TWO brothers who turned a derelict building into an Airbnb property on a small steading have won their fight for a licence to operate it, despite objections from neighbours.

Ruaraidh and Jamie Menzies bought the plot at Camptoun Steading, near Drem, and converted it into a terraced home which they began letting two years ago.

However, when they applied for a licence to operate after a change in legislation, East Lothian Council received five objections, with neighbours complaining that the high number of guests was damaging the close-knit community.

A meeting of the council’s licensing sub committee on Thursday heard claims from one neighbour that using the home as a short-term let was against the deeds attached to all 14 properties at the steading.

And she said that the Airbnb was often let to workers who drove large vans into the rural development and “sit on the wall looking into my windows, drinking beer”.

Among complaints from residents were claims that children were being "spooked" by Airbnb guests when walking to catch the school bus, concerns about strangers in the "family-centred" community, speeding traffic, noise and waste disposal.

'I'd feel a little unfairly treated'

However, Ruaraidh Menzies told the committee that, while he was aware of one incident of speeding which was dealt with, the guests were no more offenders of speeding than the high number of delivery drivers who went through the development at “breakneck speed”.

He told the committee that local residents had appreciated the work the brothers had done in turning the derelict building on the site into a property and that his brother Jamie planned to make it his home at some point.

And he pointed out that his brother was in a WhatsApp group with most of the residents, so problems could be raised quickly with them at any time.

Councillors discussed imposing a temporary licence for a shorter time on the property to allow further monitoring of neighbours' issues; however, Mr Menzies objected to the suggestion, pointing out the costs and time involved in making the application.

He said: “If you do not think a licence should be granted then do not grant it, but if you think it should be then it should be for the full term.

"I’d feel a little unfairly treated to have gone through the application process and be given a reduced licence.”

The committee agreed to grant the licence for the full three years and urged local residents to use avenues available to them to lodge any complaints about issues, after their legal adviser reminded them that they could call the licence back for review at any time if concerns were raised.

Ian Forrest told the committee: “If you grant a licence for three years, it does not mean there is nothing you can do until the end of that period.

"You can call it in for review at any time if there are concerns.”