Investigation over 'disgraceful' Airbnb cabin

The owner of a portable building advertised as an Airbnb will be investigated, Hull City Council has said.

The authority said the cabin on Eggington Street had been marketed without the appropriate planning permission.

It had been described on the accommodation website as a "basic but convenient option to stay in the heart of Hull city centre".

Airbnb removed the listing after it was contacted by the BBC, "in line with our policies".

The cabin, which contained two studios, is in a small car park sandwiched between a row of terrace housing and Ron Dearing University Technical College.

The listing, seen by the BBC before it was removed, advertised the rooms at £55 a night, and they were also available at a discount for a long-term rental.

Daren Hale, a Labour councillor for the St Andrews and Docklands ward, described it as "outrageous".

He said: "This is a new low. We know there's a housing crisis in the country but to ask people to effectively live in an industrial cabin is just not acceptable.

"We have planning rules for a reason and the use of this property has to be stopped. We have brilliant hotels and the idea this could be an alternative is disgraceful."

In a statement, the council said: "We are urging the property owners to engage with the council on this matter or enforcement action will be taken."

Airbnb said it had removed more than 400,000 properties from the site since 2023.

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