It’s time to stem the tidal wave of Airbnbs in Hastings

I feel I must put pen to paper and just air my views on the present situation of Airbnb in Hastings .

I have lived in Hastings for the past 15 years now, and sadly due to low incomes and not being able to raise a substantial deposit I have rented all this time. Unlike some people I have never inherited any money but I guess that’s just the way the cookie crumbles!

I have worked all my life (two jobs ) and now live alone after a messy divorce.

When I started renting my one and a half bedroom property on the seafront I was paying £500 per month (that was expensive then ), but I now pay £750 ( which is average for the size ).

I love Hastings and class this place as my home. I have some wonderful neighbours, and having no family they are my companions / company too.

However, in the past couple of years, we have seen more and more Londoners buying up places down here, and they are either doing them up to ask a massive rent, (£850 plus a month ) or turning them into Airbnb’s.

My landlord (who is a great guy) is a Londoner who has 9 properties down here (mostly Airbnb) and my neighbour’s son (a Londoner) has just purchased his fourth property (to do another Airbnb). My neighbour to the other side of me, also has four properties (all Airbnb) so that’s a total of 17 properties, for 3 people, which have all been taken off the market, and could of been potential homes, for families etc.

As more and more Londoners move down, the scaffolding goes up (good for the building sector) but bad for Joe Public from Hastings like myself who rents.

My point is this, where does the likes of myself go who just wants a home that’s all? And when my lease is up in 12 months, sadly it’s not being renewed as yes, you guessed it, my flat is going to be another Airbnb.

Surely the government and local council should cap the amount of Airbnbs and also how many properties a person can buy? How many properties does one person need? Is this a genuine interest in property or just greed?

This is also taking jobs away from the local guest houses and hotels, which have struggle at the best of times down here. These people from reception staff to managers, cleaners etc all rely on their jobs (although minimum wage) in the hotels and Airbnb is chipping away at this sector too.

No wonder more and more people end up sleeping rough on the seafront while others fill their pockets buying up more and more properties.

Due to my age and job in a local supermarket, I will never now get onto the property market, but I also cannot afford to pay rent of £800 a month, then council tax and all my bills too.

How lucky if you come from London or Brighton and can work from home, but not so lucky for the renters who have lived here for years, I guess we are just expected to move on like rubbish blowing in the wind making way for the out of towners?

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