Party-goers 'trashed' Putney flat rented for New Year's Eve on Airbnb

Party-goers in the street as police arrived
Christina McQuillan
Mark Chandler6 January 2016

A woman who rented out her flat online came home to find it being trashed by up to a hundred revellers holding a New Year’s Eve party.

Neighbours rang Christina McQuillan, 31 to warn her of the chaos at her Putney home after she rented it out to a woman online who said she just wanted to sleep there for the night.

She rushed there to try and break up the party, which was in full swing with rubbish strewn in the rooms and ripped-up floorboards. She also claimed a couple was having sex in the flat.

Ms McQuillian claims she was then attacked by a man in a hooded top who punched her in the stomach as she tried to break up the rave.

What appears to be a cannabis joint found on the floor after the party Picture: Christina McQuillan
Christina McQuillan

She said: “It was horrific. Me and my partner got to the property and there were hundreds of people on the streets. You could smell cannabis a mile off.

“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.’

“My partner decided to cut the power upstairs.”

The magazine designer had charged £128 for the use of the flat for one night.

She is now facing a far larger bill for repairs.

Ms McQuillan said she called police on her way back to the flat, but was told at first it was not a criminal matter and they would have to break up the party themselves.

She said it was only after one reveller attacked her as she kicked him out that officers were sent out.

She added: “People were smoking dope and there were other drugs, drinking. The music was horrifically loud with proper decks. There was professional music equipment pumping out really loud.”

The couple, who regularly rent out rooms on Airbnb, say the company has apologised and offered to pay for any damage.

A spokesman for Airbnb said: “We have zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour and have removed this guest from our platform. We are also in contact with the host and are providing them with our full support."

The Standard was approached by the woman involved in the party who said the homeowner knew that celebrations were planned.

A spokesman for the Met Police confirmed they had been called shortly before midnight to reports of a woman being assaulted.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

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