Air BnB worry

Leasehold is virtually unheard of in Scotland since Property Reforms in 2012.
Freehold covenants, although interesting - mine are fascinating - are timely and costly to attempt to enforce.
OP's Residents' Committee is on the case and if the AirB&B licensee has contravened planning that may offer some scope to act.
I live in an area with an acute shortage of housing, we have Airbnb properties here and people would love (and need) to have them as permanent homes. Permanent homes should come before holiday homes, l really can't see any moral argument against that.

Presumably you are paying a lease owner, rather than freehold, so I would go through your lease with a fine tooth comb. This does constitute a sub-let, as well as a commercial premises, and I expect there would be something in it about either of those. Sometimes, it can be also in the inherited terms of the freehold; by that I mean that the original landowner can set out conditions on the purchaser/developer that prevents it. (I lived in a suburb of Swansea where the land had gone from the estate owner to the coal board and on to various developers, but none could set up a business in hospitality nor sell alcohol in the whole area because the original 19th century owner had made it a condition; my current freehold insist that my neighbours must keep the dyke clean and clear along their boundary) Interesting stuff

I agree with Aveline and others who disapprove of Air B and Bs. People who work in holiday destinations like beautiful cities or quaint villages by the sea are finding it increasingly difficult to find living accommodation, as landlords are
sometimes throwing tenants out to make more money with these short term holiday lets. My GD is working and studying in Brighton and is finding it virtually impossible to find living accommodation. B and B in somebody's own home is quite a different matter.

Aveline

AirBnB is loathed in Edinburgh. These short term lets have hollowed out the town centre and now it looks like they're coming for residential areas. I'd never, never stay in one. It's a long term home lost for a family.

Some of us have no choice if we are to take an affordable break.

Who knows, the new folk might be fun and helpful?

I fully understand the OP’s fears. It’s wrong that in a block of flats the other residents don’t have to be informed as to what is in effect a change of use. Especially as there’s shared parking , gardens and no doubt an entrance. I think I feel a house is different. I’m glad that there’s a residents association so at least there can be checks made on any necessary permissions and insurance cover. I accept that probably most renters will be fine but when it’s your permanent home it’s understandable that you might not welcome the uncertainty of new tenants every week or two, none of whom are intrinsically invested in the property.

Aveline

I have no patience for people who choose to rent these properties for cost or convenience purposes and who have never thought beyond it. We, too have had limited funds and young children before. Somehow we managed without using a home that could have been a permanent one for those who don't have one.

Surely every house is potentially be a permanent home.
How on earth could you differentiate?

Aveline you've made some very harsh comments to people that use Airbnbs. I've never used one in this country, but have with family in Canada. I do rent holiday cottages in this country. Have you only ever stayed in hotels or camped for holidays? I'm happy to stay in a hotel for a very short break of 2 or 3 days but wouldn't be able to afford or enjoy a two week stay.
Having said the above I hope your fears aren't realised, you may very well find out that the visitors are quiet and respectful, and if they're wanting to visit local attractions they might not want to use the garden.

I have a favourite Airbnb I use when I go back to Wales. It’s a small one bedroom flat but it’s lovely and well managed. It’s in a block of 4 flats with its own parking space . It’s in a small town and quiet at night. There have never been any problems and I am obviously very considerate when Im there, either alone or with a friend.

I’ve stayed in 3 others in nearby areas and no problem there either. I’ve only ever had a problem and that was due to the facilities inside and the owner being difficult. Left her a bad review and never stayed again. I’ve had really positive Airbnb experiences and it’s much nicer ( and often cheaper) than a hotel

Sorry, should read as you say residents are elderly

Haven't read any responses. Just wonder if there are any Conditions in the property deeds that limit subletting. I know my house and most of the others here have restrictions on multiple occupancy, running any business from them. My son moved to a new build 5 years ago, within 2 years someone set up an Airbnb, was approved by Council etc but the local householders objected based on the area being family orientated. Licence was revoked. As you say, the majority of residents are residents with shared facilities it may be worthwhile lodging an objection.

Airbnb is a nightmare.

Aveline

You have been lucky Basgetti. My son suffers greatly from short term tenants from hell especially during summer and winter festivals which last for months. Rowdy drunken behaviour and filthy messes left on the stairs make living there just ghastly. Arriving late and just ringing all the doorbells to be let in, loud parties and overcrowding all seems to be par for the course.
Who cares though, as long as people
'Find it so much more convenient'.

