Airbnb owner refused consent to let because of commun...

An Airbnb flat owner in Scotland has been refused access to let out her flat because it is in a block with a communal front door.

In Scotland, owners have to win consent for a change of use if their property is to be short let via Airbnb our any other similar service.

The East Lothian Courier reports that Karen Skinner was refused permission for a change of use for her ground floor property at Port Seton because it shares a communal entrance with other flats in the building.

However, she is challenging the decision by council officers, highlighting that the property has its own back door which can be used by guests.

Skinner insists the private entrance is preferred by holidaymakers who stay at the flat and she is quoted as saying: “The [council] officer's report has omitted to state that this flat has its own private back door entrance favoured by the guests, leading to a public path, and is independent of the main entrance. This fact would have been crucial in the determination of the planning application.

“The reason for refusal states that the use is ‘incompatible with and harmful to the amenity of the occupants of other flatted properties’; but despite the flat having been let in this way since May 2021, there have been no objections or concerns raised by the other residents.”

Council planners refused the change of use in June saying: “Such a regular turnover of users/occupants would change the nature of comings and goings not only to the application property itself but also within the- communal entrance and hallway of the residential building.

“Most users/occupants of the holiday let would have a degree of luggage or other property to take through the communal entrance which in itself would lead to a level of disturbance and nuisance not associated with the permanent/long term residential use of the property.

“It is accepted that permanent residents may also make noise but they tend to keep their luggage in their homes and do not move them with the same frequency as regularly changing guests.”

Skinner’s appeal will be heard next month.

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