Dear Queenie,
I need help before I become the neighbourhood villain. The house next door to mine was recently converted into a short-term rental. On paper, I understand it. Tourism is our economy. People are trying to make a living. I don’t fault anyone for that. But I am exhausted.
Every few days it’s a new set of strangers. Different cars. Different music. Different energy. Some are fine. Some are not. There have been late-night pool parties, shouting across balconies, and once, at 2 a.m., someone tried to open my gate thinking it was theirs. Parking spills into the road. And the turnover means there is no relationship to build, no accountability. By the time you learn someone’s name, they’re gone. This is not a resort area. This is a residential neighbourhood. I don’t want to fight with the owner. He says everything is legal and within guidelines. He says I’m exaggerating. Maybe I am. But my peace feels negotiable now. Am I just being resistant to change? Or is it fair to expect some boundaries in a place we call home? —Living Next to “Check-In at 3”
Dear Living Next to “Check-In at 3,”
You are not resistant to change. You are reacting to disruption. Tourism may fuel our economy, but residential peace fuels daily life. Both matter. The tension you’re feeling sits exactly at that intersection. Short-term rentals introduce what permanent neighborhoods are not designed for: constant turnover, shifting social norms, and temporary accountability. A family renting for four nights does not carry the same sense of responsibility as someone who lives there year-round. That is not personal – it is structural. Your frustration is understandable. Sleep matters. Safety matters. Stability matters. When strangers mistake your gate for theirs at 2 a.m., that is not exaggeration. That is intrusion. However, before this becomes neighbour-versus-neighbour, shift your approach from emotion to specifics.
Document incidents. Dates. Times. Noise levels. Parking issues. If there are homeowners’ association rules or zoning guidelines, review them carefully. Speak to the owner calmly and factually: “I support tourism, but these specific issues are affecting our daily life. How can we prevent them going forward?” You may suggest practical measures: clearer signage, designated parking, quiet hours posted inside the rental, security cameras, a local contact person for complaints. This is not about stopping someone’s income. It is about balancing rights. On an island like ours, coexistence is not optional. But neither is your peace. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your home. The goal is not conflict – it is accountability.
Tourists check out. You live there. That difference matters. —Queenie
