Hackney residents ‘up in arms’ as disabled access home rented on Airbnb

A criminal probe is under way after a home for a disabled key worker was rented to holidaymakers on Airbnb sparking a backlash in east London.

Residents in Hackney gathered outside the specially-designed bungalow with banners and signs calling for the tenant to be evicted.

They have reported seeing different people with suitcases coming and going from the property on Morpeth Road, near Victoria Park, since September.

An advert on the rental website shows it being marketed for £164 per night, according to BBC London.

Campaigner Mary Pimm, chair of the Victoria Park Community Association, told the Standard: “This is a scandal far wider than this one home and it is running in several east London boroughs.

“Everyone is absolutely outraged. We didn’t think we were shockable any more.

“We’ve actually got a tenant who lives in a road nearby with multiple health problems. This place would be ideal for him beause it doesn’t have steps. He and people like that have been denied a suitable home.”

The property booking platform has suspended the rental listing while Hackney Council and landlords Peabody, which manages it, carry out a “sensitive and ongoing” investigation.

A Hackney spokesman said a criminal probe is also under way. The Metropolitan Police said: “This matter is being managed by the local authorities.”

Mrs Pimm told BBC News: “Everyone is up in arms.

“Peabody and Hackney Council have been slow about taking action.”

Alan Bryce, from Tenancy Fraud Forum, said across the capital around 50,000 social homes were subject to some form of tenancy fraud.

“This is far from a victimless crime,” he said.

“The victims are the families in temporary accommodation. There are over 70,000 of families like that in London alone.”

Hackney Council added: “There are thousands of people across London who are in desperate need of an affordable home and we therefore treat any report like this extremely seriously.

“There is a criminal investigation into this property, which we are working with Peabody to support. The investigation means we cannot comment further at this stage.”

A Peabody spokesman said: “As a not-for-profit housing association with a strong social purpose, we are of course totally against anyone fraudulently obtaining affordable housing that’s there to help people in genuine need.

“We treat all reports of this nature incredibly seriously and work with our partners across multiple agencies to recover these homes so they can be reallocated to those on the council's waiting list.

“We are carrying out an investigation into these particular allegations alongside partners.

“As this is sensitive and ongoing, we’re unable to comment further at this stage.”

A spokesperson for Airbnb said: “Hosting in social housing is often illegal and has no place on Airbnb.

“We have suspended the listing and are in touch with the local housing association to assist with their investigation.

“We have a clear process for local authorities to alert us to social housing fraud, and we remove these listings from our platform.

“We remind hosts to check and follow local rules for hosting, and we are committed to partnering with local authorities to tackle social housing fraud.”