• WELLS Court on Oriel Place in the heart of Hampstead Village was previously sheltered accommodation for the elderly.

Camden Council ran the building down until it was not in a fit state for use. In 2015 the council moved the residents out, and sold off Wells Court to a developer.

I opposed the sale and witnessed the distress of elderly residents being decanted. I have fond memories of baking biscuits with my son and both of us taking them around to Wells House and spending time with some of the residents.

The developer refurbished the property, built a roof extension and a new side extension. Wells Court is today a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom properties.

Disappointingly the flats were not sold or let to provide new housing stock into the market but offered for short-term lets.

I have been informed that the owners of the building may be offering in part the redeveloped residential units at Wells Court as Airbnb lets.

Labour-controlled Camden Council are quite rightly concerned about Airbnb lettings but what restrictive covenants did they put on the title which they sold to prevent or restrict this?

Are all the required planning, HMO (house-in-multiple-occupation) licences and other consents in place? Airbnb lettings do not increase housing stock in an area. They don’t help build a community.

And they don’t give people an opportunity to settle in an area, work in, or commute, from an area, invest in an area; and they won’t enable children to grow up in an area and go to local schools.

They only benefit some businesses. There are other issues surrounding their regulation. I understand that they will not pay business rates.

I am investigating further as it would be disappointing to see a substantial property in the heart of Hampstead which was formerly owned by Camden being sold off for subsequent use as Airbnb lets.

CLLR STEPHEN STARK
Conservative, Hampstead Town ward