December 16th 2024.
The Shark House has been a topic of controversy for many years. This unique and eye-catching home, with a massive shark bursting through its roof, is now facing yet another battle with the local council. It all started in 1986 when Bill Heine, the original owner, constructed the impressive sculpture without obtaining planning permission. Sadly, Bill passed away in 2019, and his son Magnus Hanson-Heine took over the property. Magnus has been using Airbnb to rent out the house as a short-term holiday accommodation for the past five years.
However, the council has recently made a ruling that the Shark House can no longer be used as a short-term rental. Magnus believes that the council is using his property as a "test case" to try and shut down all Airbnbs in Oxford. He vows to fight this decision and encourages potential visitors to come and experience the unique property while they still can. The council has given Magnus a deadline of March 11 of next year to stop using the home as a short-term let, but he believes this will negatively impact Oxford's tourism economy.
Magnus adamantly defends the Shark House as a major tourist attraction, not just a regular family home. He takes pride in being able to open it up to the public and share its beauty with others. Despite the planning appeal and the inspector's decision, he has yet to receive any complaints from his neighbors. The Shark House has mostly received five-star reviews from its guests. Magnus believes that certain elements of the council are using this as an excuse to score political points, rather than considering the impact on the public.
He expresses his frustration with the council's actions, stating that it does nothing to address the housing crisis and only robs people of the opportunity to experience this piece of Oxford's history from the inside. He also points out that short lets are not the cause of the housing crisis, and politicians using this as an excuse to gain more power is a disgrace. Magnus firmly believes that people should not just comply with bureaucrats looking to prosecute their own interpretations of the law. He sees these homes as people's livelihoods, and if the council wants to control who stays in them, then they should purchase their own properties.
Two years after its construction, the Oxford City Council refused to grant retrospective planning permission for the Shark House. However, the family appealed, and the then-Secretary of State, Michael Heseltine, intervened and allowed it to stay. Magnus has now appealed the council's decision to change the use of the property, and it will remain open to visitors until he is forced to close.
The Airbnb for the Shark House has received rave reviews from guests, with an impressive rating of 4.86 out of five stars. The listing states that the house can accommodate up to ten people, with prices for a two-night stay reaching as high as £2,000. Magnus is also concerned that having the home added to a Heritage Asset Register could be a stepping stone towards getting it listed, which would result in more planning controls. He explains that being on the register does not impose any additional legal requirements on owners, but he is adamant that he does not want the Shark House listed as an important piece of Oxford's heritage.
Magnus shares that his father never gave a definitive answer to the question of what the Shark House's meaning was. It was designed to make people think for themselves and decide for themselves what art is. The house was also a form of anti-censorship, specifically against planning laws. Councilor Linda Smith, the cabinet member for housing, explains that the council takes enforcement action when properties are used as short lets without planning approval. She highlights the need for housing in Oxford and how nearly 800 properties are let out entirely as short lets, which could be used for people to live in instead of holiday accommodations.
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