‘Underground party scene’ causes havoc for police
Airbnb and club restrictions have created an “underground party scene” in Sydney as young people hire units and houses to create havoc in the suburbs. And it’s causing a massive headache for both neighbours and police.
NSW
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Airbnb and club restrictions have created an “underground party scene” in Sydney as young people hire units and houses to create havoc in the suburbs.
And it’s causing a massive headache for both neighbours and police.
A senior police source said young people were turning to short-term rentals such as Airbnb to socialise.
“It’s this new underground scene that’s emerged since COVID,” the source said. “It’s causing a huge issue because the bookings are done through an online account. It’s hard for authorities to follow up.”
Residents of the Pyrmont apartment complex, where private school teenagers partied before allegedly stabbing a defenceless stranger in the face, say they have had enough of the loud music, bashing on doors and vomit-strewn floors.
Amanda Jensen, who rents a unit in the new Pier 99 apartment block on the corner of Wattle St and Pyrmont Bridge Rd, said she was “fed up”.
“Ever since we moved in, in March, we noticed there were a lot of parties. I thought: ‘Oh there must be young people living here’,” Ms Jensen said.
“At one or two o’clock we hear music blaring. I was told after the stabbing it was Airbnb parties and it all makes sense.”
She said there was regularly vomit and spilt drinks covering the floors in the lobby.
“It just stays there for the whole weekend. It’s disgusting,” she said.
Ron Talley, who moved into the complex last week, had already complained to management after a disturbance on Saturday night.
“People were running up and down the halls at one o’clock, laughing and bashing on the doors — it was a little frightening,” Mr Talley said.
The building managers at BME Group did not respond to questions, including whether or not short-term rentals would be banned from the complex.
An out-of-control Airbnb party in Western Sydney on Saturday, July 18, resulted in a 15-person brawl breaking out. Police were forced to use capsicum spray on the crowd.
Two men were taken to Blacktown Hospital for minor injuries and a third for alcohol poisoning at the Schofields party.
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Eastern Suburbs Police Superintendent John Duncan said they regularly received dozens of noise complaints during the weekend from parties, including many at rentals.
“It can be from short-term accommodation arrangements or general parties,” Superintendent Duncan said.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said there were a “small number of individuals who think rules don’t apply to them”.
“COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions imposed through public health orders have naturally resulted in significant shifts in community behaviour,” the spokeswoman said.
“Officers are conducting proactive patrols and are engaging closely with hotels, industry operators and licensed premises.
“It would be foolish to think a large social gathering at this time will go undetected — police commonly receive information reports from the community regarding social gatherings in breach of the rules, and every one of these reports is followed up.”
Airbnb Australian spokesman Derek Nolan said the Pyrmont unit had been delisted.
“We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear about this reported behaviour, which goes against everything our community stands for,” he said.
“Our message to everyone using our platform could not be clearer — unauthorised and ‘open invite’ parties are strictly forbidden on Airbnb.
“Conduct such as this has no place on Airbnb and we unequivocally condemn it and are fully committed to supporting NSW Police in their investigations. We have also removed the associated guest account from our platform as investigations are ongoing.”
Airbnb announced a worldwide ban on party house bookings and said it would consider legal action against anyone caught out.
Short term rental company Stayz spokesman Eacham Curry said these incidents “tar the entire industry”.
“Stayz acknowledges there have been a number of reported instances of anti-social behaviour booked via other holiday rental platforms in recent weeks,” Mr Curry said.
“While the holiday rentals listed on the Stayz website have a long history of operating harmoniously in the community, these unwelcome incidents tar the entire industry with the same brush and demonstrate the need for more accountability for all short-term rental accommodation operators.”
Peak industry body Strata Community Association NSW president Chris Duggan urged Airbnb to enforce the party ban during schoolies week.
“The entertainment may be scaled back because of COVID-19, but the bookings will still happen whether border restrictions are in place or not,“ Mr Duggan said.
“I hope that Airbnb backs up its threat to take legal action for breaches of its no-party house policy and that it takes a big stick to those who do the wrong thing.”