By Alesha Capone
Families living near an Airbnb house in Williams Landing that is allegedly being used for illegal sex work say they are fed-up with a lack of action from authorities.
Star Weekly reported the residents’ concerns in June, including about multiple websites advertising escort services at a property in their street.
Sometimes, a red light appears in the house’s window, and loud parties are a common occurrence, with music blasting until 6am, residents say.
The residents have contacted Airbnb, Wyndham council and police multiple times.
Last year, they asked Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn for assistance.
After Mr Finn spoke about the issue in state Parliament, the activities at the house ceased for a few months, except for the parties.
However, the residents – who all asked to remain anonymous – recently contacted Star Weekly to report an “illegal brothel” appears to be operating at the house again.
A resident said he called police last month after two men arrived at the property and began yelling at the women inside.
Other residents said their children could not sleep due to the loud music coming from the house.
One resident said: “We have got a young family, what’s going on is of particular concern for me”.
Victoria Police said they have received reports of an illegal brothel operating at a Williams Landing address, but as the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
A Wyndham council spokesperson said the council was responsible for enforcing planning components of the Sex Work Act and would work with police to “to take appropriate enforcement action” once it was established that a brothel was operating.
Airbnb’s head of public policy for Australia, Derek Nolan, said: “The safety of our community is one of our top priorities and we continue to enforce strict policies and community standards, including our global ban on parties.
“Our message to everyone who uses Airbnb could not be clearer; bad behaviour has no place on Airbnb and those who fail to adhere to our policies face removal from our platform.
“Our community standards and policies require guests to behave in a manner that’s respectful of the neighbourhoods in which they’re staying.”
