Flat in Buer Road "Trashed" by Airbnb Revellers
Company offers support to owner punched by partygoer on New Year's Eve
Home rental company Airbnb has offered support to a woman who claims she was assaulted in her flat in Buer Road in Fulham which was being used by a 21 year-old tenant to host a rowdy New Year's Eve party for around 100 people.
Magazine designer Christina McQuillan returned to the flat with her partner Henry Boorman shortly before midnight after neighbours complained of the noise, loud music and smell of cannabis coming from the ground floor flat, close to New King's Road.
The 31-year-old said her recently renovated home was "trashed" with the floor ripped up, walls scratched, the TV torn off its bracket and stools broken.
One couple were having sex on the bed in front of others and the floor was littered with cigarette and cannabis joint.
She says the repair bill will be around £3,000.
She told the Evening Standard: " It was horrific – me and my partner got to the property and there were hundreds of people on the streets.
" We entered the property and we told her to shut it down immediately. This girl just laughed and said 'No, I’m holding a party'."
She also says that when she and her partner tried to break things up by turning off the power, she was punched in the stomach.
" People were leaving, there were a lot still inside," she says. "I had my hand on the door to make sure no one came back in when a man with a hoody scratched me and punched me in the stomach.
"My partner called the police to tell them I had been assaulted, after which five police cars turned up."
A police spokesman says: " Shortly before midnight, 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 a suspect can call police in Hammersmith and Fulham Borough via 101."
Ms McQuillan said Mr Boorman had met the female guest, who had been charged £138, and given her the key. She claimed she was going to a party and would only be using the flat to sleep in.
However the tenant, Rikki Campbell said she rented the flat to celebrate her 21st birthday on New Year's Day. She admitted inviting 60 people to the flat despite have only booked for one guest to stay, but claimed she had a right to hold a gathering.
Following the incident Airbnb released a statement saying that it was in contact with her and was providing full support.
The statement said: " We have zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour and have removed this guest from our platform."
January 6, 2016
