Blairgowrie Airbnb host Charlie Dickson hit with fine for loud, noisy, sick, drunk, fighting guests
Complaints about Airbnb guests fighting, vomiting, “yahooing” at all hours and playing loud music have landed a Blairgowrie property’s owner in court, where he was hit with a big fine and revealed the property is now up for sale.
South East
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A Blairgowrie “party house” Airbnb host has been hit with a big fine for allowing noisy, drunk, vomiting, fighting and loud guests to spoil his neighbours’ amenity.
Charlie Dickson’s Reeves St property, known as ‘Suntrap’, was the subject of a series of nuisance complaints which culminated in a raft of charges.
He pleaded guilty to 19 by-law violations at Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Ten of them relate to five incidents linked to breaches of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Short Stay Rental Accommodation Local Law in December 2018, and January, April, May and July this year.
Nine of the other charges relate to little-known laws regarding failure to take out and bring rubbish bins in within a set time frame.
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The court heard bad behaviour included fighting, a drunk person vomiting in a garden, a subwoofer blaring out music and multiple police call-outs to deal with excessive noise.
And there were other incidents involving guests “yahooing” at all hours, shouting and swearing on the deck between 11pm and 7am, and singing and clapping in the spa.
Prosecutor Gustav Cook told the court that property was one of 10 problem sites that led to the adoption of the law last year.
Mr Cook said neighbours were sick of noise problems at Dickson’s property, which he described as a “party house”, and a message had to be sent to the community that residents’ way of life will be protected.
He said the impact of multiple incidents on local neighbours had been terrible and they should not have to put up with such poor behaviour.
Dickson represented himself, telling the court he had taken measures to reduce the noise problem which he maintained “had been blown out of proportion” due to neighbours’ “exaggerating”.
The 29-year-old carpenter said he had installed a noise monitor, which had unfortunately not always worked, reduced the maximum number of occupants from 14 to 10, and banned hen and buck parties, as well as employing security guards to patrol the area.
Dickson said the guards didn’t see any unruly behaviour, and the noise being complained about was “more like six 50-year-olds having wine and cheese on the deck”.
He said the house was up for sale because he was sick of the problems that came with it.
Judicial Registrar Julian Bartlett said some of the behaviour that went on there was concerning.
“When you buy a property and agree to rent it out in this manner you take responsibility for the people who stay there,” Mr Bartlett said.
“Neighbours want it to stop; (a court) has to give them enjoyment of their properties into the future.”
Dickson was fined a total of $2700, with no conviction recorded.
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Mornington Peninsula Shire is the only municipality in Australia to have such stringent laws making property owners responsible for their guests.
This is the second successful prosecution the shire has undertaken in regards to their short stay law.
Last month a Sorrento property owner was fined $1500 for four charges relating to one incident in December 2018.
The Peninsula is one of the country’s busiest short stay hot spots with over 1.5 million overnight visitors each year.