Airbnb bandit ‘illegally rented out £1.5m home to tourists from 29 countries’
A PENSIONER says her life has been made a ‘living nightmare’ after her tenant sub-let her house on Airbnb to visitors from 29 different countries without her permission.
Min Boisragon began renting out her £1.5 million property in Chelsea, West London, to Francesco Grasso in March 2017.
But she started legal action 12 months ago in an effort to get him evicted. She claims the 53-year-old Italian businessman allowed her home to be advertised on Airbnb in a money-making scheme, pocketing tens of thousands of pounds.
Mrs Boisragon, who is in her 70s, also accuses Mr Grasso of not paying any rent for more than a year. Ironically, on one occasion she was arrested after challenging Mr Grasso.
When confronted with the Airbnb claims in court, Mr Grasso called on a witness who said he was merely ‘allowing his relatives and close family members from the US to stay with him on an occasional temporary basis’.
Despite the courts issuing a warrant for his eviction in January this year, Mr Grasso moved his possessions out of the property only two weeks ago.
And the costly legal action is still ongoing because Mr Grasso has appealed against his eviction.
Mrs Boisragon said: ‘It’s been a living nightmare. I had to sit and wait for the courts for months and months.
‘ When he puts in an appeal, it’s another six, seven months. That’s how it goes on. The very last thing he can try is to take me to court to get a face-to-face hearing. It’s cost me thousands in solicitors’ bills. I don’t know if I can take any more.
‘The place is in a state. We can’t move upstairs because even in single rooms, he has put in double beds. He’s got a washing machine and a TV in every room.’
Another landlord found herself in a similar situation with Mr Grasso when she found her property listed on Airbnb. The landlord, who wants to remain anonymous, let a two-bedroom flat in Knightsbridge, Central London, to the businessman in 2017. After he moved in, the apartment was quickly rented through Airbnb by a user named Mondi, despite Mr Grasso being the sole tenant. The landlord’s court case against Mr Grasso t ook nine months and cost her £10,000 in legal fees. Her two- bedroom property was brazenly advertised on Airbnb as a three-bed home – because a bed was put i n the l i ving room. Even when the landlord finally got an order for possession, she had to wait two months for a bailiff ’s appointment and says Mr Grasso rented out the property until two days before he was finally evicted. Mr Grasso has denied sub-letting either property through Airbnb. He did not respond to requests from The Mail on Sunday for comment.
An Airbnb spokesman said: ‘ We have suspended these listings while we investigate. We have zero-tolerance for illegal activity on Airbnb and take appropriate action.’