to earn more money? Can you take your holidays when the absolute peak of the season is on, so that you get some respite in the middle. Can you house swap with someone who is in a quieter area but who would enjoy your home in peak season. Can you offer to house sit, pet sit or plant sit somewhere quieter but still within travelling distance to work, during peak season?
You always have options, OP, even if they are not immediately obvious. I live in Scotland where new legislation makes it v difficult for people to rent out their homes. This is mainly in response to the situation in Edinburgh. In the Highlands, where I live, many crofters have a B&B or a yurt in the garden to try and supplement a meagre living. Many are no longer able to afford to do this because the new listening laws make it impractical and unaffordable so fragile communities which rely on tourism, are struggling to survive.
Good luck. I hope you find some peace.

Livelovebehappy · 02/08/2025 14:30

venus7 · 02/08/2025 10:25

This is so true; I live in Cornwall, and mass tourism has nearly ruined it. Not just airbnb, but excess traffic...it took me over an hour to drive two miles a few days ago. Infrastructure can't take the numbers. Airbnb, unlike holiday lets where the owner is present, has made things very stressful and unpleasant for residents.

The thing us, a lot of us dont have the privilege of living in a nice town or village. So obviously if we go somewhere in the UK on holiday it's going to be to beautiful parts of the country, like Cornwall, the Lake District etc. What do you suggest we do? Stay put in our less than desirable towns and never venture anywhere? A lot of the beautiful towns in our country rely on tourism. It's really not fair that you don't want others to enjoy the beautiful parts just because you want to keep it all for yourselves. Just because you live there, you don't own it....

itsafan · 02/08/2025 15:51

@auderesperare That is such a kind and thoughtful thought out message 🥰 thank you so much ☺️

OP posts:
venus7 · 02/08/2025 17:10

Livelovebehappy · 02/08/2025 14:30

The thing us, a lot of us dont have the privilege of living in a nice town or village. So obviously if we go somewhere in the UK on holiday it's going to be to beautiful parts of the country, like Cornwall, the Lake District etc. What do you suggest we do? Stay put in our less than desirable towns and never venture anywhere? A lot of the beautiful towns in our country rely on tourism. It's really not fair that you don't want others to enjoy the beautiful parts just because you want to keep it all for yourselves. Just because you live there, you don't own it....

Please don't misrepresent my views; at no point did I state that I 'want to keep it all for myself', nor that I own it. Tourism is welcome, and has been for a very long time. I am talking about mass tourism, and airbnbs. Just because you want to visit, doesn't give you the right to spoil it.

Livelovebehappy · 02/08/2025 17:50

venus7 · 02/08/2025 17:10

Please don't misrepresent my views; at no point did I state that I 'want to keep it all for myself', nor that I own it. Tourism is welcome, and has been for a very long time. I am talking about mass tourism, and airbnbs. Just because you want to visit, doesn't give you the right to spoil it.

The population has increased by 10million in the last 25 years. So 'mass tourism' isn't due to Airbnb. It's due to more people living here. Infrastructure is on its knees everywhere. Easier to live with a failing infrastructure in a beautiful place, rather than living with collapsing services in a run down crime ridden city.

venus7 · 02/08/2025 18:00

Livelovebehappy · 02/08/2025 17:50

The population has increased by 10million in the last 25 years. So 'mass tourism' isn't due to Airbnb. It's due to more people living here. Infrastructure is on its knees everywhere. Easier to live with a failing infrastructure in a beautiful place, rather than living with collapsing services in a run down crime ridden city.

You seem to presume there isn't crime here; not the case.
I'm well aware of rising populations; may I suggest you join 'population matters' to address the issue? David Attenborough is the chairman.
25 years ago most people had one annual holiday, now people go away at half term, for hen weekends, for spa weekends, for city breaks, for restaurant visits, for every damned life event that has ever befallen them.

Kossak · 02/08/2025 19:29

I sympathise with you. Edinburgh is suffering with the same thing, here. As, perhaps surprisingly, places like Skye. Friends advertising a nice long term let had some 40 applications for the tenancy in the first week. Key workers are living in caravans. All the flats in Edinburgh that people used to rent when I was young are Airbnb and it's impossible to find anywhere to rent at a reasonable price. I pity the poor people who are in the middle of this. I believe the government is starting to take notice, and making it very expensive to own and maintain these properties, so it's a start - and it doesn't surprise me that there are demonstrations in cities like Barcelona. I'd be demonstrating too. They're not protesting about hotels. They're protesting about the fact that the locals can't find anywhere to live. Meanwhile, do complain to whoever and wherever you can. I hope you can find a solution.

LibertyKnickers · 02/08/2025 19:32

This is a problem where we live too as it's a big tourist destination (west coast of the US). Under pressure from residents, local City councils are finally imposing lower limits on rental times, e.g. at least 6 months. But this is only part of the problem. Builders only want to put up MacMansions, not low-cost, social housing. Homelessness is out of control. Large chunks of the city are "ghettoised". (I remember I was shocked when my DH first told me, over 20 years ago, that such-and-such was 'a Black middle-class neighbourhood.' A what?) America isn't a melting pot—it's a mosaic. Members of different ethnic groups cling together and don't want to move elsewhere, even when they can afford to.

In Naples, Italy, which we know well, there were already protests back in 2018 with the slogan, 'Naples is a city, not a hotel!'. Frankly, I preferred the place before the cruise ships started berthing there and crowds of other tourists started moving in (and out, and in, and out, and... ), but at least the latter buy provisions, while each morning's cruise-ship tourists, of course, are all gone that same evening.

