Concerns raised over short-term let at Ayr Harbour flat

The applicant, Alan Meikle, was quizzed on complaints about bins and noise at South Ayrshire Council’s licensing panel.

But the main issue was the obligation that landlords have to get a majority of residents in a shared access apartment block to allow guests access to a key box on arrival.

Mr Meikle explained that he had been unable to contact the owners of two of the other three flats in the block – one a landlord of another short-term let and the other a resident who, he said, would not allow contact.

He claimed that the only objection around noise, from someone in a nearby block of flats, was made on behalf of another resident in the same block as the short-term let.

A visit by council officers found no other issues, although Mr Meikle admitted having contact with guests using the bins incorrectly.

An issue around the noisy door closer had been addressed with the factor of the building.

He said he had met every resident when he bought the property four years ago, providing his contact details.

Where there had been issues around the wrong material being put in bins, he said: “I simply don a pair of rubber gloves, go down and sort out the problem.”

Following a query around the change of the apartment from one bedroom to two bedroom utilising a sofa bed, Mr Meikle provided an unusual example.

He said: “The main demographic of lets that I have tend to be from elderly people and occasionally the wife will complain that her husband snores, so he generally ends up in the sofa bed.”

Councillor Kenny Bell, who chairs the panel, said: “As you did say, Mr Meikle, that occasionally you’ve had a couple of contacts about rubbish being put in the wrong bins, which you went and sorted, to your credit.

“I’m assuming then you have guest information and bins in the house and they just fail to use them.”

Mr Meikle replied: “Not only is it on an email that you get on arrival, but it’s actually on a notice on the desk table in the lounge.”

Pressed about the requirement to get permission from other residents for the installation of a key box, Mr Meikle reiterated that he had not been able to get in touch with the operators of the let that operates above his apartment.

He said the elderly resident had a ‘warning notice’ on his door against any ‘interruptions or junk mail’ and had not responded to attempts to speak to him to obtain permission.

The panel was told that to gain a licence, a majority of residents were required to give permission for a key box, where Mr Meikle had only obtained 50 per cent.

Cllr Bell said: ”If you have heard the common theme from this panel and from previous panels, it’s all about guest supervision.”

Mr Meikle said that the key box could only be used for entry between 3pm and 7pm. He said that he, or members of his family, met every guest, either at entry or later for those using the key box.

Councillor Martin Kilbride said that the application should be approved on the condition the key box issue is sorted within six weeks.

He was backed by Cllr Bell.

While the objection around the noise of the now replaced door closer had been addressed, Councillor Mary Kilpatrick argued that the application should be refused.

She said: “The premises are not suitable for a short-term let, having regard to the possibility of undue public nuisance.”

This was backed by Councillor Alan Lamont.

Councillor Ian Cavana indicated his support for approving the application with conditions.

The application was approved by three votes to two.