Landlord in Russia fined £75k for 'devastating' Airbnb in quiet UK neighbourhood

A rogue landlord has been hit with a hefty £75k fine for unlawfully renting out two flats on Airbnband Booking.com to unruly revellers.

Neighbours of properties leased out to partygoers by George Nathanel were subject to banging parties and chaos.

A court heard that the properties were being booked through holiday platforms for brief stays by large groups, often using them for raucous parties. Neighbours reported significant noise disruptions due to lack of soundproofing and antisocial hours, with boisterous parties continuing into the small hours of the morning.

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Victim statements presented in court included one from a local resident who described the rentals as "stressful and devastating." He said that they had a "detrimental impact on his life, his work and mental health" and it "had severely impacted his ability to sleep and has made living in the property unbearable."

Have you been badly impacted by a holiday let? Maybe we can help. Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Mr Nathanel was convicted of illicitly utilising the North Finchley properties in north London for short-term lettings, according to Barnet Council.

The landlord, who oversaw the flats on behalf of Zenobia properties, was served a notice by the council in November 2023 to halt the use of the flats following grievances from local residents.

The Grove Road residences were scrutinised for potential planning control breaches as the properties only had permission to be used as self-contained single households. Nathanel failed to attend court hearings, telling the court that he was residing in Russia with his children and awaiting surgery.

The landlord claimed ignorance about the short-term lets on Airbnb and Booking.com, yet was hailed as "an amazing, attentive and responsive host" in Airbnb reviews.

The court heard that the two flats had been occupied for at least 220 days within the first ten months of 2024, according to evidence from the prosecution.

On June 26, 2025, Nathanel faced justice at Willesden Magistrates' Court, where he was convicted for not adhering to a Breach of Condition Notice from the council. He received a hefty fine of £75,000, was ordered to cover council costs amounting to £5,400, and pay a victim surcharge of £2,000.

Cllr Ross Houston, Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, commented: "We gave Mr Nathanel ample opportunity to stop using the properties as short term rentals, but were left with no alternative but to take him to court when he didn't stop.

"Barnet Council clamps down hard on rogue landlords and where they don't cooperate, we will always bring them to justice. We would like to thank the residents who brought this case to our attention. This is a great result for the neighbours whose lives were made a misery by the illegal letting of these flats on Airbnb and Booking.com.

"The prosecution and huge fine highlights the seriousness of the case and will be a strong deterrent to other rogue landlords from breaking the rules in the borough of Barnet."

A Booking.com representative said: "When accommodation providers sign up to list on Booking.com, they agree to our terms and conditions, where we ask them to verify that they are operating in full compliance with local laws and are legally permitted to rent out their property on a short-term basis.

"If we are ever made aware that a property on our site may not be operating in compliance with local regulations, we investigate and take further action as needed.

"At Booking.com, we remain committed to collaborating with the Government and local authorities to help deliver sustainable, measured legislative solutions for short-term-lets in the UK."

Airbnb was contacted for comment.

A milestone court casecame to a close in Spain earlier this month, ruling that ten holiday lets all located in the same block must close down due to “the illicit and unsanitary activities” that had taken place there.

Vomiting and sex in the communal areas, as well as drunken, destructive, and lewd guest behaviour, had caused one family stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. This was judged to have inflicted psychological damage on the family, which includes two children, and violated their fundamental right to privacy.

Madrid’s 44th Court of First Instance ruling—that the flats must stop being used as holiday lets—is a significant one, as the properties were registered legally but their presence was judged to infringe on the family’s rights.

In the ruling, the judge noted “the constant noise, the breaking of shared fixtures, the filling of the lobby with suitcases at all hours, and the presence of shopping trolleys filled with towels," before the family were awarded €37,000 in damages.