AIBU to report a flat being used for Airbnb?

[VeryQuaintIrene]

Interested in others' opinions on this one. The management in my block explicitly prohibit airbnb rentals. I was pretty sure that the flat opposite mine was being used like this and I did a little sleuthing and found it on the site. Normally, I might decide that it's none of my business (the guests have not been disruptive) except that the owners deliberately turfed out the lovely woman who lived there with her family, causing her a lot of financial and other stress, so that they could make way more money than with a regular tenancy. Should I tell the management company? I think my motives maybe are a bit vengeful (and obviously it's too late for my lovely ex-neighbour) and I probably won't do anything, but what does everyone think?

Yes, definitely the same terms. We all got the same message about not doing it!

Giving put keys/codes to get into the building is a security risk, never mind you have no idea who stays there. Granted you can't choose neighbours, but an ever changing lot ups the risks. Plus inevitably you'll get parties. But most importantly they rob the less well off of a place to buy/rent. I used to live with many next to me, luckily now they are all live in owners and we have a whatsapp group, take in parcels, go for a drink, we can rely on each other.

Actually I would report it as if it contravenes the rules then the insurance would likely not payout if there were a fire caused by the Airbnb renters and the knock on could be everybody’s insurance would refuse to pay out as the building usage permit would become invalid.

Also with a constant flow of guests you have no way of knowing who is using the property or what for and that poses a significant safety risk for all the other tenants with a constant parade of strangers coming and going

AirBnB ruins communities. Report.

Further, the lack of regulation means that hosts can be discriminatory towards guests with impunity.

AirBnB also does business with illegal settlements www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025/

Came on to say just this. Contact your leaseholder and insurance company.

Holiday lets require a change of use planning permission from residential to holiday let. I presume as the management company prohibits holiday lets then the approved permission from the local planning authority is for resident letting rather than holiday lets. I would absolutely dob them in. The flat is supposed to be a home for a local resident not an air bnb for holiday makers.

I live next door to a landlord who has both tenants and Airbnb. The tenants are frequently more annoying as they are louder and stay longer! Unusual experience i guess but I prefer the short let's.

I would absolutely report it.

Yes I would. The ban will be there for a reason. Most likely impact on insurance, increased security risk, increased maintenance costs, increased running costs and banned by your local authority without a licence.

The guests have not been disruptive YET. Doesn't mean it will stay that way, and when you get the first nightmare ones you'll wish you had reported it.
I had the experience of having my booking cancelled the night before 10 of us were due to travel, because the owner was doing the same thing. Disruptive guests over the weekend meant police were called and management company became aware of what was happening so owner was forced to cancel our Monday booking. I'd much rather someone had reported it before so they didn't mess up the plans of so many others in peak season!

Absolutely!

And it is an agreed rule, agreed when you buy. Information that may be important when you choose a flat to buy.

Of course it should be reported, it is rule breaking.

Hadn't thought of the insurance angle - thanks to those who brought that up!

Absolutely yes report.

definitely report for all the reasons above but especially because of the impact on housing stock
send a link to the listing but screen shot it too

why grass? It isn’t gonna help your ex-neighbour, is it?

Yes although it would stress me out, I would report this. I would turn a blind eye to lots of minor infractions which appear to do no harm, but Airbnb really does harm, reducing the local housing stock and often creating a lot of nuisance for neighbours. It’s really CF behaviour as you’ve all been explicitly warned not to Airbnb your properties! I would also be worried about the building insurance situation.

In your place, I would absolutely report it.

They ended your lovely neighbour's tenancy because they thought they could get away with making more money on AirBnB even though it's against the conditions of the lease. Help them reap what they sowed.

Definitely report this… if you don’t want to then give me the details & I’ll report it myself!
I come from an area which is now dominated by air bnb’s and second homes used just a few weeks if the year. These make it impossible for young first time buyers to get on the housing ladder and the entitled owners expect local people to clean these places for very low wages. I HATE THESE PROPERTIES!

I'd absolutely report it. If they're ignoring the terms of their lease by letting it as an Airbnb, I doubt very much they've applied for change of use, pay the correct council tax, tax on their income or even pay to have the refuse collected as it's no longer a domestic property.

You also have no idea of who any of the people that are coming and going regularly are, you'll get so used to seeing strangers around the place you might not notice someone unusual in the building who then goes on to commit a crime.

I would report too, for the reasons others have given.

Cheeky, entitled bastards. I would 100% report

I dont normally agree with tattle tales but in this instance we are not talking about petty rule breaking. Many PP on the threat have indicated ways in which it could impact other tenants and owners in the future. If they see this LL getting away with it others could follow suit and soon the majority of flats in the block are affected. This was my attitude when someone attempted to open an HMO opposite. I got together with several lots of neighbours to object as we felt it would cause parking problems and affect the entire character of the area. Air B&B also affect the character of an area and can send it into a downward spiral. Then there are the important insurance and security aspects. I would inform the freeholder/management company.

This was going to be my question too.

The security side of things when multiple unknown people have access to the building.

I haven't lived in a flat with any form of communal entrance. What questions were asked on your house insurance, and would the neighbouring flat being used as an Airbnb impact your answers, and potentially your policy.

Sorry, I hadn't read the full thread before commenting, but can see insurance has already been raised.