A landlord has been found guilty of illegally letting two ‘party flats’ on Airbnb and Booking.com after neighbours complained about excessive noise.
The two flats in Grove Road, North Finchley, had been granted planning permission by Barnet Council in January 2016 for use as a ‘self-contained, single household’, however its planning enforcement team found both were being booked via the sites for short-term stays by large groups who often used the flats for parties.
One neighbour said the noise “had severely impacted his ability to sleep and has made living in the property unbearable”. Evidence showed at least 220 days of occupancy across the two flats in the first 10 months of 2024 when the legal limit in the capital is 90 days a year.
George Nathanel, who managed the flats on behalf of Zenobia Properties, was issued a notice by Barnet Council in November 2023. Nathanel, who failed to appear in court, tried to shift the blame on what he described as “long-term tenants” and claimed he was unaware of any short-term rentals via Airbnb and Booking.com but was subsequently described in Airbnb reviews as “an amazing, attentive and responsive host.”
Evidence of website listings to rent the property were shown in court, and booking adverts remain live on the websites.
Nathanel was sentenced at Willesden Magistrates’ Court where he was found guilty of failing to comply with the requirements of a Breach of Condition Notice and ordered to pay a £75,000 fine, council costs of £5,400 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
Councillor Ross Houston, cabinet member for homes and regeneration, says: “We gave Mr Nathanel ample opportunity to stop using the properties as short term rentals, but were left with no alternative but to take him to court when he didn’t stop.”
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