Living next door to an AirBnB - how bad will it be?

[Allthesefolks]

Does anyone have any experience?

NDNs (semi) have announced they’re moving abroad and will rent out their house via AirBnB, is it going to be a nightmare? 😬

They’ve said they have a friend locally who will manage the lets and may be able to help if we have any problems, they’re generally a bit flaky and don’t seem to think things through though so I’m not putting much faith in this.

We’re not a holiday town although the house is centrally located so you can walk into town easily. It’s got quite a few rooms but doesn’t have any open plan areas/limited outside space so I’m not sure how attractive it’ll be to groups getting together for weekends away etc.

Are AirBnB useful at all if you have issues?

We were hoping to move in 1-2 year’s time so I’m worried that might be impacted too.

You have my sympathies. Although I love using them, there is no way I'd want to live next to one.

What sort of place do you live? Is it the type of place to attract hen/stag parties or not?

My inlaws live a village in the lakes and their house joins a Airbnb. Theyve had no issues at all and say in fact its better than normal neighbours ! May not be as bad as you think.

We stayed in an Airbnb for a couple of months when our house was being renovated. Most of the lettings that particular property got were similar - families needing somewhere to stay for a month or two who were between properties or in the middle of building work etc. If you’re not in a touristy area you might find similar.

Alternatively, you could look at it like this ......if you get noisy/bad Air BnB guests then at least they're only there for a few days or a week or so but if you had new bad/noisy neighbours or long term renters then you'd be stuck with them for a lot longer!

Not exactly the same situation, but one of the flats in the building I used to live in was an Airbnb. It was one bedroom so only really suitable for individuals/couples. There were no issues in the 18 months I lived there. To be honest I felt bad for the guests, the bedroom window was right next to the main door which folk would bang in and out of at all hours.
If you're not a holiday town, will there be much of market for Airbnb? Have you had a look to see what other properties are available in your town and how they compare to your neighbours' house? Maybe not many people will want to stay there!

Absolutely hellish, sorry OP. Airbnb’s that are not isolated properties or those that don’t have consent of all the neighbours should be banned IMO.

I saved really hard and bought a beautiful home in a block of flats (15). Popular city and within 18 months, 9 were short term lets. Parties, mess in communal areas (that I along with other residents had to burden cost of), being scared in my own home, being worried in a pandemic, not to mention cases trundling loudly and people generally being noisy and disrespectful almost 24/7. I cannot underestimate how negatively this impacted my life and mental health.

They (letters) were smoking in communal areas, setting off fire alarms incessantly at least once a month for 4 years. Can you tell I’ve had my fill.

I complained incessantly to local council under planning enforcement as it’s not a permitted change of use. Took almost 4 years, but most of them have been shut down. The landlords (who of course did not live in and loved the £) were furious at me, but they had no idea of the erosion of community they caused, or the genuine anxiety hearing cases trundling in the corridor gave me!

I expect post pandemic the fight will begin again.

Sorry if this isn’t what you want to hear but I personally would stay well clear. Of course you will get many respectful short term lets that won’t disturb you, my post isn’t necessarily about the noisy / disrespectful folks, I’m making a wider point about arrivals/ departures/ excited holiday makers.. the noise of which can be equally disruptive to your life/ sleep as a full on rave / parties.

@hellcatspangle

What sort of place do you live? Is it the type of place to attract hen/stag parties or not?

It’s a small city so we get some but transport links are poor an it’s nothing like a popular as Liverpool/Manchester/York etc. for that kind of thing. Plus other than the number of bedrooms I’m not sure it really suits that kind of market? It’s just a semi with an extra bedroom in the loft and no open plan living.

We hated it but there was the benefit as mentioned by a PP that we knew the idiots would only be there for a few days at most. Our house had paper thin walls and the noise transfer was phenomenal. Music and shrieking, the constant slamming of the door as people arrived, looked round, then went back for their cases etc, people smoking and drinking in the garden until late at night. But, the owner who had lived there himself previously had a loud dog so on balance we were possibly better off with the Air bnb'ers. Outside the main holiday periods we usually had no one next door during the week which was a nice respite for us.

@chillibeansauce

You have my sympathies. Although I love using them, there is no way I'd want to live next to one.

Yes I feel a bit guilty for being miffed because I actually stayed on one at the weekend but in a converted barn on a farm in the middle of nowhere!

@FishfingerFlinger

We stayed in an Airbnb for a couple of months when our house was being renovated. Most of the lettings that particular property got were similar - families needing somewhere to stay for a month or two who were between properties or in the middle of building work etc. If you’re not in a touristy area you might find similar.

Yes I’m wondering if this is the kind of person it’ll attract which would be fine as long as they’re not super noisy!

Glad to hear some positive experiences, thanks

I doubt it will be a problem based on your description because they are not likely to get rowdy bookings, more likely people who have a month between houses because their new build wasn't ready

Terraced house and adjoining property currently let as airbnb, in holiday destination. So far mix of people, couples and families. The couple leaving at 2am who didn't carry their cases out but bumped them down the staircase when I had work the next day annoyed me, who leaves at 2.30am? Other issues were kids staying up playing outside late when mine needed sleep for school. People behave differently on holiday and common courtesy seems to have gone out the window, have no privacy in my own garden anymore. Saving to build a nice tall fence. From my understanding any property can be let for up to 90 days without approval. Last time I checked there were 4 just on our small street up to let at crazy money.

