D
r. Magnus Hanson-Heine, owner of the world-famous Shark House with a 25-foot shark protruding from its roof, has criticized Oxford Council's decision to enforce its closure due to short-term let regulations. The council had rejected his appeal to continue renting out the property on Airbnb.

    Hanson-Heine claims he received no complaints from neighbors and believes the council targeted him as a "test case" to shut down AirBnbs in the city. He has urged visitors to "come while you can" and vowed to keep the Shark House open for as long as possible, despite being ordered to stop using it as a short-term let by March 11, 2025.

    The property, which has been letting out on Airbnb for five years, was initially constructed without planning permission in 1986. Hanson-Heine's father, Bill Heine, had built the shark sculpture, and his son reignited the battle with authorities when he protested against it being added to a list of cultural assets.

    Hanson-Heine argues that the Shark House is a major tourist attraction and has been a delight for visitors to experience. He claims to have received mostly five-star reviews from guests and notes that the inspector found no harm in his decision to let out the property as a short-term let.

    The owner believes the council's move will hurt Oxford's tourism industry and accuses them of using this as an excuse to score cheap political points by targeting a local landmark. He suggests that advertising on platforms like Airbnb doesn't necessarily constitute a change of use under current guidelines and that people renting and sleeping in a home is its proper use.

    Hanson-Heine also slammed politicians who use their failures as an excuse to grab for more power, calling the move "a disgrace" and stating that short-term rentals aren't the cause of the housing crisis. He has vowed to continue fighting against the council's decision and keep the Shark House open until he is forced to close.

    The property has become a tourist attraction in Oxford, with visitors coming to see the shark crashing head-first through the roof. It has secured rave reviews from guests, including a 4.86 rating on Airbnb. The listing states that the house can sleep up to 10 people and prices for a two-night stay can reach as much as $2,537.

    Oxford City Council's cabinet member for housing, Councillor Linda Smith, weighed in on the issue, stating that they take enforcement action against properties that have changed from residential homes to short-let businesses without planning approval. She noted that there are nearly 800 properties let out entirely as short lets in Oxford and that those should be used for people to live in, not as holiday accommodation.