A couple from West London, Yasmina and Robert Mathias—aged 62 and 74—are facing a tough situation that might force them to sell their home in Chelsea. They rented out their basement apartment, but their tenant has been illegally subletting it on Airbnb. This has led to them losing around £25,000 in missed rent and legal fees, throwing a wrench into their retirement plans and leaving them with a big financial gap.
The ordeal has been stressful, taking a toll on Yasmina’s health. Both she and Robert, who work from home, no longer feel safe because strangers are frequently coming and going from their property. Yasmina runs a tarot card reading business, and Robert manages an IT firm—all from their Chelsea home. They’ve started double-locking their front door just to feel secure.
They’re also frustrated with the estate agents, Marsh & Parsons and RightMove. They believe these companies didn’t do proper background checks on the tenant. RightMove has said they stand by their referencing process and work to support landlords when problems come up. Marsh & Parsons chose not to comment publicly, saying they handle issues directly with clients.
The couple is now trying to get a possession order to evict the tenant, with a court hearing set for December. By then, they estimate they’ll have missed out on five months of rental income. Robert found out about the illegal subletting just two weeks after the tenant moved in, when a family from Mexico showed up at their home looking for the Airbnb they had booked in the basement flat.
This whole experience has been incredibly challenging for Yasmina and Robert, both emotionally and financially. They might have to sell their cherished Chelsea home to recover from the losses they’ve suffered.
