Bronx homeowners upset neighbor rents home on Airbnb for wild late night parties

Joe Torres Image
Monday, December 7, 2015
Bronx homeowners upset neighbor rents home on Airbnb for wild, late night parties
Joe Torres has more from Pelham Gardens.

PELHAM GARDENS, Bronx (WABC) -- Homeowners on Fenton Avenue in Pelham Gardens are upset after they say their 'unruly' and 'inconsiderate' neighbor, Nebi Ayele uses Airbnb to rent his two family home for loud, lewd and late night parties involving pole dancers, jello shots and patio lap dancers.

Residents say Airbnb advertises these "Animal House" parties, and they want it to stop.

"There were about 40-50 people out here that I could see, and they were fighting and arguing in the middle of the street, and I'm very fearful. I have a 9-year-old daughter," says homeowner Carmen Tieso.

Ayele, who has lived in his home for four years showed up near the end of a news conference held by State Senator Jeff Klein and a crowd of neighbors.

"Before you come out and make a press conference where you don't know what you are talking about and you want to hear the lies of one individual..." Ayele argued.

Frustrated homeowners notified Senator Klein, who has his own solution to solve the party problem.

"I plan to introduce legislation, which will actually have the same standards for single family homes that apply to multi-family dwellings, to prevent the short term rentals of these types of properties," says Senator Klein.

AirBbnb has now suspended the Ayele listing. Sal and Jean Presta live two doors away from Ayele. They sought the political muscle after trying to solve the matter face-to-face with their neighbor.

"I tried approaching him once, and I simply asked him if he could kepe the noise to a minimum, and to shut down at a responsible hour. He looked me right in the eye and said, 'I can't promise you that'," Sal Presta said.

Ayele said that Airbnb is how he makes his living.

"In order to make ends meet, I rent my house on Airbnb," he adds.