I’m sick of posh tourists taking over my town… so I’m taking drastic action with my own property to keep them out
A LANDLADY is so fed up with posh tourists taking over her town that she’s resorted to drastic action to keep them out.
Tish Neaves, 60, became frustrated with the number of Airbnbs and second homes in her town of Whitstable, Kent, that she advertised her three-bed flat which stipulated an unusual condition.
Residents have complained for some time about properties there being snapped up by Londoners as second homes or bought to be turned into holiday lets.
This has meant prices have shot up as the number of affordable rental properties in the town has fallen.
Currently, there are just two houses available for under £1,300 a month.
Tish has advertised her two-floor apartment on Facebook put said that she will only consider local tenants, and her move has been widely applauded.
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She ignored the advice of estate agents to convert it into an Airbnb and put it on the market for £1,150 a month, £200 below the going rate.
Tish, who has one other flat in the town, told : “I have had properties in Whitstable for more than 20 years and I’ve seen how it has changed.
“In some ways it is good, where it has brought life and vitality, but I’ve also seen local people find it hard to compete for local properties.
“I went to lunch with a friend and her whole family has lived in Whitstable for years and she told me her children found it hard as the properties they would have rented are all Airbnbs or second homes.”
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The barrister said she thought it was important local people “had the chance”.
Rightmove currently just has two other three-bed flats in the town for rent which are advertised at £1,550 and £1,995 a month.
Tish said she chose to advertise her home at below the market rate because she knew people were struggling with the cost of living.
While an estate agent said she could get £1,350 a month Tish said she wanted to offer it in a range that was affordable to most working people in Whitstable.
Other estate agents told her the property would do well as an Airbnb but Tish said that while there was nothing wrong with Airbnbs, she though there was an “imbalance” in the town.
Tish, who also has 10 other rental properties in Kent has said she will let these out to local families when they become available.
Her post which was originally put up on a Whitstable Facebook group page, was met with widespread approval.
One commentator wrote: “What a very caring idea.”
Another added: “Excellent that you are letting it locally and not for a holiday home.”
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While a third said: “Good on you.”
It comes as Whitstable was rated the eighth most popular place in the UK to own a second home.
