Neighbors of a Santa Monica home blocks from the beach on a quiet cul-de-sac say it's been basically turned into a cheap hotel, with up to 32 people a night renting rooms for $45 each.
The home located on Adelaide Place has historic landmark status because it was built in 1926 by famous architect Robert Stacy-Judd.
But neighbors say a few months ago it was sold to a new owner who has turned it into a "low rent hostel."
"It’s making it noisy. People coming and going all times of the day and night, said neighbor Brenda Schwartz.
The home is listed on Airbnb as a 2500-square-foot modern shared house with a rooftop barbecue.
The ad includes photos of numerous bunk beds set up in the home's five bedrooms, each for rent for $45 a night.
The ad reads: "The maximum of 32 people in total can stay at the same time."
News
Top news of the day
"That’s not an Airbnb — that's a small hotel!" said neighbor John Demery.
Neighbors say guests sometimes litter the sidewalk with beer cans and cigarette butts and take up limited, precious parking spaces.
"It means we can't park in front of our own houses many times," Paula Kayton said.
A knock on the door by NBCLA's crew went unanswered.
"It should be downtown so people can walk around with easy access to the pier and to shops. Not here. This is bloody nonsense," Demery said.
The city of Santa Monica says it approved a home sharing application for the house, allowing up to 16 overnight guests at a time — not 32 as advertised.
Since getting multiple complaints, the city's code enforcement division is investigating, but residents say the city isn't responding to their concerns.
"We've sent them the online ad that says you can put 32 people in here. To me it's a slam dunk case. Yet as usual, the feet are dragging," Schwartz said.
When the owner and manager of the property was asked over the phone about the controversy, they both hung up.
Airbnb has not yet responded.
The city says when the investigation is done, they’ll determine what enforcement action, if any, needs to be taken.
