We run an Airbnb – Edinburgh council shut us down after ridiculous complaints from nightmarish neighbors

A COUPLE have launched a fight to continue renting their luxury £500,000 home on Airbnb after neighbors complained about the noise of takeaway food being delivered to guests.

Michael and Cheryl Cran used the property in Edinburgh as a second home before renting it to tourists.

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The four-storey townhouse, which overlooks Holyrood Park and offers views of Arthur’s Seat, has been advertised on popular sites Airbnb and Vrbo for £290 per night.

But the couple were stunned when the city of Edinburgh Advice planners ordered them to stop after investigating noise complaints at the property.

It was claimed vehicles delivering food and Taxis dropping off guests at “troublesome hours” disturbed the peace.

Another complaint alleged that people “wandering” in the yard had raised concerns about safety.

The Crans turned to Scottish Government to overturn the board’s decision.

An appeal letter on their behalf said: “The Enforcement Notice states that short-stay commercial accommodation for visitors inherently involves a higher level of noise generation and increased potential for disturbance to surrounding residents. .

“Besides being a highly questionable and generalized statement, there is no evidence presented that either applies to the use of this lodge.”

He added: “The advisory states that if the property has its own private access, the relatively high number of guests has resulted in increased noise levels and traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) with safety concerns raised by strangers wandering into the small front courtyard.

“There is no evidence provided to support the claim of increased noise and Traffic arising from the letting of the property, and in our opinion the assertion is wholly untrue.”

The Crans said they have rented the property for 214 nights since 2019 and have stayed there themselves for 407 nights.

They also provided letters from seven neighbors who said they had no issues with the property.

In issuing its enforcement notice, the council said: “Short stay commercial accommodation for visitors inherently involves a higher level of noise generation and greater potential for disturbance to surrounding residents than long term rental. or other forms of residential occupancy.

“In this case, although the property has its own private access, the relatively high number of guests has resulted in increased noise levels and traffic with security concerns have been raised about strangers wandering in the small front yard.

“Food delivery, taxi services at unsociable hours and cleaning services are also raised as issues affecting household amenity in this small, tightly-knit development.”

A government reporter will render a decision in due course.

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