We used to live next door to one ( a period terraced house) we also lived in a popular tourist destination the owner charged an arm and a leg for it. One of the reasons we moved was because of it.
IME 50% of the guests were ok the other 50% were an absolute nightmare including really loud music at 2 am, 6-8 adults shouting and screaming chatting in the garden very loudly all day and 1/2 the night, leaving dogs out in the garden to bark all night. The problem is that if you pay a lot of money for 6-8 adults to stay in a house you feel entitled to do what ever you want you don't give a shit about the neighbours who have to go to work, go about there everyday lives and would like a bit of peace and quiet when they are not at work. I should add that it wasn't just me that felt like like this all the houses around this house also felt the same.

"People behave differently on holiday"
^^ This.

Hell
On
Earth.
Ime...
B&B nd. Cigarette ends in our garden.
Rubbish thrown from windows into our garden.
Cars revving /parking /leaving at all hours.. Constant take away deliveries. Sometimes to our door by mistake.
Arguments.. Abuse.. To us and heard by us.
Loud music..
And this one has a manager living in it!!

To the poster that mentioned the legalities and it being legal for up to 90 days.. perhaps in some jurisdictions you can let a property for 90 days short term. In Scotland, for example, the title deed of the dwelling permits its primary purpose.

In my case, and I suspect many cases where there are majority residential dwellings, there will be restrictions I.e. permitted only as a residential dwelling. This is irrespective of whether you can let for 90 days or not IYSWIM.

Unfortunately like some of the recent posters, I found people paid what they did and expected to treat it like they could do as they liked!

The majority unfortunately don’t give a shit about whether they’ve permission to do short term let’s as cash is king. When I started fighting the issues like many have outlined above, I found there was little legislation to support people like me. Fortunately, there are motions going through parliament and regulations/ laws following on short term lets.

I live in a block of flats 9 flats - 6 of which are Air BnBs. It's never been an issue and I haven't had any problems at all.

The other two permanent residents though...

@chillibeansauce

You have my sympathies. Although I love using them, there is no way I'd want to live next to one.

This is annoying, don't use something you think is negative.

I never use AirBnB personally because I think their business model takes from the community and gives to the individual, in a number of ways.

It depends on price and how many people someone tried to squeeze in imo.

If it’s a standard 3 bed and they rent it as a 2 bed with office for x amount you will probably find it fine.
If they squeeze extra beds, bunk beds and sofa beds in for capacity high then that’s when it’s noisy.

Is it a party destination? If not you'll probably get groups like my friends and I who stayed in a cottage a few weeks ago, went for walks and a pub lunch and went to bed early
The other benefit is there will be lots of periods where it is empty and therefore quiet.

It depends on the area you live in and how many guests the house can take.

Do you think it might be used for large groups of young adults and stag/hen parties? If so, then yes you are right to be concerned, but there's not really a lot you can do as it is your neighbours' property to do what they like with. The only thing you can do in that situation is make a complaint to your neighbours or the local council about noise if/ when it gets bad.

If it's more of a family place though, you will probably be absolutely fine. Chances are it won't actually have guests every single week and most people actually are considerate and quiet and will behave similarly to how they would at home. You might get the odd noisy people but they will be gone before long, so it could have some benefits over neighbours that you have to live with permanently!

@IseeScottishhills

We used to live next door to one ( a period terraced house) we also lived in a popular tourist destination the owner charged an arm and a leg for it. One of the reasons we moved was because of it. IME 50% of the guests were ok the other 50% were an absolute nightmare including really loud music at 2 am, 6-8 adults shouting and screaming chatting in the garden very loudly all day and 1/2 the night, leaving dogs out in the garden to bark all night. The problem is that if you pay a lot of money for 6-8 adults to stay in a house you feel entitled to do what ever you want you don't give a shit about the neighbours who have to go to work, go about there everyday lives and would like a bit of peace and quiet when they are not at work. I should add that it wasn't just me that felt like like this all the houses around this house also felt the same.

Yes this is a concern. I think when people are away on holiday they just don't think about things like this. And rightly so, to be honest. I feel it's up to the host to notify them that this is something they DO need to think about if they choose a residential property.

OP, could you talk to your neighbour, ask them to put a note in the guest information/ website to reiterate that it is a residential area and that guests need to be respectful of neighbours as they would in their own homes?

I've seen that before in AirBnb's that I have stayed at. Some are advertised as not for hen/ stag parties etc.

Everyone needs to know where they stand before they take the property. A lot of the problems with AirBnB's and neighbours is because of miscommunication.

The one we used to live next door to said not for hen nights stag parties etc. But we would get 3-4 profession couples come and they would understandably bearing in mind the cost of the place want to have a relaxing time and that meant sitting in the garden all hours chatting in very loud voices or blasting out loud music till 3 am. I can totally see it from their point of view they’ve paid a lot of money to stay in a very nice house with a garden and expensive sound system so why should they care about the neighbours.
Generally your neighbours are not likely to be 6-8 adults who don’t normally live together (we don’t live in a student area). And when they are on holiday together they are excited chatting drinking staying up late generally enjoying themselves (I know because we went away last years and rented a holiday cottage and there were 8 of us but the house was very isolated) and this inevitably generates a lot more noise often at anti social hours and activity than an average family going about their daily lives going to work school etc.
We did tackle the owner and in fairness he did make some changes but obviously he couldn’t impose that many restrictions e.g he asked people to not use the garden after 12 mn but that still meant that in good weather people would be out in the garden every night till 12 mn 8 adults on holiday chatting and laughing usually drinking every night of the week makes a lot of noise. A neighbour four doors down spoke to the council they seemed uninterested.