Residents of the Varandas do Funchal building have already written a request to Cristina Pedra, Mayor of the Municipality, stating that AL customers are the scourge of residential housing apartment blocks, and are seen to participate in “sexual activities” in shared areas, make accusations against residents, and are generally unmannered and unruly.
The residents of the Varandas do Funchal building, located on Rua Silvestre Quintino de Freitas, asked the Funchal City Council (CMF) for immediate intervention to prohibit the activity of Local Accommodation (AL) in the building.
In a document sent to the Funchal municipality, to which JM had access, residents denounce situations that they say are seriously affecting the quality of life in the building. Among the complaints presented are excessive noise at inappropriate times, the degradation of common areas without the due contribution of the AL property owners.
Residents even refer to sexual activities in shared areas, such as the pool and the garden, as well as constant entries and exits of people from outside the condominium.
“These behaviours are incompatible with the residential nature of the building and have had a direct impact on the lives of residents,” states the formal letter to Mayor Cristina Pedra.
The residents also claim that the activity in question “does not meet the legal requirements” for the operation of the AL, the authorisation of the condominium, the existence of independent access, and respect for safety standards.
Faced with this situation, the residents request two urgent measures: one, the prohibition of Local Accommodation activity in the building, and the carrying out of a municipal inspection action to assess the legality of the exploitation.
The case of Varandas do Funchal is one of several incidents where the expansion of Local Accommodation has generated controversy in several areas of Funchal.
People I know have had their lives severely compromised by AL tourists in terms of noise, sleep deprivation, and lack of awareness or manners toward those living around them.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
