Woman has home ‘trashed’ on New Year’s Eve after Airbnb tenant throws 100-person strong party

Homeowner Christina McQuillan was punched in the stomach by one reveller when she tried to stop the party

Research said that most “sharing economy” websites had failed due to lack of interest – because they failed to satisfy out cultural craving to possess objects (AFP)

A woman who rented out her London home on Airbnb on New Year’s Eve was called back by neighbours before midnight to find it had been trashed by her tenant and nearly 100 partygoers.

Christina McQuillan, 31, had rented her one bedroom flat in Putney for £128 for the night to a girl who claimed to only needed it to sleep in.

But Ms McQuillan had to cut her own New Year’s celebrations short when her neighbours rang her to complain about a smell of cannabis coming from her flat and loud grime music, the Mirror online reports.

She arrived at her home before midnight to find nearly 100 people having a party in her flat and her TV had been ripped from the wall, her flooring had been pulled up, there was broken furniture and scratches on the walls.

“When we got there the doors were wide open. There was loud music and everyone was smoking drugs,” she told the news site.

Eventually the party started to stop after Ms McQuillan’s boyfriend went into the bedroom and switched off the power to the flat.

“There were two people having intercourse on the bed while a crowd of people were watching, it was disgusting,” she said.

As people were leaving Ms McQuillan was scratched and punched in the stomach by a man wearing a hood, at which point her partner called the police and five police cars turned up.

Ms Quillan told the Evening Standard she and her partner regularly use Airbnb, and the company had apologised, offering to pay for any damage.

A spokesperson for Airbnb said in a statement: “We have zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour and have removed this guest from our platform.

“We are also in contact with the host and are providing them with our full support.”

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Shortly before midnight on 31 December police were called to an address in Buer Road SW6 to a report of a female assaulted.

“Officers attended and found a 31-year-old woman had been punched in the stomach. The suspect was not identified and there were no arrests.

“Anyone with information that could identify the suspect can call police in Hammersmith and Fulham borough via 101.”