The owners of an Airbnb “party house” driving neighbours crazy have promised to end its current use and halve the maximum number of occupants. But the saga of the property in a quiet Henleaze street took another twist when it emerged the couple have also appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against Bristol City Council’s failure to make a decision in time over external alterations after it was built differently to the permission granted.
“Frustrated” councillors have now refused to back down and, although they no longer have the final say, voted unanimously to fight the appeal on the grounds that they would have rejected the application. The row erupted after landlords Hassan and Maryam Khaleghi built a five-bedroom house at 30 Hobhouse Close for up to 10 people to stay in via Airbnb when it only had consent as either a two-bedroom family home or a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for no more than five tenants.
Neighbours said their lives had been made a misery and accused the pair of “devious” tactics by creating a “revolving door” of unwanted guests drinking, fighting, shouting and playing loud music late at night. But the owners insisted at a meeting of the council’s development control committee in December that it was never their intention for the building to be an Airbnb and that they were locked into a contract with a letting agent.
