AN AYR resident is demanding action from South Ayrshire Council after complaining about “pop up brothels” and drug use in short-term letting properties near to his home.

Town centre resident Alan Mackay is seeking change from the council’s planning department over short-term lets advertised through websites such as Airbnb.

Mr Mackay described alleged incidents of endless noise, violent threats, drug use – and even claimed that flats in his block were being used as brothels.

Mr Mackay told the Advertiser: “We’ve had three separate incidents of pop up brothels.

“They rent and send in the girls, they phone this number and they ring the bell and let them in.

“We’ve had three incidents, three lots of police. The police just send them off with a warning.

“We’ve had drugs. Three people from Newcastle were staying in one of the flats and there was a horrific smell outside the corridor.

“One of our neighbours said ‘that smells like skunk’ [cannabis]. It was pervading the common areas.

“They also dumped their rubbish out in the hall and I was threatened with physical violence for asking them not to.

“When they were cleaning out their apartment a knife was found under the bed, and it wasn’t one from the kitchen.

“The other thing is just the noise – the battering of trolley cases, and the damage is clear to see on the walls, and they’re in and out banging doors all the time.

“They don’t have the lifestyle of the normal residents of the building.

“They’re in and out, in and out all day long. On one particular day we had 75 movements in and out of these apartments, and every time that’s a bang, that’s a noise in an enclosed corridor.”

Mr Mackay also claimed that he has received little to no help from South Ayrshire Council after writing to all 27 councillors with his concerns.

Last week, the Advertiser reported that South Ayrshire Council is set to adopt powers that will allow it to regulate hundreds of short-term lets and ensure landlords pass a ‘fit and proper person’ test before being given a licence.

New landlords will have to apply for a licence after October 1 to use a property as a short-term let.

Property owners already registered as short-term letting providers will have until April 1, 2023 to apply for a licence.

South Ayrshire Council referred the Advertiser to those discussions when approached.

Ayr’s MSP, Siobhian Brown, said: “South Ayrshire Council recently adopted Scottish Government legislative powers to regulate short-term lets to ensure landlords are fit to hold licences.

“This situation shows why there is a need for the legislation and I personally believe it should go further.

“Any anti-social behaviour issues should be reported to the local authority and suspicious activity to the police.

“Criminal activity can even be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

Airbnb have been approached for comment.