And before anyone hits back: when we go to Naples, we go for 11-12 months at a time, not a week. When we go away in the US, we sometimes use AirBnbs, but we are always quiet and respectful of our neighbours, and we make sure we contribute to the local economy as well, with plenty of purchases from shops, restaurants, etc. The town we visit depends wholly on tourism now, as its other traditional industry, fishing, is dead in the water. So to say.

ICareNothingForYourCameras · 02/08/2025 20:26

It sucks that holiday let's have become so damaging to local communities and OP should definitely follow @auderesperare suggestions on regular complaints, getting together with other residents etc. Local councils / governments should definitely legislate to make it more difficult to rent out multiple properties. However, the market is driven by what customers want. Hotels are impractical for families for anything longer than a couple of nights and self catering apartments are cheaper for the amount of space you get. In order to free up more apartments for locals needing long term lets, there needs to be an alternative for tourists, or they will go elsewhere and spend less money in the local area. Maybe more hotels with interconnecting rooms so parents have space after kids have gone to bed in the other room, purpose built apartment blocks set aside for short term lets (but not 'aparthotels' which have extra facilities making them too expensive for families). That way the tourists get their self catering place to relax in but don't take too much housing stock from locals. I know it's not a perfect solution but there has to be a carrot (realistic alternatives giving visitors what they want) as well as a stick (legislation making it more difficult for landlords to go on Airbnb etc).

drspouse · 02/08/2025 20:30

I would be in favour of more family friendly accommodation for holidays. We use youth hostels in London for this reason.

Papyrophile · 02/08/2025 21:22

Cinaferna · 31/07/2025 23:31

Please don't let ignorance feed your prejudice. A hotel near us was used to house refugees. The staff were laid off which is not good for local employment, I agree, but that's not the refugees' fault. But there was no food on offer and they couldn't cook in their rooms, obviously, so they often went hungry as they had very little money and couldn't afford to eat out. No one was cleaning the place and they had no access to cleaning products. The people housed there were very young men, often in their teens, who had been through absolute hell, losing loved ones - parents, brothers, cousins murdered by armed militia. Then travelling thousands of miles frightened, starving cold and alone. Imagine your own son doing that in his mid teens, knowing you or his beloved grandparents had been murdered by thugs, the family home torched to the ground.
Please find some compassion before you make comments like this.

Very very sorry, but they are economic migrants, hoping for a better future in a country with slackadaisical regulation.

FioFioSILK · 02/08/2025 21:36

A lot of property training companies encourage serviced accommodation and sell properties or lease the. With these I creased rents and none of the renter right so they're a profitable model. Not sure where you are but in London you na only rent short lets for 90 days of the year so you could tell your local MP if in LDN. They keep talking about licensing but all things government takes so long.

auderesperare · 02/08/2025 21:47

I’m so pleased that was helpful. We’ve always had great neighbours until ten years after we moved into our forever home. Really difficult neighbours moved in. We tried everything to keep them happy. They ended up in a legal battle with our other neighbours. Fortunately we avoided this. They stressed me out so much I started to hate my beautiful home.
Two things changed my mind. One was a friend who pointed out how lucky we were to live where we do, when I was complaining about the neighbours. The second was drawing a line, refusing to pander to them and redecorating our home to make it more inviting. 15 years on and they are finally moving out.
I’ve started to love my home again in recent years. These things can change. I totally understand where you are at right now but if you can manage to shift your mindset, it can help. Good luck OP. I know what you are going through.

Squirrelandnuts · 03/08/2025 00:12

TheGentleButFirmMadonna · 31/07/2025 17:39

That would be easy for me. Go in the cheapest smallest non popular town, rent a cheap house with whole yard, drive to work, grow vegetables and eventually buy one house like that. Cities aren't for everyone

Edited

They've lived there for 20yrs, have jobs, a settled family, friends and community.

But, you think they should start again in A Place in the Country, against their will. Nevermind, that there aren't many decent paying jobs in the countryside or small towns. As well as having to uproot their daughter's education and be miles away from friends and family.

lowkey33 · 03/08/2025 01:53

its a problem all over, just like crap drivers, typically no english speaking or illegal (and claiming benefits) Uber drivers etc, consequences were ruining livelihoods/jobs of long time registered taxi Folk , AND with a nice side effect of basically increasing prices by a 33% with minimal benefit. workers now get less money too.

As for Airb&b and similar, consequences for so many countries, poor people priced out, tourists ruining area, situations like yours, eventually megacorps buying up all the properties, causing all humans to live like mice in large megacorp owned multi story lego buildings.

We need drastic legislation and laws to be implemented ASAP to sort this out. There is no need for airb&bs, at least not on this scale, there was always cheaper-priced hotels and lodgings..

Fyi, I have no issue private indivuduals (not corpos) renting their home out wherever it is, for the summer or whatever, but this year-round rental basically causes mini hotel problems without the benefits, and miserable to citizens native there.

At least hotels have regulations, sound proofed walls, out-of-the-way locations, etc.

Nanof8 · 03/08/2025 04:33

Enough people complained about air bnb in the city where I live that they changed the rules. Now the person who owns the air bnb has to also live on the premises. So no more renting of a full house. (which doesn't affect me as we also go to hotels) for the larger groups of people. We always book self catering suites when on holidays. I find they cost a lot less than most air bnbs and I don't have to worry about leaving the place spotless when I leave.

Are there rules in your building ie. must be quiet after 10 or 11, etc.