When fans booked their dream trip to Dublin to see Oasis live at Croke Park, they expected music, memories, and maybe a pint or two. What they didn’t expect was a shocking Airbnb experience that left them fearing for their safety, questioning Dublin’s rental market, and demanding accountability.
This is the story of the Oasis fan Airbnb scandal — a cautionary tale that has now become a trending search term across Ireland and the UK.
Oasis Fan Airbnb Dublin: How It Began
As soon as Oasis announced their Live ‘25 tour, tickets for Dublin sold out in minutes. Fans from across the globe scrambled for accommodation, and Airbnb listings were snapped up almost as quickly as gig tickets.
One group of eight friends from Aberdeen, Scotland, led by Susan Cowie, thought they had secured a perfect stay in Rathmines, Dublin, for €700 a night. The four-bedroom property looked ideal: close to the city, enough space for everyone, and advertised as a legal short-term rental.
But what unfolded over their two-night stay quickly turned into one of the most disturbing Airbnb guest experiences ever reported in Dublin.
The Shocking Oasis Fan Airbnb Experience
According to Susan, everything seemed fine when they first arrived. They dropped their bags and headed out to enjoy Dublin’s pre-gig buzz. The real problems began the next morning.
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Water leaks through the ceiling: When one of the group took a shower, water began pouring into the living room. “We were terrified the ceiling would collapse,” Susan recalled.
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Rotting floorboards: Damage from previous leaks had left areas of the living room dangerously weak.
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Dangerous electrics: One socket was literally taped to the wall with Sellotape.
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Gas cooker failure: The cooker didn’t work, adding to the safety concerns.
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Permanent heating in a heatwave: Radiators were stuck on due to broken valves.
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Mould growth: Visible patches suggested long-standing damp problems.
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Lack of fire alarms: The group spotted only one working smoke alarm in the entire house.
One fan summed it up:
“It was awful, honestly. We went to see Oasis, but we couldn’t relax in the house. By the second day, we were too scared to even cook or shower.”
Dublin City Council’s Enforcement
Unbeknownst to the guests, Dublin City Council had already issued a warning letter to the property’s owner months earlier. In March 2025, the council ordered “the cessation of the unauthorised short-term letting” of the same house.
The compliance deadline was set for April 15, 2025. By July, with the host ignoring the order, the case had been referred to the council’s law department to begin proceedings.
By the time the Oasis fan Airbnb incident occurred in August, the property was effectively operating as an illegal let.
The Airbnb Host’s Response
When Susan complained to the host, she expected an apology or at least acknowledgment of the problems. Instead, she received an extraordinary response:
“I’m tired of people like you trying to scam Airbnb hosts. The guests before you thought the place was great. The only issue is the water leaking through — that happens in any house.”
This dismissive reply added insult to injury. Reviews from other guests backed up Susan’s concerns, with comments including:
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“The property needs a great deal of work.”
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“The downstairs ceiling looks like it could fall in.”
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“Rotten floorboards in living room from water damage.”
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“Gas burner didn’t seem safe.”
Despite this, the host maintained a 4.61 rating from over 200 reviews, raising questions about how reliable Airbnb ratings really are.
Airbnb’s Initial Response
When Susan contacted Airbnb, she was initially offered only a 30% refund, because her group had stayed for both nights.
But with pressure mounting, and Susan filing a chargeback request with her bank, Airbnb escalated.
A spokesperson confirmed:
“The listing has been suspended while we investigate further, and we have been in touch with the guest to issue a full refund as a gesture of goodwill. We urge all hosts to keep their homes safe, and in the event of safety concerns, we investigate and take action, up to removal from the platform.”
The Broader Problem: Airbnb in Dublin
This story isn’t just about one unlucky group of Oasis fans. It shines a light on Dublin’s wider short-term letting crisis, where illegal Airbnbs, unsafe properties, and weak oversight have become major issues.
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253 alleged illegal lets investigated by Dublin City Council in 2025 so far.
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302 cases in 2023.
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337 cases in 2022.
The Irish government has promised a national register of short-term lets, but it won’t come into effect until summer 2026 at the earliest. Until then, gaps in enforcement mean more guests could face similar risks.
Oasis Fan Airbnb: A Perfect Storm
Why did this story blow up? Because it combined three hot topics:
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Oasis reunion hype – Fans traveling for music history.
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Airbnb safety concerns – A global platform under scrutiny.
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Dublin’s housing crisis – Illegal lets removing homes from long-term rental.
The keyword “Oasis fan Airbnb” is now trending not just because of one incident, but because it represents a larger clash between tourism demand, housing regulation, and corporate accountability.
Dublin Airbnb Horror Stories
The Oasis fan story is shocking, but it’s not unique. Other Dublin Airbnb guests have reported:
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Overcrowded rooms advertised as “entire apartments.”
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Lack of fire escapes.
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Vermin infestations.
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Misleading listings with photoshopped images.
This raises the question: How many more Oasis fan Airbnb-style scandals will it take before serious reform?
FAQs About the Oasis Fan Airbnb Case
What happened with the Oasis fan Airbnb in Dublin?
A group of Scottish fans booked a house in Rathmines through Airbnb for €700 a night. They encountered water leaks, rotting floors, faulty electrics, mould, and safety risks.
Was the Airbnb legal?
No. Dublin City Council had already ordered the property to stop short-term letting months earlier.
How did Airbnb respond?
Initially, Airbnb offered a partial refund. After further investigation, they suspended the listing and promised a full refund.
What did Dublin City Council do?
The council referred the case to its law department in July 2025 to initiate proceedings against the host for non-compliance.
How many illegal Airbnbs are there in Dublin?
In 2025 so far, 253 investigations have been opened, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Will there be a short-term letting register?
Yes, but not until 2026, leaving a regulatory gap until then.
How much did the Oasis fans pay?
€700 per night for two nights, a total of €1,400.
Lessons from the Oasis Fan Airbnb Scandal
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Do your research – Check reviews carefully and look for consistency.
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Report issues quickly – Notify Airbnb and local authorities if safety concerns arise.
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Understand refund rules – Airbnb policies can be strict; consider chargeback options.
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Know the law – Illegal lets are common in Dublin; check if your property is registered.
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Document everything – Photos, videos, and correspondence are essential in disputes.
Dublin, Airbnb, and the Oasis Connection
The irony is hard to miss. Oasis, a band that once sang about “Live Forever,” brought thousands of fans to Dublin — only for some of them to stay in accommodation that felt like it could collapse at any moment.
The Oasis fan Airbnb scandal has become part of the Dublin Live ‘25 story, remembered alongside the concerts themselves. For some, the trip was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call
The Oasis fan Airbnb incident is not just gossip. It’s a warning about short-term letting safety, a reflection of Dublin’s housing chaos, and a lesson in consumer rights.
For travelers: don’t assume “high ratings” equal safety. For regulators: don’t delay reforms that protect both locals and tourists. For Airbnb: don’t rely on self-declaration when lives could be at risk.
Dublin is a world-class city, and the Oasis reunion was a once-in-a-lifetime event. But as the Oasis fan Airbnb case shows, even the greatest nights can be soured by the wrong accommodation.
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