A COUPLE in Ayr have claimed that a "pop up brothel" took over a neighbouring flat, just a few days after it was granted a short term let licence.
Alan and Jean Mackay claim their health has been affected by the use of neighbouring apartments near the seafront as short term lets.
They allege that the occasional use of one property by sex workers has been the tip of the iceberg.
The couple moved to the then newly built apartments in the Fort area of the town around 20 years ago, after selling their family home in Doonfoot.
With its balcony sea views and proximity to town, the apartment was set to be a quiet and comfortable home to enjoy in their retirement.
However, they say that they have become overwhelmed by speculators who have snapped up dozens of flats for use as short term lets, on the back of the first wave of 'Airbnb' lets around a decade ago.
And they have complained that lets, including a neighbouring flat, have been used by sex workers.
When the Scottish Government announced it was going to launch a licensing scheme, residents like Alan and Jean were given hope the problems they had been facing would be finally addressed.
But they say that they feel utterly let down by a system that is pandering to the short term let industry.
Rather than winding down and enjoying their sea views, the couple have been forced to spend most of their time researching legislation around short term lets while monitoring the use of the flats.
And they said they were "gobsmacked" when they saw the flat next door being used as, what they believe, a “pop-up brothel” just days after the property got its STL licence.
Alan and Jean kept a file of the men they claimed were visiting two girls at the neighbouring flat.
Their list records the times when unknown men arrived and left the flat during one week in May.
A total of 11 men visited the flat over the course of three days. A further eight were seen over the next two days, after two women left the flat and another arrived.
The majority of the men stayed for around 30 minutes, with the longest staying for one hour, according to the couple.
The company which operates the flat in question said they had acted to terminate the reservation when examining doorbell footage.
They said: “We have strict policies in place to ensure that we comply with our license conditions and take that responsibility seriously.
“On this occasion we identified activity on our doorbell camera we felt could breach the terms and conditions of the stay.
“We contacted Police Scotland and South Ayrshire Council licensing team for advice, and the police attended the property at our request.
“The police advised that no criminality had taken place and no further action was required.
“However, we weren’t comfortable with the outcome and made the decision to terminate the reservation early and informed both Police Scotland and South Ayrshire licensing team.”
