Party pads and 'brothels' uncovered by probes into holiday lets

2,400 properties investigated by one council alone amid warnings short-term rentals are hollowing out capital

- Rachael Burford

A "WILD WEST" of Airbnb-style short-term lets risks "hollowing out" London, it was warned today, as one borough revealed it was investigating a record 2,400 properties for abusing rules.

Westminster has more than 10,500 homes being used as holiday lets amid claims some apartment blocks are hosting more guests that The Ritz hotel each night.

Suspected brothels, party pads with a "revolving door" of revellers and severe overcrowding have all been uncovered in short-term properties during council probes.

The town hall said it received dozens of complaints from residents every week about short-term lets amid claims they were devouring housing stock, as well as affecting the local hotel trade.

Across the capital, more than 455,000 stays were booked in short-term lets between July and September last year via three major online platforms, according to the Office for National Statistics. Over the same period there were some 86,500 properties available to rent in London on Airbnb alone, analysis by Benham & Reeves suggests, up nine per cent from the previous quarter.

New controls designed to ease the housing crisis and help prevent local people in tourist hotspots being terrorised by noise were announced by the Government this year.

The changes mean landlords will need permission from the council to turn their home into a short-term let. Housing Secretary Michael Gove said a mandatory national registration scheme would also be introduced.