Fed-up Edinburgh residents have had enough of 'party' Airbnb

Daily Record

2 days ago

One neighbour said: "People are going at all hours of the night and there is no real soundproofing despite the owner making modifications. It is ridiculous. He cannot get away with this."
Fed-up residents who live near an Airbnb that was suspended from the site because of problem parties, are furious that it's up for rent again.
The flat in the Faulburn area of Edinburgh is the only known short term let (STL) in the block.
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After complaints from neighbours about loud guests wreaking havoc, the property was suspended from Airbnb site for 30 days.
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They claimed youths were falling around the street, acting aggressively with one another and consuming alcohol at the property.
But they've been left livid after discovering the flat had been listed on Booking.com for several months before it reappeared on Airbnb in May 2025 when its suspension ended.
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Resident and business owner, Fraser Ramsay, said he had to go down to the flat last Tuesday because he couldn't sleep with the noise.
He told Edinburgh Live: 'I told the man to keep the noise down or I would phone the police and he agreed to do so but then I heard him through the night again.
'It ruins your next day, I'm a business owner, and going out to working not having a good sleep isn't great. The owner of this Airbnb needs to sell up to someone who will live here long term or rent out the flat to a proper resident.
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'At least if it is a permanent neighbour in the block we will be able to build relationships and have common courtesy. At the moment there is a security issue as well because these are strangers.
'People are going at all hours of the night and there is no real soundproofing despite the owner making modifications. It is ridiculous. He cannot get away with this.
'End of the day it is important this comes to an end. When it all kicks off it is horrible.'
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Fraser has been in regular contact with Edinburgh Council to try to get answers as to how the owner was able to re-list the property for short term rentals on Airbnb. Correspondence between the home owner and the council stated a notice had been given to the STL landlord ordering them to cease operating the Airbnb unless they are able to lodge an appeal by late June 2025.
It is understood Airbnb suspended the property originally due to a party taking place at the property which is a breach of the platforms rules. However the property owner is understood to have carried out 'sound proofing' alterations to the property, which led to the ban being lifted.
Airbnb protocol states the company will potentially deactivate a property if they are contacted by a relevant local authority which believes the listing is operating illegally. It is understood the council have not made contact with Airbnb regarding the above property.
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In a message seen by Edinburgh Live, council officials told Fraser: 'Just a quick e-mail to advise that enforcement notices were served on the property on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The property owner has until 25 June 2025 to appeal the notice.
'If he fails to do so by this date, then he would require to comply with its requirements i.e. cease the use of the property as a short term let by 25 July 2025.'
Councillor Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: 'We have issued an enforcement notice requesting that the owner of this property ceases to use it as a short term let. They have until 24 July 2025 to comply with this notice unless they appeal.'
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An Airbnb spokesperson said: 'We take feedback from local residents seriously, and this listing was temporarily suspended in line with our policies and the host has since taken steps to address this issue. Parties are banned on Airbnb and we may remove this listing if further policy violations occur.
'While issues on Airbnb are exceptionally rare, residents can contact us 24/7 via our neighbourhood support line and we investigate all reports received through this channel.'