Festivals aren't all year though.
So many people these days have their lives blighted by anti-social neighbours who are there to stay.
I can't believe that more than half of these Airbnbers are going to make a mess & cause disturbance, & the ones that do, well no need to register complaints with the council or get the police involved (where the nuisance is criminal) because they'll be gone in a few days.
If the lease allows it & they've got planning and short-term let permission, they've done nothing wrong, & it mayn't be the mayhem you're obviously expecting. Don't meet troubvle halfway would be my summing up.

I have no patience for people who choose to rent these properties for cost or convenience purposes and who have never thought beyond it. We, too have had limited funds and young children before. Somehow we managed without using a home that could have been a permanent one for those who don't have one.

We are all freeholders here. The resident concerned has got all the approvals and licenses required but did it secretly so we didn't have the opportunity to register complaints.
I'm not listening to the media Dreadwich but family members and friends who suffer when local properties are used in this way.

Aveline - you say your neighbour has advertised your parking area and access to your lovely communal garden. If your parking area provides each residence with a spot then he does have every right to do that but I think the garden is a different issue because people spread in gardens and what each of you is entitled to is dependent I suppose upon how many want to use it at the same time. Personally, I would challenge everybody I didn't know who happened to be in the garden - I assume you know all your neighbours. You can do this very politely and in so doing, give the signal that you're concerned homeowners who want to know who's in your communal space and maybe also put up some notices. You should gather together as neighbours and decide what you can put up with and what you can't. Would you for instance want to ban ball games or loud music? Actually the younger generations have grown up on earbuds unlike our generation who had radios with speakers.

As someone who lives in a county which attracts holidaymakers all year round, I've not seen any awful airbnb families, and it's a bit unfair to sneer at people who choose this type of holiday because they find it 'cheap' and 'convenient'. Surely that's what we all look for at some point in out lives, and it makes no difference whether people already have homes because we're all entitled to leisure time.

Look on the bright side, you may find that you don't have a succession of strangers - if it's a nice spot there'll be people who want to return and you might get used to them/like them. My advice is to keep an open mind. I don't incidentally have property to rent so no axe to grind either way.

We had problems when a house near us was let out at weekends as an Airbnb as most of the renters were hen and stag nights. However many leases do not allow short-term letting of properties so it's probably worth getting in touch with your managing agents.

Juicylucy

We always stay in Airbnbs they are much better for us than hotels. They are always lovely and well kept, and we are always good and respectful.

Just out of curiosity; how many of those, were you sharing the host's private home with host in residence ?

Stop listening to the media, the majority of people who stay in these places are respectful of the property and neighbours. It probably won't be anything like you imagine.

But if he's ignored any planning permission or telling the authorities what he's doing then you have the option to report him.

Are you sure that this (Airbnb) is even allowed under the Header Lease? Maybe check with the Freeholder of the block of flats?

I think some Airbnb still are like the original idea but not in the big cities anyway.

We stayed in one where the people were subletting which was quite wrong.

I think this type if holiday letting should be banned altogether. It is open to so.much abuse and the regulation seems very poor if not non existent . As are all Disrupter Industries

It started off as a quick way to make a few bob out of complete strangers Cash in hand and is now well out of control.

Every Airbnb is a home lost. They have mutated from their original idea of letting a room in your home.
Very antisocial to use them. However nice you are the next guest could be a nightmare for all the poor neighbours.

Whilst I can fully understand why you are anxious about the turn of events and possible outcome, to say that " People staying for a short time just don't care about the place. They'll never be back and don't need to be considerate" is very sweeping and tars every one who has ever rented an air bnb property or similar with the same filthy brush. Like many others , we are regular users and we take great care to look after the property we're staying in and treat it with the utmost respect. I fear your worry & anxiety about the future of your block is skewing your judgement - be careful! I wish you all the best though, as it certainly doesn't sound the right place for short term lets and the fact the owner hasn't been upfront with you all about it does make it seem that much more suspicious.

We always stay in Airbnbs they are much better for us than hotels. They are always lovely and well kept, and we are always good and respectful.

Well, just to add a cautionary tale. My son has a flat in a large old house. One of the other flats was recently sold and the new owners let it on Air B&B. Last weekend it was completely trashed by some young people on a short term let.. serious, serious damage...