Man threatened with $5m fine in Airbnb stoush

They say a man's home is his castle, but for retiree Tom Sendro it's more like a prison.

His million-dollar mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill - one of Australia’s most exclusive suburbs - is at the centre of an ugly neighbourhood stoush.

“I’m angry and frustrated,” Mr Sendro told A Current Affair.

It all began when he decided to let his house out using a number of short term letting sites, including Airbnb.

“It was a corporate booking, eight people - business people - and I said ‘fabulous’,” Mr Sendro said.

It turns out the corporate group was in town for a tattoo expo and had some rather raunchy guests.

“A party developed in the swimming pool. Rumours were that it was a bit of a ruckus party, quite out of my control,” Mr Sendro said.

Upset by the noise, Mr Sendro’s neighbours not only complained to police but also to his local council.

A month later Mr Sendro again tried his luck with a short-term let but once again things got out of control.

“I returned home and spoke to the neighbours numerous times and told them I was now returning to the home," he said.

But they were insistent that this debauched behaviour would not continue, prompting the council to step in.

Mr Sendro was told he must cease using the home for short-term "tourist and visitor accommodation" or register it as a bed and breakfast.

In its order, Council added that Mr Sendro had 28 days to comply or face a fine of up to $5 million.

“I'm under the microscope, not unlike what my parents were under in Hungary in the 1949 when they escaped,” he said.

Satyageet Marar from the Australian Taxpayers Alliance agrees.

“If I rented out my property to (a) tenant and that tenant was doing the wrong thing, you wouldn't fine me and then ban me from being able to rent out my apartment,” Mr Marar said.

Off camera, Mr Sendro’s neighbours told A Current Affair they had no problems with him renting out his home long-term, but they were concerned over the level of noise arising from his past short-term lets.

They're also upset that when the house was advertised on one site, it was listed as "The Perfect Entertainer" that could sleep up to 17 people.

They believe that listing just encouraged noisy parties.

In a statement, Woollahra Council said it had not issued any fines or commenced court proceedings.

Mr Sendro said he won't be renting his house out anytime soon.

“If there's any noise, please call me or contact me," he said.

"I'm at home, it's my noise and it's my friends.”