A couple who rented out their back garden summer house as a £240-a-night Airbnb 'cosy cottage' have been ordered to stop after neighbours complained about 'noisy strangers' blighting their lives.
Background of the Dispute
Estate agent Vilma Arlauskaite, 44, and her builder fiance Nigel Horridge advertised the annexe behind their south London home as 'Our Little Retreat' – a romantic hideaway complete with a wood-fired hot tub, sauna, breakfast, robes, and towels. They promised guests 'relaxation, rejuvenation and pure bliss' in a 'peaceful haven' where 'nature meets craftsmanship', all while still being in the capital.
However, furious neighbours in Beckenham, near Bromley, said the reality was less blissful, complaining of noise, smoke, late-night parties, and 'strangers' peering into their gardens from the 'eyesore' building.
Neighbour Complaints
Complaining residents finally won their fight to have the Airbnb stopped after town hall planners launched enforcement action, claiming no planning permission was ever sought to run a commercial operation. Neighbours said the smoke from the wood-burning hot tub created 'excessive pollution', preventing them from hanging washing or spending time outside.
One neighbour told Bromley Council: 'It is continually rented out to noisy strangers, which creates a lot of disturbance. It is also hired out for parties and events with bright lights, music, singing, and other loud anti-social noise. It has a wood-burning fire and sauna, which create excessive pollution with strong-smelling black smoke. The odour is so strong we can't leave washing out, must close windows, and cannot sit in our garden.'
Another neighbour, Salim Bemnouhoub, said the Airbnb's Velux window had a 'direct view' into his family's garden, with birthday parties, gender-reveal parties, and BBQs causing misery. He wrote: 'Loud anti-social partying is common, especially in summer, disturbing our day-to-day life to the point where we cannot leave windows open or enjoy our garden in peace.'
Kurt Bennett, whose home lies metres from the Airbnb, told the Mail that his father, John, diagnosed with cancer around the time of construction, did not want to spend time outside due to the 'row'. John wrote in a complaint before his death that the shed 'totally engulfed our garden, stolen our light and our view'.
Planning Enforcement and Appeal
Mr Horridge built the annexe and began letting it out in 2022 without planning permission. A retrospective application was initially refused but granted on appeal, under the condition that the outbuilding was for residential use. Bromley Council then took enforcement action in 2024, alleging commercial letting.
The couple challenged the enforcement notice at the Planning Inspectorate, claiming no 'material change of use'. However, planning inspector Eileen Griffin ruled that the hot tub, sauna, decking, and outdoor seating were likely to encourage late-night use, harming neighbours' living conditions with noise and disturbance. The appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice upheld.
Couple's Response
Ms Arlauskaite told the Daily Mail: 'It's a shame because of these angry people around us... just the energy of the jealousy. Honestly, I think it's unreasonable.' She said the shed was initially a 'workshop' and 'covid project' that 'naturally evolved' into an Airbnb. She denied parties, stating guests were usually two people, and noise reminders were given. She added that the smoke from kiln-dried wood lasts only 10 minutes.
Now, the couple plan to relocate to France to pursue larger rental projects there. The building will only be used for family visits. The Airbnb listing, which boasted a 4.99 rating and was among Airbnb's 'most loved' homes, remains online but is no longer active for bookings.
