Neighbour formally complains living next to Airbnb is ‘unnerving’ – before incredible inconsistency emerges
A Scottish flat owner who complained about living next to an Airbnb has been accused of hypocrisy after licensing bosses were told about an extraordinary development.
Martin Hopley, who lives in Brighton Terrace in Gullane, objected to his neighbour’s flat operating as a holiday let.
He claimed the noise and disruption it caused were not acceptable.
Hopley argued the experience of living next to the flat reinforced why the properties should not share communal entrances and stairwells with residential homes.
However, a stunning revelation was revealed at East Lothian Council’s licensing sub-committee meeting this week.
Solicitor Niall Hassard, representing the applicants, claimed Hopley held a short-term let licence for a flat in St Andrews.
Hassard said: “The essence of Mr Hopley’s objections seem to start and finish with the fact that a flatted dwelling is not appropriate to be used as a short-term let.
“I have heard this many times as I have represented people across the country.
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“It is the first time, however, I have heard it from someone who has a short-term let himself and it is a flat.”
Firing back, Hopley said his rented flat was student accommodation in a block of similar properties.
He explained: “The short-term let licence was applied for so students are not forced to take accommodation during the summer and don’t have to pay for it.
“It is a first and second-floor flat which is a student let above a ground-floor flat which is a student let, and next door is a student let and the other side is a bed and breakfast.
“They are not owner-occupied flats and do not share a common stairwell. Contrast that with Brighton Terrace: it is a residential property which is owner-occupied with a communal stairwell.”
However, Hassard revealed the Brighton Terrace property received a 4.95 out of five-star rating on Airbnb.
He also said the owners invested £150,000 to create a four-bedroom and four-bathroom holiday let aimed at the high-end golf tourism market.
Despite Hassard’s comments, Cllr Jeremy Findlay raised concerns that no professional manager was on hand to oversee the flat.
He said: “I appreciate the applicants say they have a brother who lives in the village but he is not a professional, he may not be accessible 24 hours a day.
“This is not saying anything about his character but I would like to see a professional management company appointed and the licence restricted to a year to ensure that is done.”