Residents across the UK are growing increasingly frustrated with short-term lets turning their homes into a nightmare. One London resident described living next door to a weekend sublet that hosted hen and stag parties, with men wrestling in corridors, blood smears on walls, and someone trying to kick in her door. Despite complaints to building managers, landlords, and the council, no action was taken.
In Edinburgh, teacher Paul reported being kept awake by late-night noise from a neighbouring Airbnb. He struggled to contact the owner, resorting to pretending to be a potential renter just to send a message. He claims the problems have left people in negative equity.
A particularly alarming case in Brixton, south London, saw riot police called after 150 people arrived for a party that descended into chaos. Residents had repeatedly called police to break up parties, and one partygoer landed on a neighbour's balcony from above. The First-Tier Tribunal ruled against the Airbnb host, finding he breached his lease by using the property as a guesthouse.
Legal experts advise keeping a diary of events and gathering evidence. For leasehold properties, report issues to the freeholder. Local authorities may offer protection, such as London's requirement for planning permission for stays over 90 days. When selling a property, disputes about nearby Airbnbs must be disclosed in the property information form.
